Training Cockatiels

If you want to make training a cockatiel easy it is very important to buy a young bird. It is better if you buy it from a breeder because you can just ask them about its age.  It is more difficult if you purchase your bird from a pet shop, you have to check its leg band/ring, but because not all Malaysian cockatiels wear leg bands/rings the shop assistant may not be able to help you with this information.

For training purposes it is necessary to keep your bird in a small cage at first which is not heavy and easy to maneuver. Do not start with big outdoor cages or aviaries. Choose a small cage with excellent perching material, combination of fresh water and good food. Choose the proper place for the cage, for example it could be the living room where all family spends time together, doing different things, like watching television or other activities. It is very important for the cockatiels to get used to the environment and people around them, the more people and noise the better for the bird. Otherwise you will have nervous bird, difficult for training. You have to observe the cockatiel, when he seems that he does not care about the surrounding activities and noise, he will start to preen his feathers, your bird is then comfortable and ready for training.

You have to be patient during the training process so only one or two sessions should be done per day. But it is also important that the sessions are maintained, at least once a day, even if you are short of time. The period depends on the individual bird characteristics. Some cockatiels are faster learners than others. Anyway, do not be in a hurry and do not use gloves.
It is important at the beginning not to be too close to the cage to avoid scaring the bird and to give him time to adjust. This does not mean that you have to be far away, just keep the proper distance not to make the bird nervous but also to show him that you are observing him. Choose a name for the bird and use it each time when you approach him. At the end of the day the cockatiel will recognize his name and will understand that you are calling him. Also you should use his name and call it softly each time when you give him food .By doing this, you will make training process easier and your bird will trust you by hearing your voice.

Respect your bird, show him that you are friend and treat him as a friend. Call his name and talk to him each time you approach him or when you feed him, try to understand which his favorite food is and reward him with it whenever he behaves in the desired way during training.

The second stage is to train your bird to accept your presence while you are feeding him, do not just leave the food, wait near the cage and observe him .If the cockatiel hesitates to take the food, encourage him by moving a few steps away from the cage. At the moment when he takes the food without hesitation you will know what is his “own space” is. Do this exercise every day and you will notice that this “space” will become smaller and smaller and the distance will be shorter. Of course you have to be patient because it will take time. Be sure that the bird is comfortable, if you notice that the cockatiel is tense and nervous; enlarge the distance between you and the bird. This is very important and the only way to win his trust.

When the second stage is fully completed, it is the time for the third stage. Now you have to train your bird to take food from your hand. You can start by giving him his favorite food by standing by the cage. Reduce the amount of the food so the bird might need more. Show him that you are holding his food in your hand and offer it to him for him to take it. If the cockatiel refuses to do it, just leave the food in the food container .Repeat this activity until the bird feels more confident and takes the food from your hand. It is important for you to give him additional amount of his favorite food to his normal diet from your hand. Do not starve him, it is not ethical and may slow down the process. It may take several months to achieve this; it depends on individual characteristics of your bird. It is worth taking your time with this. Afterwards you will be proud that you are able to do this and you will have a much better understanding and relationship with your bird.

Limoeg Veigroeg is owner and editor of www.birdscomfort.com and www.mybirdcage.com where you can find high quality bird cages. Birds Comfort and My Bird Cage provides detailed information in bird cages sale, as well as hq bird cages, cage covers, bird carriers, HQ play stands, bird perches, bird toys, and bird foods.

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