Hi, this is my first post in the forum so please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong!
I adopted a 3 year old cockatiel 4 days ago from a family that did not have the proper time to care for it. They told me that they handled him often, but I'm starting to think that "often" was more of a "never".
He screams constantly, there really is never a point in time where he isn't screaming. At first I thought it was a sign that he wanted my attention, and although I know it isn't recommended to reward that, I was glad he wanted me. But whenever I go near his cage he paces back and forth, very unsure, and puffs out and shakes.
This is my first bird (other than parakeets when I was a child), and although I've been reading and studying everything there is to know about cockatiels, screaming seems to have fallen by the wayside and I can't find a proper article to help.
He knows how to say the name his old family gave him, which is smokey bird. He will say it every now and again but it's very random. I just want to be able to at least go up to his cage without him freaking out.
(Sidenote: I spend a large amount of time on my computer, which is less than two feet away from his cage in a living room where my two dogs and mother pass through quite often. He sees me for at least 5-6 hours a day, and my mother for at least 1-2.)
I know that I signed up for his toddler-like habits, and his morning/evening screaming. But this screaming has just gotten out of hand. Help!
Edit:
Okay, I know I just posted the last issue but I've just found another. The previous owner had told me that they would let him out and he liked to sit on his cage and observe the household. He also told me that his wings were clipped. Well, Dodge (I renamed him) was screaming and climbing on his door so I decided that maybe all his screaming was just so he could be let out. And considering how he's been in a cage for 4 days I couldn't really blame him. First thing the little guy does? Fly to the other side of the room. If his wings were ever clipped, it wasn't anytime recently. This guy can fly without any problem at all. He's currently perched on the window sill, and keeps threatening to fly when I go near him. Although he has fallen silent, I'm pretty sure he's just extremely confused/scared. Help, again!
Today is just not my day. :[