little Bird the Cockatiel

[viki]

I know im writing lots of differnt questions but as these were two different birds i thought better to have seperate topics for them. So far iv made lots of progress wih him/her. such as step up (but only when he/she wants to and i dont think he/she knows that the words mean step up either was it gets done) and target. Right m=now little bird is stairing at me angrily coz im not playing with him/her. he often flies up to me (although he clipped hes a very good flyer) which mean he has bonded with me as have i which i didnt want to happen. (as im not suppossed to be keep this bird).
but anyways to the questions:

>During the day hes feet feel really warm when hes on my hand and really cold during the evening.although the room isnt any different in temperature. is this normal?

>Once he gets on my hand he runs for my shoulder and hides in my hair and wont let anyone take him out. i think he thinks its a nest. is it normal? what should i do?

>his back nail on one of his feet seems a little deformed and doesnt have a tip. what should i do?

>hi likes to nibble on my fingers. i dont think its an aggressive thing, but should i stop it? im afraid his nibble might turn into a bite as hes older. i think he thinks hes preening me though as yesterday after doing it for a few seconds he put his head down as if to ask me to preen him and he seemed to enjoy the petting alothough he never has enjoyed it before. So is it ok i let him nibble or should i stop it?

Little bird is such a funny little thing climbing in and out of his cage flying to me, his tiny little tweets are so cute and he replies to u if u talk to him. Today he fell into the food container id left open after putting some in his bowl, it was so funny but he wasnt impressed wish id gotten it on camera. he loves being on my hand and loves showers, which was a shock to me. hes mad at me right now for not playing with him so i better get back to him. O and last question. is there any way to sex a cockatiel by their markings?

[liz]

It is too late in the day for me to think so I won't even try to answer. But I love the way you love him.

[Jenny]

here's some info about sexing your tiel:
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/cockatiels3.html

& here are some helpful websites about cockatiels:
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/
http://www.cockatiels.org/main/articles/

[viki]

thanks jenny i think hes a boy but wel wait until after his first molt untill im certain

[Jenny]

Viki, did those websites help to answer most of your questions?

If not, warm feet are normal. If Little Bird's feet are super cold in the evenings, he might be too cold. Look for other signs that he's trying to stay warm (like fluffing up his feathers so he looks bigger, rounder).

If he's being naughty about getting in your hair & not coming out, I wouldn't let him get up there any more. From what I've read, to keep him from doing that, when you have him on your hand, keep your arm bent at the elbow so he can't run up your arm to your shoulder & under your hair. I've also read that birds can get long hair wrapped around toes & end up cutting off circulation. I have long hair, & have yet to have this happen, but I handle Aaron a lot, so I think I'd notice if he had hair wrapped around him.

As long as the deformed nail isn't inhibiting normal movement, I wouldn't worry about it. Just be sure to keep it trimmed (if it grows) as you would his other nails.

I wouldn't let him nibble on your fingers. That's just setting the stage for a real bite. As long as he's not being aggressive, I'd gently move my fingers away from his beak & try to distract him when he starts to do it, rather than discipline him. Try to notice if he's giving you other signs that he wants scritches - he might be nibbling on you because you haven't picked up on other signals.

Keep enjoying him!

[Mum2rory]

Viki, does this mean you are keeping little bird? I hope so, as it very much appears that you are "in looooooooooove" which is not hard with tiels, they are so cute.
He is only a baby and on his 2nd home already(breeder!!??? and you) and then meant to go to a 3rd home? That breeder is not a breeder, he is a dealer/seller only as it doesnt appear that he really cares for the littles guys, only the money side. If he was a true breeder, he would investigate the proposed owners a little, not just hand out birds to whoever asks for one that has money in their pocket.

I truly hope you keep little bird (love the name)

Mum and Rory the tiel

[liz]

I know im writing lots of differnt questions but as these were two different birds i thought better to have seperate topics for them. So far iv made lots of progress wih him/her. such as step up (but only when he/she wants to and i dont think he/she knows that the words mean step up either was it gets done) and target. Right m=now little bird is stairing at me angrily coz im not playing with him/her. he often flies up to me (although he clipped hes a very good flyer) which mean he has bonded with me as have i which i didnt want to happen. (as im not suppossed to be keep this bird).
but anyways to the questions:

>During the day hes feet feel really warm when hes on my hand and really cold during the evening.although the room isnt any different in temperature. is this normal?

>Once he gets on my hand he runs for my shoulder and hides in my hair and wont let anyone take him out. i think he thinks its a nest. is it normal? what should i do?

>his back nail on one of his feet seems a little deformed and doesnt have a tip. what should i do?

>hi likes to nibble on my fingers. i dont think its an aggressive thing, but should i stop it? im afraid his nibble might turn into a bite as hes older. i think he thinks hes preening me though as yesterday after doing it for a few seconds he put his head down as if to ask me to preen him and he seemed to enjoy the petting alothough he never has enjoyed it before. So is it ok i let him nibble or should i stop it?

Little bird is such a funny little thing climbing in and out of his cage flying to me, his tiny little tweets are so cute and he replies to u if u talk to him. Today he fell into the food container id left open after putting some in his bowl, it was so funny but he wasnt impressed wish id gotten it on camera. he loves being on my hand and loves showers, which was a shock to me. hes mad at me right now for not playing with him so i better get back to him. O and last question. is there any way to sex a cockatiel by their markings?

You love Little Bird. Now think back to how much you love Skittles. Skittles will be so glad to get home he probably won't want out of your sight. Little Bird will teach him how to rebond.

ASSERT YOURSELF. You have many people behind you rooting for you and your kids. Now go get Skittles and put your family back together.

[Mum2rory]

Hear hear! You go girl

[liz]

Hear hear! You go girl

Can you tell I served my time in the Military and then worked as dispatcher in an oil co.?