Cockatiel chirping but stopped singing- HELP

[Eric&Rebecca]

Hi guys,

Our 8 month cockatiel was being looked after by our parents while we were on holiday. He was perfectly healthy the whole time and when we picked him up he was whistling and singing and they took very good care of him and there were no problems at all.

However, since he arrived home he hasn't whistled at all (he usually sings A LOT!). However he is still chirping. He is eating and drinking normally, preening, playing and climbing. There is no discharge from his nose and his breathing is not laboured and he isn't vomiting, retching or emptying his crop more than usual. We rang the avian vet (it is snowing here so we can't get to the vet) but she wasn't available however the general vet who was there said it probably isn't anything to worry about and not to bring him out in the cold unless it was absolutely necessary.

He is molting heavily at the moment but this is really the only different other than the lack of whistling.

Could it just be the confusion of being in one place and then moving back home? Advice needed in the meantime until we can get hold of the avian vet for some advice.

[friend2parrots]

from what you've written, it seems like your cockatiel is chirping (contact call) to "round up his flock" , which is you guys. He was probably a little confused about what happened to his old territory when he went to your parents house, and then when he returned, he recognized his old familiar territory, and is chirping to ensure that you guys are all still part of his old territory.

my guess is that the chirping will stop once he's settled down and reassured himself that you guys are still all together in the old familar place. i would suggest sitting on the same room with him and doing some usual activities, just to show him nothing has changed. i'm sure he'll start whistling, singing and being his old self soon enough.

do keep in touch with the vets and report/act on anything of concern. however, i think its just a matter of your bird trying to make sure you guys are all "still there".

all the best

[Eric&Rebecca]

Yeah you were right, he started singing the day after and is pretty much like normal and he's learnt to bark like a dog and talk since we went away. Thanks for your advice but all is well now. We did check with the vet and she said that if he's returned to normal that's all fine.