taming an aviary cockatiel (1,844 views)

[Deleted]

hello everyone

i have a cockatiel named spike that lives in an aviary outside, he can fly to me if i have millet in my hand but after its gone he freaks out and flies with fear to a perch

how can i make stay on my finger and preen and do everything that a tame loving bird does. is it possible that i can tame him if he lives outdoors because i am not allowed to bring him in the house(i live with my parents)

i also want him go allow me to give him head scratches. do you think he can become tame like a handfed cockatiel or will he always have this fear in him? please help i have tried so much but ended up failing that im starting to give up

maybe i should tame him in the winter because thats the only time there allowed to live in the house or i should put him in a cage outside away from all the birds

as you can tell im really confused but i really want them to love me
thank you for reading this


 

[Casey]

i would keep working with him with the millet. it may take awhile, but taming can take months, or even years. it took me 2 years to have munch ask me for scritches. it took 1.5 years to tame her to step up and such. and that was slow going. just go at his pace, dont rush him, and just keep working with him and make sure every interaction you have with him is positive

[Deleted]

What should I do? How did you get your biting munch to allow scratches?

[Casey]

i just earned her trust. i just kept working with her and kept up persistence. she still bites, dont get me wrong, but i learned about WHEN she bites and i avoid it if i can. she bites if i intrude in her cage when she doesnt want it. so, i respected her space and she didnt bite me as much. i gave her respect and she started trusting me. i let her take her own time in trusting me.

just know that some birds wont accept scritches. some just dont like them

[Deleted]

When I clipped his wings a while ago I held him in a towel and started giving him scratches, his eyes where closed in a relaxing way but I just can't do it when he is free

[lauraloveliness]

Good luck Baruch I hope you can tame Spike

[Deleted]

Thanks
I am finally allowed to bring spike home so I brought him home and put him in a cage.
He is getting used to the room but i know it will take time.
I can now finally sit by his cage and feed him millet .
He was calling the other birds.
Do you think I should put him back? Or can I tame him in my house? What do you think will be better for him because I don't have the patients holding the millet outside when the other tame birds keep flying to my arm and not letting spike have

[Casey]

i'd spend the time with him inside. it would be easier and there would be less distractions for him (the other birds)

[Deleted]

Everything's going great
He loves out of the cage time! We are bonding so much

[Casey]

thats great news it is a great experience to earn a bird's trust when they are completely wild. just let him set the pace and let him come to you. dont push him too much