Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased an African Gray cockatiel in February 2005, my first bird, and he has just started acting strange. My wife and I are in the process of moving at the end of the month and I know our dogs sense something is going on. When I let "Baby" out of his pen he used to walk on top of his pen then jump on my shoulder. Now he is a little reluctunt to do this and while he is in his pen he walks around with his wings "bowed", like he is "strutting his stuff". He looks alright and he is eating but he is repeating the same thing over and over. Is he alright or should I be concerned?

It sounds like he is just 'strutting his stuff' This is pretty normal for them. When you say african grey, you mean normal grey????? There's no such thing as an african grey tiel but there is the normal grey.....

They can all sense the moving, all I can say is try & make him as comfortable as possible in his new home. Tiels can be pretty aweful when it comes to change. Very few like it & they often think THEY own you LOL & can make life a missery because you've done something they dissaprove of!! Just settle him as quickley as you can.

How old was he when you bought him? Between 4 months & 8-9 months they go through a molt & they mature. This is when most males start displaying odd behaviour. They can also often get cranky at this stage too.

Yes he is a nornal gray and I believe he was just a couple of months old when we bought him at a pet store. Would buying another cockatiel help?

Thanks for the information

It sounds like he is being his normal, possibly molting, hormonal self...If you buy another tiel then chances are they may bond to one another & not you. They could either like each other & you won't be able to tame either one or they'll not get along at all & you have to keep them seperate. It sounds to me like he's just a little hormonal. Give him time to get over it & settle down, at the same time don't let him become too bossy & run the household otherwise you'll have a difficult bird on your hands. Buying another bird doesn't resolve the prob of them being hormonal or molting. Unfortunately they can go through this every 6 months if molting & if hormonal every breeding season. It's something that you just have to deal with. If it becomes really bad for them, just leave them alone, most prefer this. I know Cricket likes to sulk in his cage when he's really bad so I let him stay there, he lets me know when he's ready to come out.

If it's nerves about moving then give him time to settle in his new home, he will be fine.

Tiels can be very sensitive to subtle changes in routine. If you're spending less time with him because you are more busy or if your time with him is more harried than normal he will most likely respond.

Also, his age and the time of year could have something to do with it. But since you said the changes coincide with preparing for a move I'd guess that is it. Getting another tiel at this time may only add more stress to him.

Is he pretty attached to you?

When you say african gray You don't mean an African grey parrot do you? Cause they are really, super smart and would figure things out b4 your dogs did!