Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 2/20/2009

Question
Our 3 year old cockatiel is lately exhibiting strange behaviour. He hangs around the bottom of his cage on his chest with his tail up and if we go near him or put our hand in the cage he runs up and bites.  While in the cage he is also destroying the newspaper at the bottom.  It's as though he is trying to protect his "house".  Normally he is a most affectionate fellow and loves nothing more than to sit with us and follow us around.  Could he have the mating urge? He has his wing clipped.  HELP!

Answer
Hi, Marion,

Sounds like your "he" could be a "she!"  This is typical behavior of a female whose hormones are active.  The destruction of newspaper and the biting behavior is also typical of a bird preparing to go to nest.  Could be a male, too, if s/he rubs his/her bum on perches, the side of the cage, etc. It is the beginning of breeding season, so you may have a female experiencing hormonal activity.  Don't be surprised if "she" lays an egg.  The biting behavior is your bird's way of defending it's cage in preparation for offspring.  When tiels are exhibiting this behavior, it's just best to let them be because there's nothing you can do to change this behavior.  It is normal when hormones are active this time of year.  Normal behavior will return once the hormonal activity diminishes.

Hopefully, your tiel has BOTH wing flight feathers clipped and not just one side.  Clipping only 1 side causes the bird to be off balance.

Chrys