Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/4/2007

Question
I would like to tame and train my male pet cockatiel, Barney. When I try, i take him out of his cage outside with his girlfriend and into a small room into our house. He is terrified and screams and shakes. He runs to the corner and if I try to touch him he runs away terrified or bites me. He refuses to sit on my finger! I don't understand why he is so scared of me and I dont know how I can get his behaviour to stop. Do you have any ideas for training a stubborn cockatiel?

Answer
Hi, Georgia-Maree,

I picked your question up from the question pool.  Whomever you sent your post to evidently couldn't answer.

Your tiel acts like he does because he is not tame.  Taming begins when a bird is a baby.  For example, parrot breeders handfeed baby parrots in order for them to imprint on humans.  These birds make tame pet birds.  A bird that is parent-raised doesn't have the opportunity to become socialized to humans, thus, is not tame.  Even a tame bird that has had bad experiences with humans will lose its tameness (will be frightened of people).  The problem you'll have is that you own 2 birds....birds prefer other birds to humans.  Your bird has a girlfriend...it may not need you or want you as a companion.  You can try to tame your bird, but it will take much time and patience.  How does the other bird respond to you?  If the other bird is tame, allow the male to observe your interaction with the other bird and this may help the male become more trusting of you.  

Don't take your bird out of its cage.  Allow your bird to come out of its cage on its own.  You are most likely scaring your bird more by forcing him to come out.  A bird's cage is its personal territory, its safety zone, the only place in the world that belongs to the bird.  You need to build a trusting relationship with your bird.  Don't do anything to make your bird more frightened of you than he already is.  Take one step at a time.  Reward him for positive behavior and never reward him for bad behavior.  Visit my website for more information on taming:

www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html
www.birdchannel.com is also a good website

Chrys