Hey, new Cockatiel owner

[MJD17]

Hello everyone. My name is Matt and as stated I am now the proud owner of a 3 month old Cockatiel by the name of Rolo. After some research and difficulty deciding between a Budgerigar or Cockatiel, I visited a local shop that is supplied by local breeders with hand raised birds. After some looking around, I found one particular tiel who I felt I clicked with. He was small compared to the rest of the birds with him (I assume he's younger or perhaps a runt). He's pretty tame in the sense that he'll step up and when he's in his cage he'll allow me to pick him up if he won't step up. He doesn't bite, although he'll nibble if I try to pet him, it's nothing aggressive. As I type he's sitting on my shoulder. Oddly, when he's in his cage he just sits in one corner and closes his eyes. Is this normal? He's pretty well behaved and I have him in a decent sized cage with three small bowls of varying food and a big dish of water with vitamins along with a cuttle bone, a wood chew toy and a small plastic ball with a bell inside. Is there anything else I can do to help him adjust? He's awesome so far and it was partially this site that made me feel having a bird was something I'd like so I thought it was fitting as my first post. Thanks,I have to run now but I hope to come back and get a little more acquainted with everyone when I'm back!

~Matt

[kaylayuh]

Welcome to the forum! There's quite a few Cockatiel owners here and many Cockatiel lovers. I've been eyeing one for months now! I think they're so adorable.

As for not really playing, how many toys did he have at the pet store? Sometimes birds don't really realize what they're supposed to do with the toys if they've never seen them before. You could try playing with the toys yourself as most people will tell you any toy you have, your bird will want shortly after. My conure is quite enamored with the keyboard and mouse.

It may also be that he doesn't like the toys you picked. Some birds are picky about their toys and won't play with what they have if they don't like it. When I got my conure, the rescue said he wasn't a player. I quickly realized that he wasn't a player because he didn't like the toys they gave him. Now he hangs upside down from his ropes and blocks and destroys popcicle sticks like they're toothpicks. The budgies also have a preference for bells and swings. You could always try getting some different types of toys and see what he may like.

[GlassOnion]

Hi, and welcome! I have a little tiel myself. I really really urge you to look into "balsa" wood. It's very light, easy to chew through, and my tiel is a total woodchipper with balsa.

[BudgieSansWings]

How long've you had your 'tiel? I miss the 'tiels I used to have. My Cheerio thought he was a person.

[MJD17]

Hi, and welcome! I have a little tiel myself. I really really urge you to look into "balsa" wood. It's very light, easy to chew through, and my tiel is a total woodchipper with balsa.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

How long've you had your 'tiel? I miss the 'tiels I used to have. My Cheerio thought he was a person.

I actually only brought him home today. He's home now adjusting while I'm out to dinner. He's pretty calm, no problems so far.

[zazanomore]

best. species. ever.

Anyways, do you only have the two toys? You should buy a wide variety of toys. Toys for foraging, toys to be destroyed, edible toys, toys that make noise, and noise that have moving parts. You don't need to have them all in the cage at once. Put you should try to have a few more. You can also hang some of them above his cage, and place some outside of the cage.

I wouldn't be too worried about him not seeming very active or playful right yet. He's in a new place, and is adjusting. It took my hand raised cockatiel months to start playing and vocal.

[MJD17]

best. species. ever.

Anyways, do you only have the two toys? You should buy a wide variety of toys. Toys for foraging, toys to be destroyed, edible toys, toys that make noise, and noise that have moving parts. You don't need to have them all in the cage at once. Put you should try to have a few more. You can also hang some of them above his cage, and place some outside of the cage.

I wouldn't be too worried about him not seeming very active or playful right yet. He's in a new place, and is adjusting. It took my hand raised cockatiel months to start playing and vocal.

Right now he has a wood toy, a plastic ball with a bell inside and a third hanging toy on the upper part of his cage, though so far he's just stayed on the floor of the cage (since it's what he's used to and that's where all of his bowls and stuff are. The toys at the store seemed a bit lack luster so I was going to go out tomorrow and see if I could find a better selection at a local store. Possibly a ladder or something to give him more room to climb rather than having to hold the metal bars.

[kaylayuh]

I've found a lot of chain pet shops have a poor bird toy selection. I think that's the consensus amogst most of us here. If you're able to order toys online, I'm sure a bunch of us could give you a ton of links for good toy stores. I know I have at least twenty bookmarked. A lot of us also make our own toys which may be something you'd want to try; it saves a lot of money on toys that will eventually be destroyed.

Aside from toys, you should also check out different types of perches and swings for your little guy. My birds all are nuts over a round rope swing I ordered from A Bird Toy. They do all kinds of flips and other acrobatics on it. Sometimes I think they like the swing more than they like their toys!

[MJD17]

I've found a lot of chain pet shops have a poor bird toy selection. I think that's the consensus amogst most of us here. If you're able to order toys online, I'm sure a bunch of us could give you a ton of links for good toy stores. I know I have at least twenty bookmarked. A lot of us also make our own toys which may be something you'd want to try; it saves a lot of money on toys that will eventually be destroyed.

Aside from toys, you should also check out different types of perches and swings for your little guy. My birds all are nuts over a round rope swing I ordered from A Bird Toy. They do all kinds of flips and other acrobatics on it. Sometimes I think they like the swing more than they like their toys!

That would be awesome if you could do that! The place I got him was actually a mom and pop shop that's been around for over 20 years but the toys didn't seem anything special. I do want to try making him a few toys, I have so much spare time being on break. Any tips?

[kaylayuh]

All three of my guys love bells. The budgies also love to shred papers. The conure loves to chew wood. A lot of online bird stores have kits or toy parts that you can use. I kind of just look at what the stores are offering and see if I can find the parts to make it. I also buy a lot of things on E Bay for the birds.

My favorite bird toy shops online are:
A Bird Toy - http://www.abirdtoy.com
Grey Feather Toys - http://www.greyfeathertoys.com
Mother Pluckin' Bird Toys - http://www.motherpluckinbirdtoys.com
The Pampered Parrot - http://www.thepamperedparrot.com
Things for Wings - http://www.thingsforwings.ca
Fun Time Birdy - http://www.funtimebirdy.com
Parrot Treaures - http://parrotstreasure.com
Busy Bird - http://www.busybird.com
Blu's Bird Toys - http://www.bluesbirdtoys.com

Those should keep you busy for a while!