Reptile & Amphibian Forums

PHIggysbirds, you seem to know a LOT about cockatiels (or if anyone else has suggestions, also??, so...

My female pearl (believe it is female b/c she is rather quiet most times and doesn't whistle at all) is almost 7 months (have had her for 3). She was nearly impossible when I first got her...took her a month before she would step direct to my finger instead of from her dowel to my finger. She will eat millet spray from my hand but nothing else. I just got her to start eating some pellets, although she still prefers her seed mix! Anyway, my point is she HAS come a long way since I first got her. She takes showers with me (sometimes she LOVES, sometimes she'd rather not!) and she'll sit on my shoulder, finger, or her gyms. She seems to really like to be near me all the time (even chirps loudly, calling to me, if I'm not in the room). BUT she will not, absolutely, no way at all, let me touch her or scritch her or anything! I miss my senegal and other tiel, both of which absolutely loved to cuddle and get scritches.

Any idea on how to get her to like cuddles and scritches? Or should I just accept the fact that she may never like to be touched and handled that way? Would appreciate any advice! Thanks!!

Sorry!! Meant have had her SINCE she was 3 months!! Didn't know if you needed to know how long I've had her?? Thanks!!

It does sound like she has already come a long way. I have known both cuddly cockatiels and ones that would prefer "no touching". Sometimes patience will win out and they will calm enough and feel comfortable enough to have scritches but some just do not like them and there is really no way to force them or train them to like them.

Is your bird scared of towels, cloths etc, or is she one of those that will gladly crawl up under a towel if you are holding it. If you can get her to accept being held in a towel (without scaring her or having to chase her with it) it can be a lot easier to get them to accept scritches. We currently have in two quakers that are extremely cage territorial. If you let them out of their cage they will climb to the top and you can coax them onto your hand, during this they will in no way accept any form of petting, scritches etc. But both seem to love being held securely (not tight) in a towel with just their head peeking out and then they will both accept scritches on their head and even lean into your hand for more scritches. I don't know why this is but if she will accept a towel after a little coaxing and patience you may be able to get her to cuddle. Getting her towel trained can be a big plus as well for future vet visits so they won't be quite so tramatic.

I've had birds my whole life and have worked with all types in a rescue unofficially for 13 years and officially for 7 years. So I am still definitely not an expert but have had experience with a bit of everything LOL!

LOL...it DOES sound like you have a lot of experience! I noticed that when I was reading past posts and your replies, so I thought you'd be able to help. My last cockatiel and senegal loved cuddling and skritches, so I miss that. Kiki doesn't particularly care for towels though - when she had an infection, the vet gave me drops to put in her nares. I had to towel her to do that so she's not fond of it! I try to put it on her when not trying to clean her nares or clipping but she quickly comes out from it. So forget peek-a-boo! I'll keep trying though. Thanks again for the advice. I've thought about getting a Meyers but I didn't know if I would be neglecting Kiki and if I should give her more time? What do you think? Thanks, as always, for your great advice! PS What kind of fids do you have?

As long as you still make sure to spend as much time with her even when she doesn't want scritches adding another bird will mainly mean dividing your time wisely It can be hard to remember to spend time with one bird who can be nippy or else more independent when you have another begging for cuddles and scritches but if you keep attention for both then it shouldn't be a problem. If you are worried about not having enough time (are you away from home a lot etc) then I would definitely wait a while longer to make sure. It is still very possible she will come along with more time and patience I just didn't want to get your hopes up since some just don't want cuddles.

Personally in my home I have two african greys, two blue and golds, a nanday conure, two quakers, a cockatiel, a goffins too, two amazons, an eclectus and a U2 (two of the birds are my husbands and three belong to my teenagers, out of the rest some are bonded to me and some enjoy the whole family). (The dusty birds are on separate floors from the b&gs in case of allergies) But besides them I also work with the rescue birds (I also have volunteers and family that help with them) and there we have a larger assortment including finches, budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, conures, amazons, more african greys, quakers, macaws and cockatoos at the moment.

My day starts at around 6:00 in the morning preparing meals (they enjoy their birdie muffins and birdie salads so I prepare them early, but usually I only have to about once a week) then cleaning cages in my home after uncovering cages at 7:30 (the volunteers help cleaning cages daily at the rescue). Then the birds have playtime out of their cages . Some prefer no cuddles others get their own special individual cuddle time and we have training time (at least an hour each during the day for cuddles and/or individual training LOL!) again the volunteers help out with cuddles and playtime at the rescue and my husbands and kids help out at home (always with their birds and sometimes with the "family" birds) so no bird gets left out. Then after lunch I spend 3-4 hours working with rescue birds and hubby leaves for work. Then back home with my birds for the late afternoon early evening. Then back to the rescue at around 6:30 for more play, evening meal, cage check, and finally lights out. Then back home around 8:30 for evening cuddles and more play for my birds, they are covered up and quiet by between 9:30-10:00 for their 10 hours of sleep so no grumpy birds. Then I clean house go over the next days lessons with my kids (they are homeschooled)check over homework and they are in bed by 10:30. Then I get to make sure the house is clean, check messages etc. Hubby gets home around midnight and then I go to sleep only to start over the next day So I keep pretty busy with them all LOL!!

HOLY COW!! Do you have ANY time for yourself?? LOL Sounds like you always have fun, interesting days tho! I don't know how you do it - you're definitely my idol! Teehee! I would absolutely love to have a cockatoo or african grey but I worry since I work full time that they wouldn't get enough attention. I do wonder how others do since I know they have to work, too?? If you had to choose just ONE bird to have, which one would you, that's your favorite? I know it's hard to choose! I read something yesterday that said it could take a year to fully tame and bond with a cockatiel (or other bird) so I might give her a little longer before I consider adding to my flock. I appreciate your honesty and advice. I hope she does come around and like scritches and cuddling. She loves to be with me - on my shoulder or beside me - so I guess that's a start! I bought a book on trick training, too, which I hope helps bond us even more. We shall see!

Any time spent whether holding, training, or playing should help your bond and the possibility that she may learn to tolerate or even want scritches and cuddles.

Hmmm, if I had to choose just one out of the birds I have??? Well I can choose two - three of my birds but not necessarily the species as a whole. I guess Gizmo would have to be my favorite. She is a goffins cockatoo. When I got her I had worked with "secondhand" goffins before and had friends or acquaintaces who had them as well. I was warned that they aren't the "smartest" cockatoo, or the cuddliest and most seem to think they are the hyperest and slowest to learn (although not the loudest) well Gizmo seems to prove all the stereotypes wrong. Everyone even BirdTalk magazine claimed they will not work for treats and have short attention spans compared to most of the too family or even other birds. Well Gizmo will do anything for a jalapeno treat (zupreem treats). She will work endlessly with no nippiness or tantrums on a new trick. She flies to me and to her perch on command, she steps up and down, she dances, shows me "pretty big bird" with her wings spread. Sings, and says many words and phrases at just the right moment. She also can pick any lock unscrew any quicklink, take out any bolt even when wrench or plier tightened. She can destroy a new toy in less than an hour no matter how hard the wood or intricate the knots. Then she is ready to cuddle on my lap and lean her head under my chin. I do have to say though that this does not seem to be the norm with goffins and I have been lucky to get her.

I do have to say I have two others that would be right up there with my favorite and that is Lewy "my" african grey and Mackadoo (Macky for short) my B&G. Lewy came to me as an eight year old second hand bird who supposedly bit everybody, refused to talk and wouldn't come out of his cage. The first day I brought him home he climbed out onto my hand leaned over against me and started "cooing". He now unlocks his cage and climbs to his playtop to await his turn at play and time with me. He doesn't really take to much trick training but is good with "obedience" (step up, down etc). He and his buddy Alex the amazon tattle on the other birds and holler "MoooooMMMM" when anyone is too noisy, gets out of their cages by themselves or throws food. He also likes to tell the other birds when I come in "Be quiet, Mommy's here now!" LOL!!
Macky the B&G is my ornery one. He can be nippy and too hyper but will settle down when he has plenty of attention. He knows his colors, demands his choice of treat whether it be a banana, nut, apple or coney (bird bread in a kiddie cone), and he is not happy if you try to give him another treat he will holler NOOOO WANT (whatever he asked for first). He meows like a cat, barks like a dog and "tries" to sing Old McDonald. When he is meowing he will tell you he is a "Good Kitty, pet the Kitty". He has his favorite music and wants to hear it constantly if you can believe it "stray cat strut" LOL!

So as you can see it can be hard to pick out a favorite and even after those three I can tell you reason why each and everyone could be my favorite. But those three are my babies. They chose me when they were brought here, not the family not my husband etc just me. All the other birds we have either like me or tolerate me but seem to like others as well and don't mind if there playtime or training is led by a different person. Those three pout, sulk and throw a fit if someone else is trying to take my place so it makes me feel wanted LOL!

And yes I have a full day and not necessarily any "me" time but I love it and it is always interesting. I know if there ever comes a time when it isn't as fun and interesting anymore it will be time to let someone else take over the rescue and to just spend time with my own birds but now I love it and so far always have so I keep flapping along

AAWW...thanks for sharing your stories!! I love reading about other people's birds. I imagine it would be so much fun working with them that much - though maybe heartbreaking sometimes with rescues. You're a very special person - I don't know if I could handle it and be that patient! I can imagine it would be hard choosing with all your special ones! Thanks again for sharing your stories and the great advice!