Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello - I'm not only new here but am new to bird ownership. About 3 months ago, while outside in the yard, I heard a panicked bird fly past and when I looked, it was a cockatiel being chased and attacked by 2 minor birds. They scared him into some scrub and nailed him onto the ground and before I new it - I'd jumped in there and smacked those minor birds away (3 times before they'd get the message) and before he could get away, grabbed Willy (as he's now called) and brought him inside. Well 3 months later, with no-one coming forward, he now comfortably rules the roost and has become such a loved member of our family.

We let him out of his cage (ensuring all dangerous objects are out of his path) for 4 hours a day and while he is happy to land on our heads and sometimes, our arms and he especially loves to get kisses on the head - he will always try and take our fingers off - and he squeals whenever a hand comes near ready to bite just before running and hiding and he starts shaking and breathing heavily. It was suggested this could be due to previous mistreatment and I was wondering whether there could be any truth to this?

We want him to know he is safe with us and is well and truly loved which is why we're trying to figure out if there's anything we can do to teach him to trust us and realise our hands or fingers aren't to be feared? It's horrible to see him panicked and we don't want to see him in fear anymore...

Can anybody help us? Many thanks in advance.

I am so glad that Willy has you!!!!

Yes some birds do get traumatized by hands and see them as an entirely different entity than your head and shoulders. He sees them as a threat obviously. That is so sad. Poor baby.

Here's some things you can try. They LOVE millet. Take a spray of millet and while he is on your head or shoulder slowly move your hand toward him with the millet in it. Don't give him millet sprays any other time than from your hand. If he startles just keep your hand in one place and maybe the next day try to move it closer and so on. The whole time talk gently to him. Softly reassuring him.

I'd love to see a picture.

Thanks - I'll get some tomorrow and give that a try. He's such a funny littl fella when he doesn't feel threatened and we've noticed how the yellow feathers around his head are growing and thickening. He seemed so scrawny 3 months ago yet when we had a good long look at him today - noticed just how healthy his appearance has become - a handsome fella to say the least.

I'll take a photo of him when I receive my new camera in 4 days (have so many on my mobile phone) and he loves his picture being taken - he usually starts talking at the phone while pulling the greatest faces.

Just a last question if I may? He seems to get angry with his feet (as though something irritates) and starts biting them and when i investigate - he holds his foot out to me and starts talking very softly. I have looked with my magnifying glass but can't see anything wrong. Should I be doing something?

Many thanks

Hi,

Please ask all the questions you may have. We may not have all the answers but we try.

My tiel bites at her feet too especially when stressed out. She particularly bites at the metal band around her ankle. She was mistreated for a while before I got her. Left in a basement in the dark for over a year. I believe this is a nervous tick. I think it comes from neglect or abuse. It is a stress response just like some people get.

There is hope though. Pepper doesn't do that as much anymore. She seems to have adjusted to living here and is much more calm. She doesn't do that nearly as much.

You may want to take him in for a avian vet check if you can afford it. Just to be sure.

They really are sweet little birds and its sad to me all the sad stories you hear about them. They deserve so much better than the pet stores doling them out like candy.

I forgot. If you have any corn this may entice him too.

Also, try offering him chances to bathe. This may help him relax. Maybe put a little dish with warm water in it on the bottom of his cage. He may just take a bath. I will be back later with a link to basic cockatiel care when I find it.

Here's a picture of my Pepper after a bath.

(geeze I am chatty today) lol

How absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful face. She looks that happy.... Again, thank goodness you found her. A basement is the place for the people who kept her there not this beautiful little girl.

I've tried corn - the little bugger spits it out...

I've also tried a special little bath I purchased from our local Pet Barn but he seems to fear it. What he does love though is a fine spray mist of water from a little plastic atomiser cannister I purchased from the Chemist - he lifts his head and whistles at me. It's the one thing that makes him bring his head close....

Then thank the powers that be you found Pepper. We (ridiculously?) believe Willy found us and that's why he's here.

I'll try and locate (a good) avian vet - and take him in for a checkup - hopefully there's one closer by so he doesn't get overly stressed in the car.

I think they're considered rare specialists here therefore quite expensive but heavens, when you have pets (in our case, 2 boxer dogs with grass allergies (who willy loves to taunt from his high position), 10 fish and now a tiel - all of them spoiled beyond belief), you tend to stop questioning the cost of their upkeep (because it just keeps rising). No - the question then becomes - who do I have to sell or borrow from to ensure we have it? It's usually my poor mother.

No I don't think its ridiculous that he found you. He flew into your yard. Poor thing with the minor birds. I didn't know they would do that. Do you suppose they were going to eat him?

Actually Pepper's been in our family for 7 years now. My niece bought her and then left for college. My brother then put her in a storage room in the basement. I didn't know he did this until my sister one day said "That poor bird" He fed her and kept her clean but that was it. When the weather got warm enough I took her home with me. She seems to have adjusted well. Doesn't pick at her feet anymore. She did do this out of stress I am convinced of that.

She is sorta a pain in the patoot cause I live in a small apartment and get to hear her all day but she is on my shoulder most of the time. I spoil her with all kinds of goodies like broccoli and corn and peas and kale and well you name it. she is a major cuddle bug. LOVES to snuggle.

Please don't tell your brother I said that ... lol.

I've started training Willy to hand feed. I rang to make an appointment with a man commonly know around these parts as our bird expert - the best avian vet in Sydney. After telling the receptionist the story, she put me through to him and he mentioned in the meantime (he can't see me for 2 weeks!) to start hand feeding. Willy will start to see that fingers are good and he'll feel he's receiving treats at the same time. Well, no bitten fingers yet (with food only) ... so seems to be starting out well.

I've looked at the photo you sent a coupld of times and can't believe what a pretty little girl you have. And don't they love to talk? Just like children. Squawk when you don't respond then cooing and whistling shamelessly at you when you do

Just in answer to your question, yeah - those nasty minor birds would have killed him. Sadly some people my sister knows purchased a 6 week old boy at Christmas, clipped his wings then in an act of stupidity, would take him outside thinking he couldn't get away. Well he did and clipping his wings signed his death warrant that much earlier. A lady down their street tried desparately to save him but the birds had got to him too early and he died of shock - they left him in such a mess. It broke my heart as I had the pleasure of holding him for a few minutes when I went to pick up my sister and what a pretty little boy he was - so gentle... It was the next day that he got away

Don't worry I told my brother much worse things than you did here!!! I told him how awful what he did was.

He didn't even get upset. He really isn't an animal person so it didn't matter to him. I asked him why he kept Pepper and he said for his daughter. Well ultimately she is glad I have her now. My niece lives in Costa Rica so this is for the best. I love Pepper.

I am so sorry for your sister's bird. That must haunt both of you.

The baby tiel belonged to friends of my sister and yet it haunts me still and much more than it does her. I tend to feel any animal's suffering very deeply whereas my sister is able to shrug it off more readily. I've never been able to figure that one out as we come from a family that has always rescued any animal in need so have been raised to understand the level of their defenselessness - sadly and in most cases at the hands of humans.

Well... thank goodness they have us i suppose - if we can save one then that's one less that will suffer (how maudlin - I know )