|
Post by birdmaid on Nov 27, 2013 8:56:15 GMT
I adopted a cockatiel from a paramedic who adopted it from a patient who passed away after being bedridden for many months. "Dakotah" has been with me for 2 months and it has been pure unhappiness. When I first got him home, I cleaned his cage and replaced all the old broken toys with new ones. I read so much that I wanted everything perfect. He is ungainly, can hardly move and his one foot the toes overlap. I cannot even guess his age. I handled him with a towel and clipped some of his flight feathers so he wouldn't hurt himself in the cage. It is a fairly large cage. I purchased a heated perch for his foot, switched him over to Harrisons and have been sprouting seeds for him. Nothing I do is making our living arrangements any better. His cage sits next to two parakeets who do have the run of the house and I try to keep them away from him since they do seem to torment him alittle. I leave a night light on, radio and during the day he has a sun lamp since North Dakota is not noted for it's heat. Am I doing too much too soon. I was spoiled with the parakeets they were so easy to fingertrain. Dakota does wolf whistle and chirps when I am around, screams a bit when I leave the room but I always whistle back to him and he seems fine. It is just when I put my hand next to him he just hisses and attacks. I have been bitten several times but I never pull away or yell at him, he just seems to unhappy.
|
|
|
Post by Sarah on Nov 27, 2013 14:11:54 GMT
Hey Birdmaid.
So your Dakotah has been through a lot. He is angry and afraid, because he has been abandoned and taken from everything and everyone he knows not once but twice - or more! It doesn't matter to Dakotah that their might have been a good reason. All he knows is that he has been passed around. He's like a foster kid. His world isn't stable, and that is the source of his unhappiness.
The best thing you can do for him is give him time and a stable living environment and wait for him to adjust. Try your best to do the same things at the same time every day. Even though he seems to be a source of worry and negative energy for you, think about his rehabilitation as a positive thing - you are giving a little soul a new chance at life. Just be there for him, and take extra time to talk to him. If you can whistle or sing (or even if you can't) spend some time each day making music with him. We know that he wants to be part of your life, or he wouldn't call to you when you leave the room. He is just afraid and hurt and angry. People tend not to think about the emotional state of an animal, but he does have them, and he is all tangled up inside.
Offer him treats, but don't enter his living space to do it. A birds cage is not just a means to keep them restrained to one area. It is his territory and his safe place - like a security blanket. When you reach into his house, he feels that you are invading his personal space - so only do this for necessary cleaning and maintenance. It may be time to consider letting him out of the cage to stretch and play. Give him the opportunity to come to you instead of trying to go to him. Male cockatiels are notorious lovers of food, so try some things to lure him out with that might interest him. Millet sprays and unbuttered popcorn are my two big guns, but you may have to experiment to find out what his 'must have' snack might be.
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Nov 27, 2013 16:22:08 GMT
Sarah, I think a lot of this is good advice for me too. Although I would not describe Emma as mean, she is very shy around my hands. I think she was traumatized by being in the small cage in the pet store so long. And, who knows how many times she was grabbed with the gloves! She has been with me only twelve days; much less than a month. Birdmaid, she hisses if I try to get her to step up on my hand. She hasn't bitten me yet, I think because I generally hold completely still if she hisses, and wait for her to calm down. Then, I generally back off.
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Nov 27, 2013 19:34:18 GMT
I think that it will take time for both of you. You're dealing with possibly a hand tamed cockatiel who hasn't been handled in a long time (Or for Emma, long enough to scare her and make her feel slightly abandoned)
I was very lucky to get Pepper from a loving home right from the start, but anything that scares her she will spread her wings out and hiss (she doesn't like my little one's fingers anywhere near which I totally get!) I don't think it's a mean behavior, but rather a scared/angry one like Sarah said.
|
|
|
Post by birdmaid on Nov 30, 2013 1:19:43 GMT
Sarah,
Thank you I believe I am putting my hand into his cage too soon. I have tried cheerios, millet, nutriberries and such but nothing seems to work as a treat. I shall try popcorn next and anyone out there that has a suggestion please let me know. I will keep my hands out of his cage for awhile aside from cleaning, and I think I will purchase a large ladder from the floor to his cage door. Since it is only him and I and the keets I can limit his outside cage time. Thank you again, he is adorable when he sings and chirps and he really isn't a loud screamer.
Thank You So Much Birdmaid
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Dec 5, 2013 16:36:15 GMT
How is it going, Birdmaid?
|
|
|
Post by birdmaid on Dec 6, 2013 12:23:59 GMT
Good Morning,
It is getting better slowly but surely, Dakotah has been singing more, actually playing with a toy and I have kept my fat fingers out of his cage except for cleaning. When I walk up to the cage he cocks his head but his plumage is not going straight up now or dangerously laid back. I did take out an ordinary perch today and replaced it with a grooming one and moved in a new toy and he took it better then he usually does. Just hope I didn't make a set back but it was time he had a perch to suit his crippled little toes. The heated one I think is too slippery for him and I didn't want to make a big production out of removing it. I have kept his cage door open while I sit with him in the mornings for a couple of hours. Still haven't really found a treat that his goes for but he does eat the nutriberries. And he doesn't hiss anymore when I turn on and off his sun light. So all in all I am content with the progress. Oh and the parakeets don't seem to bother him nearly as much as they used to. When they perched on top of his cage you could just feel the hostility, now he actually seems like he is trying to communicate with them. Maybe I am just imaging things.
Again thank you and I think I will just continue to take it slowly. Birdmaid
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Dec 6, 2013 15:16:26 GMT
That's good news, Birdmaid. Definitely sounds like an upward trend. Keep us posted on your little fellow! The cockatiel crest is so interesting. I can really tell what Emma is feeling by looking at it.
|
|
|
Post by roxhum on Dec 9, 2013 16:07:39 GMT
Congratulations on your new bird. Good for you for taking in a lost little soul and giving him a second chance. I look forward to hearing updates.
|
|
|
Post by Pammy on Dec 9, 2013 17:22:03 GMT
Roxhum, just last night I was wondering about you and Sweetie Pie. How're you doing?
|
|
|
Post by roxhum on Dec 9, 2013 22:23:42 GMT
We are doing very well. I just got busy with Thanksgiving and shopping and life. I am settling into a nice routine with Sweetie. The boy budgies are getting a little bit ignored, but they have each other, Sweetie needs one on one time.
I am very excited for you to get Mistletoe and then hear of all your adventures.
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Dec 9, 2013 22:26:01 GMT
I have been neglecting my budgies a bit too. As you said, they have each other. However, I hope to get bad to spending more time with them as Emma becomes more tame. She is sitting on my shoulder right now, eating millet. Just DON'T TOUCH her!
|
|
|
Post by Pammy on Dec 9, 2013 23:20:04 GMT
Thanks, Roxhum! I am very excited to get my little man, Mistletoe, too! Reading all about the adventures of our forum members who have relationships with their cockatiels makes me soooooo eager for that happy day when he comes home. I'm hoping that Kringle will not stand for Mistletoe getting all of the attention, and will bravely demand his share, getting him more tame in the process. Poor little Clausy. I don't know if he will ever be tame.
|
|
|
Post by birdmaid on Dec 24, 2013 3:32:41 GMT
Merry Christmas Everyone,
For crying out loud after running the gamut from popcorn, to nutriberries, to sprouts, to whatever cost too much the darling loves millet. Plain ordinary run of the mill organic millet, I suppose with everything offered to him and being frightened most of the time he didn't know what he liked. Baby steps still, keeping fingers away. No hissing and wild flapping. He does the funniest thing when you sit with him, Dakotah puts his head almost upside down, and then sways back and forth stares at you and wolf whistles. Anyway things are better.
Thank You All & Happy Holidays Birdmaid
|
|
|
Post by luvsanimals2 on Dec 24, 2013 3:34:55 GMT
Merry Christmas! glad things are better. just keep at it
|
|