


A bird will bite to express that it is scared or upset, and you shouldn't take bites personally. You might feel hurt or upset when your Cockatiel bites, but it's important to realize that birds bite because they are reacting to a stressful situation, not because they are trying to be mean. Eventually, he will associate those words with the action of ‘stepping up.’

Next time you do it, say “step up” as you apply the pressure. When he does this, give him a treat and praise him. Apply slight pressure and he will most likely step up immediately. If you have a bird that rarely bites: Place your finger against your bird’s abdomen above his legs.If your bird starts to bite aggressively, stop the training session and try again later. Give him a treat and praise immediately after he does this. If you have a bird that bites: Move your finger quickly and fluidly towards the top of his legs as if you were running your finger through a candle flame.X Expert Source Hayley Heartfieldīird Specialist Expert Interview. Do not try to grab a Cockatiel or force it to step up, as this will most likely result in you getting bit. The way you do this depends on if you have a bird that bites a lot or a friendlier bird. Train your bird to ‘step up.’ After you have tamed your cockatiel and he is eating out of your hand, you should teach him to step up onto your hand. As long as you're sure the owner isn't rehoming the bird because of behaviour problems, and you are given the bird's health history, this can be a great way to purchase a Cockatiel, particularly for beginners. Sometimes, things come up and people have to give away their pets. Purchase a cockatiel from a previous owner.While many Cockatiels from rescue groups make good pets, adopting from a shelter is not recommended for beginners, as these Cockatiels can be unhealthy or have behaviour problems. Before trying to buy a pet bird it is generally better to try to adopt a bird. Purchase a cockatiel from a rescue center.A beginner should never hand-feed a baby Cockatiel. Purchase a Cockatiel that is about three months old or slightly older. You can purchase a hand-fed baby from a specialty bird store or bird breeder. This is because pet store birds can be unhealthy, and are often not socialized (which makes taming them harder).

While you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest Cockatiel you can find, purchasing a bird from a pet store is not recommended. Cockatiels love to chew, so toys like twig balls and palm strips are best. Buy several toys and rotate them every week so that your bird isn't bored. A bunch of toys for your Cockatiel to play with.You will notice that your cockatiel will choose one perch as his home base (the perch where he will sleep.) X Expert Source Hayley Heartfieldīird Specialist Expert Interview. Make sure that you have a variety and at least a few natural wood perches, though, because a cockatiel's feet can develop issues when standing on dowel perches. Cockatiels like to climb and play so lots of perches will make your cockatiel very happy. A skirt for the cage to catch thrown seed.You will need separate bowls for the dry and wet bird food (wet food will be items like fruit, cooked beans, etc.) Cockatiels, like any pet bird, require things to keep them entertained in their cages. If you are underage, consider who will care for your Cockatiel if you cannot keep it while at college. How long am I prepared to care for a pet? Because Cockatiels can live for upwards of twenty years, consider your dedication carefully before purchasing.If you're a neat freak or hate being woken up early in the morning, a Cockatiel might not be right for you. Am I sensitive to noise and mess? Though Cockatiels are not extremely noisy, they will be vocal in the morning and evening and can create big messes.Paired Cockatiels will need less attention, but you'll still have to give them daily attention and care. How much time can I spend with my Cockatiel? Unless someone is at home most of the day, a single Cockatiel is likely to be lonely.In addition, you will need to take your Cockatiel to the vet for an annual examination. How much money am I prepared to spend? While Cockatiels are not very expensive to purchase($80 to $100 or more), they need sizable cages and plenty of toys and other enrichment items.With proper care, they can live for more than twenty years! Before purchasing a cockatiel, you should consider the following questions (and include anyone else who lives with you in the discussion): Cockatiels, just like other cockatoos, require daily care and attention and can be noisy and messy pets. Consider if a cockatiel is the right pet for you.
