Greetings :) (1,252 views)

[Uneecowrn]

Hello! My name is Cyndi, and I am a new-ish tiel owner. My baby's name is Mouse. He is four months old, and learning how to be a good tame birdie. He's getting the hang of the step up, but doesn't like my thumbs....lol. He does allow me to give him soft scratches on his head, and cheeks, even puts his head into my hand. Haven't had him for that long either. He still hisses here and there, and tries "biting". He can't bite hard yet. But he's getting along.

Thank you for reading and we hope to hope good friends.

[Uneecowrn]

Mouse on his playground

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[Casey]

hello and welcome to the forum its a small community here, but i am sure you will be more than welcome here. mouse is adorable!

tiels often "beak" at things when they get in their space, but theyre so gentle and usually dont bite much. was your baby handfed?

[Uneecowrn]

Thanks for the warm welcome
Good to know. I'm hoping as he gets older, it won't happen as much.
And nope, he wasn't handfed. But he picked up rather quickly. He's like a little tough guy. hehe.

[Casey]

he sounds like hes doing very well for a bird who is not handfed, so thats really good news

if he is a male (you wont find out for a few months yet--he will get a full yellow mask if he is a boy, if he is a girl he will stay the same as he is now) you may go through a teenage stage. this is usually more common with males, they tend to act bratty. they can scream, nip, bite, not want to go back in their cage and generally act a bit more moody than normal. this usually passes after a few months. it usually starts around the time the hormones start kicking in (6-12 months) and molting birds also are generally more crabby. its usually a stage and it goes away. then they generally are the same as usual all cuddly and affectionate. males can get a little moody in the spring time or breeding season but its not too bad. they just act up a bit more than normal.

[Uneecowrn]

Oh my that made me nervous. Lol. Does it usually always happen?
Totally gonna take some notes

[Casey]

it tends to be an individual thing. some males are better than others. some only scream more. some bite more. some just run away from you more. but they settle down after a few months and its fine. some birds have all of those lol its a bratty phase and they grow out of it.

its not a big deal, just something to be prepared for. some people have it really bad and some people dont have trouble at all. it just depends on the birds themselves.

remember, tiel biting is more of a pinch. they rarely break skin. my male tiel tsuka is one of the only few i know who breaks skin when they bite, and hes NOT a normal male so you cant go by his standards lol

[Uneecowrn]

Ohhh ok now I see. So he'll either get one or two, or all, depending on him. I'm hoping he doesn't get more bitey, if he is male of course.

I'll remember that. First time I got bit by a tiel was when I had my first tiel. It was a hard pinch, and it didn't draw blood until I squeezed it. Wasn't a lot. So I see what you mean.
lol Wow. He's a special birdie. hehe :3

[Casey]

tiels are generally laid back birds, so you shouldnt have too much trouble. female lovebirds are worse with their hormones and nestiness, so tiels are pretty easy to cope with.

[Uneecowrn]

So that may be the reason as to why my friend's female lovebird is being all pushy with her baby male lovebird.
I seriously haven't thought of tiels to be as laid back as they are until I got interested in them. I always thought they were naturally mean, I guess its because mom's tiel, who is old, is a biter. But now that I understand him a little more, and figured that he is being a sweetheart coming to the front of the cage to whistle with whomever comes near, I have much respect for him.