|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Mar 26, 2014 20:40:26 GMT
Those of you who have cockatiels, do they have a strong preference for shoulders over hands?
When I get Silver on my hand or finger, he immediately wants onto my shoulder. It is basically impossible to keep him on my hand. I am wondering why this is and whether it is a problem.
Also, he is getting more reluctant to step up. When he is on top of the cage, he runs away when I try to get him. When I do get him, he immediately flies back to the cage top. If I grab him, I can get him in front of my body (with my back to the cage), and then get him away from the cage. (When I say grab him, I mean cup him in my hands--he doesn't seem to mind that much and doesn't bite.)He is then rhappy to sit on my shoulder, pretty much indefinitely. I am confused about why he is getting more resistant to stepping up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarah on Mar 27, 2014 3:44:17 GMT
Firstly, I think that hand vs. shoulder is a personal preference from bird to bird: Pirate does not enjoy sitting on shoulders because he feels that he is not being payed attention to. He prefers a hand at face level or to sit on my chest or even the top of my head (he leans down over my forehead to talk to my face  ) Pirate also backs away when I offer to pick him up off his cage. I think it has a lot to do with it being his 'territory.' I generally wait for him to come to me or lure him down with a treat. Maybe you could try offering him little tidbits to come closer so that you are not chasing him around the top of the cage? |
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Mar 27, 2014 14:48:35 GMT
That's so funny how different their preferences are! I feel I give Silver more direct attention if he is on my hand at face level. Yes, he will come to me from the top of the cage if I have a treat.
It's very interesting having both cockatiels. I can see how different they are in their development. Emma seems like a Jaguar--sleek and powerful. Silver is like a little Volkswagen.
|
|
|
|
Post by dcalton75 on Mar 28, 2014 14:02:05 GMT
Peewee is only really happy on shoulders unless your brushing your teeth. Then he wants to be on one hand so he can play in running water. This is the only time he wants anything to do with hands or water. Suki on the other hand doesn't want anything to do with being out of her cage at all. I know she loves us because she is so excited when we are talking to her through the cage. Maybe once she molts and can fly again maybe it will change. I am just happy she seems content at all without her having no out of cage time.
|
|
|
|
Post by roxhum on Mar 28, 2014 14:10:56 GMT
Not having raised either of my cockatiels I can't say what is their personality and what is their training and life experience. Sweetie is very obliging stepping up and will ride my shoulder as I move about my house doing chores. Pearl sucks at stepping up to my finger but often will step up onto a wood perch. She will never step up from her cage but will willingly fly to my shoulder. She prefers my hand and chest to my shoulder making it difficult to type so she can't be out when I work from home. Sweetie was a family pet in her younger years whereas Pearl was a breeders bird that fortunately got handled a lot.
Do you think silver might be bonding more to the other birds than to you?
|
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Mar 28, 2014 15:59:30 GMT
Hi, Roxie.
No, I don't think Silver is bonding more to the other birds. He is very happy to spend time with me. Right now he is sitting on my chest. The other birds are flying over periodically to check things out and to perch on my laptop, the back of my chair, and my shoulders. Things have changed A Lot since I brought Silver home!
Silver likes to be with the other birds, but doesn't interact with them much. The budgies sometimes flirt with him. He ignores them. I am actually happy with how things are, as I don't want Silver to be excessively clingy. There are times he flock calls for me excessively; There are times he makes the hungry baby begging noise.
When I come home and put my key in the door, Silver makes four or five very loud flock calls. Emma doesn't flock call for me much, but does flock call for Silver. Hers is generally just one call, whereas his are at least four in rapid succession.
Silver still cannot fly very well. When he does try to fly, he often ends up on the floor and thinks he is lost. He often ends up in the dining room or the hall, and calls until I come and get him. Then, he steps up right away and is happy to be taken back to his friends or to my chair.
I would like him to let me scritch his head. That's not happening very quickly. I've gotten him to let me touch his beak with my finger sometimes, tho. If he allows it, he gets a treat.
|
|
|
|
Post by roxhum on Mar 29, 2014 14:08:13 GMT
I am so happy that things are working out so well with your birds. I bet you are curios what sex Silver will turn out to be. I know I am. Pearl is so much louder than Sweetie, and someone before me taught her to whistle so I look at her and think boy. Accept I am told she laid an egg before I got her. She is a bit of a brat. I too am very happy with my two birds but have an extra special spot In my heart for the quiet calm Sweetie Pie.
|
|
|
|
Post by roxhum on Mar 29, 2014 14:24:54 GMT
Diana, how do you manage your bird and cats? I have a cat that is mostly outside but comes in at night. Yesterday morning I did not open the cage door for Pearl because she is such a pill about going back to her cage. Normally she does get out of cage time in the morning. I had Sweetie in the bath with me and as I am walking to my Bedroom with Sweetie on my shoulder out walks Lucy cat. My heart skipped a beat. I don't doubt for a second if a bird flew over her head she would catch it faster than I could blink an eye. She ignores them when they are in the cage but not when they are flying around. I put Sweetie back in the the Bathroom and then put Lucy outside.
Just now I went to put Lucy out but she looked so comfy and warm in my bed that I shut the door instead. Now to remember she is in there. Weekends is the only time that the birds get a lot of my time and out of cage time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pammy on Mar 31, 2014 4:22:41 GMT
Mistletoe loves to be held, whether in hand or on shoulder. He loves to ride around on my shoulder when I'm doing chores, but will also creep around to my back which is not comfortable for me. He will sit very nicely on my shoulder here at the couch sometimes, and other times he wants to crawl down my arm and mess with whatever I am doing. He always sits on my shoulder while I'm feeding and gazing at my fish, and we use that time to work on his songs. He's gotten very good at Jingle Bells and is working on his second song, Rudolph.  Pretty much, he will happily sit on me anytime, anywhere. He is also starting to hop to my husband's shoulder more often when we are watching tv in the evening. Mistletoe prefers me, but will hop onto Aron for a couple of minutes and bow his head for some rubs, and then hop back to his mama. He also spends quite a bit of time with my second daughter, Theresa. Natey wants to spend time with Mistletoe, but Mistletoe will generally simply use Nathan as a vehicle for getting to me, and then dumps the baby without remorse. |
|
|
|
Post by dianapalmer on Mar 31, 2014 14:50:30 GMT
Roxie,
I don't know what to say about the cats. Mine are middle aged and don't bother the birds unless they dive bomb them. That worries me.
|
|
)
Pretty much, he will happily sit on me anytime, anywhere. He is also starting to hop to my husband's shoulder more often when we are watching tv in the evening. Mistletoe prefers me, but will hop onto Aron for a couple of minutes and bow his head for some rubs, and then hop back to his mama. He also spends quite a bit of time with my second daughter, Theresa. Natey wants to spend time with Mistletoe, but Mistletoe will generally simply use Nathan as a vehicle for getting to me, and then dumps the baby without remorse. 