Best way to calm down your bird?

[Balthazar]

Sometimes my cockatiel, Sam, will see a cat or something walk by his cage when I put his cage in the hall to vacuum my room, and he'll jump around in the cage. To calm him, I usually get him and take him back into my room - where he has lived all his life, and just let him sit on my leg or hand for a moment before petting him. He acts much better after that. xD

What do you do to calm down your bird when he/she gets a scare?

[Wolf]

None of my birds are afraid of any other living animal thus far. Whenever one of the cats or dogs approach their cages, the bird immediately goes down to eat the intruder. And let me say that it is hilarious to see a 1 ounce, 4 inch long bird go after a 100 pound dog, with the intent of inflicting bodily harm on the dog. The dogs foot is bigger than the bird.
So are you certain that your bird is scared? Or could it be that it is just excited at seeing another animal? My birds all freeze when they see something that they are afraid of.

[Pajarita]

No, he is not excited, he's scared. That's the way cockatiels act and why they have night frights in captivity. My birds hardly ever get scared of anything but, when they do, I sing 'their' song softly and they all calm down.

[Tman007]

First welcome to the forum. I have a jenday conure (Amos) one morning while I was working with him on his training perch he saw a cat walk across the street, at first I didn't see him. But when Amos did he sat up straight and was ready to fly so I reached down and gave him my hand to see if he wanted to step up and he did. I pulled him up to me and softly talked to him and we both watched the cat go across the street and leave. Then I gave him a treat and rubbed his wing at the joint. (he likes it right there) then after a few minutes we went back to training. And everything was alright. When one of mine gets scared I try and let them tell me what the want. Like stepping up. Rubs what ever. Sometimes they don't like to be touched at that time but just like to know your there.

[Wolf]

No, he is not excited, he's scared. That's the way cockatiels act and why they have night frights in captivity. My birds hardly ever get scared of anything but, when they do, I sing 'their' song softly and they all calm down.

That is why I asked. I don't have cockatiels, so am not familiar with their body language or habits. But I do know that, they really require your presence, when they get scared of something, if for no other reason than to reassure them. With mine I get to remove the object that scares them, and then they want to be reassured.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I understood it was a question and why you were asking it, that's why I answered it. When it comes to tiels, I have found that nothing comforts them more than having other tiels around - they are VERY flock oriented, more so than other species, I think.

[Wolf]

Thank you.