|
|
|
Lotta's new mom
Egg
Joined: 01 Aug 2008
Posts: 6
|
| need help with new bird |
 |
|
I took in a bird from a friend's daughter who couldn't keep it anymore. Lotta is really a sweet cockatiel!! I am having problems with her coming out of her cage. I haven't had any luck at all getting her out of her cage today. She has been out of the cage everyday so far. I am not sure what has happened to make her so afraid to come out.
Any suggestions on how to make her relax and come out? |
Thursday August 7, 2008 9:37 pm |
|
|
|
|
homebird
Flier
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 489
Location: Toronto, Canada |
|
|
|
I think we have to remind ourselves that they are prey animals & we are not. They know it & do a great job at accepting us eventually. The first few weeks are quite stressful for them & they need a balance of attention & privacy. If you find she is nervous, put the cage in an area the is protected or place a safe plant next to the cage so she can pretend she is hiding.
I would spend as much time as you can with her. She doesn't need to be out of the cage all th time - not at first. When I first got my Budgie I took him in his cage into every room I was working in so we'd be together. We talked to him & offered treats for him thru the bars. He really likes to be out so we worked on that over a few weeks. I trained him to step up while he was in the cage. Once he responded to the command I let him out. I kept the cage on the bed & the room closed. If they haven't been out much they will tire easily & not be very agile.
When I first got my bird I also had a cat & that had to be taken into consideration.
With my mother's tiels - I sent a lot of time sitting beside the cage & reading. I offered lots of bathes too. The hen in particular loves them. Fuss with the cage. Offer new toys & treats. One way to get her to come to you is to take the food away about an hour before you let her out. Then offer treats & praise as rewards. The food goes back in the cage after the interactions & it works amazingly well over a week or 2.
The 'honey-moon' period can be very confusing. Birds seem gentle one day & crabby the next. So try & stay impartial. Everything will smooth over in a month or 2. By then she will be wanting your attention & be more self composed.
In fact one of the first things I realised was that I had to bird proof my place & set up some perches. When my bird is out he likes to chew or preen on a perch. I transformed the top of his cage into a play area for the daytime & have it by a window. The cage is open & the food & water are inside. Across the room & in every room they are allowed [there are 2 now] & there are perches - if only the tops of lamps or drapery rods- but if you want them off those then you have to offer other things. We have a lamp on a table they like & a hibiscus tree as well. I have a friend who hangs those Atom swings in her windows & Boings & her birds love to fly to them.
All the best with your new bird. I hope to see your journal & diary fill up quickly. |
|
Sunday August 10, 2008 5:25 pm |
|
|
Lotta's new mom
Egg
Joined: 01 Aug 2008
Posts: 6
|
| Lotta's doing much better |
|
|
Lotta is doing much better. She calls me when she want's me to let her out of her cage. She does this little dance and that let's me know she wants to come out and play.
She really likes chicken and turkey. I've tried pasta and veggies but she doesn't seem to know what to do with them.
Her previous owner never gave her anything except bird food.
What do cockatiels like the best???? |
|
Wednesday August 13, 2008 1:53 am |
|
|
|
|
homebird
Flier
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 489
Location: Toronto, Canada |
|
|
|
There is much debate about feeding birds meat. If your Tiel likes meat perhaps she would like scrambles egg + some shell - good way to add protein and calcium. Just make sure she doesn't get too much protein. This can lead to heavy molt - this is my understanding.
You could try the bird recipie section. A friend of mine feeds her Tiel a warm meal at night. This is usually kitchen sink kind of recipe = cooked whole rice, [or other grains like barley] and some beans and minced veggies. Some birds like their food well cut up.
You can try making a toy out of food. Tiels can be playful. Try carving a groove in a carrot, broccoli or corn on the cob & hang them from the cage with a leather shoe lace. If you tap on the item like they do with their beaks they can see it isn't scary - may take a few tries for any acceptance.
Noodles and all pasta - they like it saucy - so you can make any kind just be careful with salt and sugars [when cooking I pull some aside for them & continue cooking for us.]. I introduced my guys to noodles by eating one day in the office. They had to check out what I was doing & the next thing I know I have a Budgie on my plate. They figure if you can eat it so can they. I can't eat cinnamon buns anywhere near them!
I put out a piece of balsa wood - clipped to the cage top - and it took my 2 Budgies about 3 months before they found it. Then they turned into beavers.  My friend's Tiel loves her pieces of balsa & they are offered in a basket - so her birds rummage. |
|
Wednesday August 13, 2008 5:29 pm |
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Tuesday January 6, 2009 1:45 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
