Hi,
I have a year old cockatiel, lutino/yellow pied mutation :yellow pied: ! His name is Rokko, but everyone calls him birdie... lol. I was wondering if I could get some advice/tips on training.
I had to leave the bird with the family due to sudden changes to living rules at the place I was living. Now that I am back for a bit, theres a few developments. Rokko has made a habit of screaming until someone comes to him. I tried to avoid this by instructing everyone to not feed his attention seeking behaviour (following the Cockatiels For Dummies book), however they didn't and continue not to.
The only noise he knows to make is a high pitch scream, like a flock call, but non stop. He even does this when hes out and not where he wants to be (like below, on the finger or not on his favourite person).
Ironically his favourite person is my dad, who doesn't particularly like having the bird on him because he's a little allergic. Very moody, runs away from hands/fingers, bites (okay not hard, but enough to merit some kind of disciplinary action like putting him in his cage for time out).
Next he is very afraid and uncomfortable being anywhere but your shoulder, play gym perch or the back part of the couch. So if hes on your finger, he will start trying for your shoulder, and/or start the screaming.
Last, he is pickier than I am. I know they are picky eaters to begin with, but I can't give him veggies or fruit because he's too scared to eat it or if he tries to go near it, he shakes his head then wants to leave.
It's a shame because he started out great. So accepting and adapting of where he was. His first visit to the vet for his checkup after I bought him, he was preening on the counter while the vet asked the details - first time the vet ever saw a bird behave like that in a foreign area (preening, allowing to be petted, stepping up). He also made little squeaks while he was out, clearly happy noises. Now that is all changed. Theres a 0% chance anyone in the family traumatized him, they are all animal lovers. Also the bird doesn't mind the other pets we have at all. Rokko even stole a baby spinach leaf from the skinny pig one day heh (I have a video of that somewhere). He did have to go through a move though, but from what I heard, he didn't have a problem with it.
I see all these videos of cockatiels, youngins like mine to 20 year olds, and they all make that common cockatiel vocal noise. I saddens me that he doesn't make this common noise, or behavior. Did he just grow into his teens or something what happened?
Being a little over dramatic, but some advice and tips will go a long way!
Thanks,
Josh
I have a year old cockatiel, lutino/yellow pied mutation :yellow pied: ! His name is Rokko, but everyone calls him birdie... lol. I was wondering if I could get some advice/tips on training.
I had to leave the bird with the family due to sudden changes to living rules at the place I was living. Now that I am back for a bit, theres a few developments. Rokko has made a habit of screaming until someone comes to him. I tried to avoid this by instructing everyone to not feed his attention seeking behaviour (following the Cockatiels For Dummies book), however they didn't and continue not to.
The only noise he knows to make is a high pitch scream, like a flock call, but non stop. He even does this when hes out and not where he wants to be (like below, on the finger or not on his favourite person).
Ironically his favourite person is my dad, who doesn't particularly like having the bird on him because he's a little allergic. Very moody, runs away from hands/fingers, bites (okay not hard, but enough to merit some kind of disciplinary action like putting him in his cage for time out).
Next he is very afraid and uncomfortable being anywhere but your shoulder, play gym perch or the back part of the couch. So if hes on your finger, he will start trying for your shoulder, and/or start the screaming.
Last, he is pickier than I am. I know they are picky eaters to begin with, but I can't give him veggies or fruit because he's too scared to eat it or if he tries to go near it, he shakes his head then wants to leave.
It's a shame because he started out great. So accepting and adapting of where he was. His first visit to the vet for his checkup after I bought him, he was preening on the counter while the vet asked the details - first time the vet ever saw a bird behave like that in a foreign area (preening, allowing to be petted, stepping up). He also made little squeaks while he was out, clearly happy noises. Now that is all changed. Theres a 0% chance anyone in the family traumatized him, they are all animal lovers. Also the bird doesn't mind the other pets we have at all. Rokko even stole a baby spinach leaf from the skinny pig one day heh (I have a video of that somewhere). He did have to go through a move though, but from what I heard, he didn't have a problem with it.
I see all these videos of cockatiels, youngins like mine to 20 year olds, and they all make that common cockatiel vocal noise. I saddens me that he doesn't make this common noise, or behavior. Did he just grow into his teens or something what happened?
Being a little over dramatic, but some advice and tips will go a long way!
Thanks,
Josh