Cockatiel would rather sit on cage than with me....

[LittleMissHess]

So, I'm noticing some changes in Hess lately...These past few days every time I put her on my shoulder or hold her, she flies back to the playstand on top of her cage. She makes the angry chirp noise when I try to pick her up or give her scratches, and tries to bite at me (it doesnt hurt but she grabs my fingers). She still steps up (though sometimes she tries to run away but I make her step up if she does this) but she either walks back across the couch to her cage or flies back to it.

I understand that she probably won't want to sit with me all the time but I still want her to remain socialized...I don't want this to become a problem where she refuses to leave her cage and refuses to sit with me. Am I just worrying too much or could this become a problem?

[Emmilyy]

How long have you had Hess? Cookie does the same thing sometimes. If she see's her cage she'll fly back to it, and won't come back off, but when she gets lonely she will come right out to me.

[LittleMissHess]

I've only had her for about a week and a half...hahaha, not a lot of time so maybe she's just settling in still, but before she would want to sit with me and preen me and now she'd rather sit on her cage.

[Emmilyy]

She's still in the "honeymoon" period. :P She *is* still settling in, she needs to get used to her new home. She'll show you her real personality when she's good and ready - you just need to give her time. (:

[LovelySydney]

I've had my parrotlet Oliver for about 4 months now and at first he would sit with me and then he started doing what your Hess is doing. He became very restless being with me and never wanted to leave his cage or his play stand. I continued to keep socializing him and trying to have us interact but little by little he reverted to not even wanting to come out of his cage. I am of the belief that one shouldn't force a bird to do something so I just let him be if he didn't want to hang out with me. I still sat by the cage and spoke to him, he knew I was there and we'd interact that way. Oliver was always a pretty independent bird, very happy to be in his cage and playing alone. Looking back I think that I would have kept up the socializing just because I really did enjoy that time we spent together. But even that being said I dont think all birds are people birds and if Oliver doesnt want to spend time with me I didnt want to force him to do so ya know??


Anyway I digress --- keep up the talking to and the bonding, you haven't had Hess for too long so Im sure she's still getting used to her world!! Keep us posted, Im sure she will come around in time, just keep up what you are doing. Of course give her breaks some times, otherwise youll end up like Neko and I, and he never wants to leave my side (which I love, but its exhausting!!)

[tielfan]

you just need to give her time.

Giving her treats can also be very useful. If she's reluctant to sit with you now, giving her food treats when she's spending time with you (or making it fun in some other way) will help to change her attitude. You will be the source of good things instead of that annoying human who keeps taking her away from the cage.

[LittleMissHess]

Hmm...thanks for the advice. I definitely think I will have her sit with me a little bit each day no matter what...I want to keep her used to me and socialized. But I wont force her to spend every waking minute with me. She loves millet and peanuts so I'll keep a little of that handy when I have her sit with me. Also, she's going through a molt it seems...maybe that's part of why she's cranky.

[Emmilyy]

Yeah the molt could have something to do with it, Cookie always gets really cranky when she molts. right now she's going through a HUGE molt and is not acting the same at all. :P

Good luck with Hess!

[LovelySydney]

oh for sure, Oliver is going through his first molt right now and he is a crabby pants! That also might explain his behavior - I feel like this molt is lasting forever!!

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by LovelySydney

I feel like this molt is lasting forever!!

Cookie hasn't stopped molting since i got her, EIGHT MONTHS AGO! Sometimes its lighter, and sometimes its heavier (like now..) but i swear, it never stops!