How can i approach my cockatiel

[william.k.o]

Hi, i'm new to this site.

I got a cockatiel last week, his name's joey, i really don't know how old he is, but he looks like at least 7 months.

I don't know how to touch him without him being so scared, i just try to touch him an he gets away.

how can i touch him????

[Wolf]

Don't get in a hurry! Have a little bit of patience as Joey hasn't had time to get to know and trust you yet. sit near to him as near as he will allow without moving away and just talk to him and offer him a treat once in a while. If he takes it , great, if not place the treat where he can get it. When he trusts you enough, he will come to you.

[william.k.o]

thanks for your advice, i'll be patient.
one more thing i don't have peellets available where i live, what can i give him, until now i just gave him sunflower seed and birdseed, but what else can i give him?

thank you for your answer

[Wolf]

Pellets are convenient for the bird owner but are not really needed nor are they actually the best of foods to feed your bird. Most foods that you eat are just fine for your bird. Avocados are poisonous to birds. Beans are fine as long as they are cooked. Leafy green veggies are a must, except I would avoid using a lot of spinach because of its iron content. Otherwise the rest should be fine. Sprouts, whole grains, pasta, rice, corn, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, pomegranate, mangos, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and banana are all fine. Almost any fruit or vegetable that you can eat so can they.
It is best to avoid sunflower seeds as they are too high in fats,although they are fine for treats. I would use a small amount of, say, canary seed to round out the fruit and veggies.

From this you will find all kinds of chops and mashes and mixes that different people use, but they are all made of the same foods in differing amounts. Just provide and teach your bird to eat as large of a variety of whole grains, sprouts, fruits and veggies as you can and your bird will do just fine.

[william.k.o]

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!

You're the best i'll give him fruits and veggies

[Wolf]

Again you will have to be patient as they can be very stubborn about trying new foods, just don't give up. You may have to try cutting the fruits and veggies into different sizes or even shred them. Some of them they will decide that they just don't like but it will take some time to figure out which are which.

The best way to get them to try new foods is to cut into very small pieces for them and some larger pieces for yourself and eat them in front of them while exaggerating your enjoyment of the food a little. Try to get them to want it before offering it to them if you can.

Good luck because you will find that getting them to eat a large variety of the right foods is an ongoing process. Try not to give them foods that have a high fat content, save them for treats, like when you are training them to do tricks. Also, especially with nuts try to avoid salt they don't handle salt well although they do like it. Almost forgot no caffeine or alcohol either.

[william.k.o]

Oh thank you i was just going to tell you that Joey didn't want the food but you just gave me the answer on why he didn't want it.

So i have to eat it myself in front of him to make him eat or can i just put the food an he'll try it out???

Oh and do the pieces have to be very small or can they be like big?

Thank You.

[Wolf]

The pieces for Joey should be small at first as he will be more likely to try a small piece. I recommended that you eat some in front of him because that is how he would learn what is safe and good to eat in his natural habitat. It is how his parents would have taught him and those who do this have a much higher rate of success than any other way.

[william.k.o]

Ok thanks but i don't know if he'll trust me right now because as you said he needs to get comfortable.

[Wolf]

The sharing of food is also a bonding activity, so it will help you to build trust.