If you are on this page, then you are probably at the stage where you are preparing for the day your new cockatiel comes home with you! If you are a first-time cockatiel owner, then here is a guide on how you would approach your first day with your cockatiel at home. Please note that I am not an expert. I am a bird enthusiast who has Cairo the cockatiel! This guide is created based on my personal experience plus research. Please feel free to adjust it to your unique situation.
PS: I brought Cairo home from a specialized breeder who hand raised him. He was 4 months old and completed two official weeks of eating vegetables, fruits and seeds after the weaning stage. Cockatiel behavior and reaction to new people and environment varies depending on their age and background.
1. Have Everything in Your Cockatiel’s Flight Cage Set Up
Change is incredibly stressful to birds. Birds often can suffer from stress-induced illnesses! Setting all the needed perches, toys, and food up in their flight cage before their arrival would be significantly more helpful for their transition. This way, you do not need to bother introducing new items more than your bird being introduced to all the new settings, scenery, colors, people, and sounds! After all, even hand-raised baby birds can be terrified of new people and environments. The last thing you want to do is to continuously shove your hand and objects into their new “space.”
2. Put them in their Flight Cage
For the first few hours of your cockatiel arriving home, you want to put them inside your already set up flight cage. Your flight cage should ideally be in a location where you are often doing activities at. Next, close and lock the cage normally. Your cockatiel may behave flabbergasted, which is normal. Go about your day you normally would. If you live a loud lifestyle, try to pipe down for the first day. You can do some relaxing activities around the house. By allowing your bird to get adjusted in their closed cage, it provides a sense of security. Birds are naturally more fearful and cautious than a dog or cat. This is because they are prey animals! It is important to not rush into handling your new bird upon arrival! You do not want to mess up your starter steps! Allow your cockatiel to understand that you and this new environment are not out to hunt, attack or eat them! You must understand that you are much greater in size compared to them. Upon first arriving home, they are likely to see you as some predator!
3. Wait for the Hours to Pass, Open Up!
Once a few hours have passed. Proceed to slowly open up their cage door. But do not rush to touch them! Let them now spend an hour or two adjusting to being in a more vulnerable position around you. This stage is where some people’s new cockatiel would feel comfortable enough to climb out and fly towards them, a nearby piece of furniture, or just perch on the entrance of the cage door!
4. Slowly Interact!
After a couple of hours, and your bird appears relaxed, then gently get them to step up onto your hand! It is initially best suggested for one to lure their new cockatiel onto their hand with a longer treat, such as millet. This will cause your cockatiel to begin a positive association between your interactions with seeds. However, if you happen to have a friendlier bird, feel free to just ask them to step up! My Cairo was surprisingly friendly. Once you get them on your hand, do some calm activities with your cockatiel on your shoulder, arm or hand! For example, on Cairo’s first day home, we watched cartoons together in the afternoon (parrots love cartoons!) In the evening, Cairo perched on my shoulder as I did some coloring! He really enjoyed preening and napping that day. Every 30 minutes to an hour, put them back in their cage for a while before interacting again! Do not overwhelm them and let them eat and drink. However, you may not see your cockatiel eat or drink in front of you for the first few days! This is normal. Make sure they are excreting droppings regularly, if they are, then they are eating, just not in front of you yet. They need to trust you more.
5. Relax, and Go to Bed!
Honestly, the first stay may be a little boring. Don’t worry. Your cockatiel can become just as intelligent, cuddly and entertainingly mischievous as Cairo as time passes! Your first day and night will be “chill.” On a concluding note, I will strongly advise you to keep your cockatiel on whatever diet it was consuming prior to being brought home for at least 2 weeks, before transitioning to something new. Do not worry if your cockatiel is not eating, drinking or playing in front of you. Lastly, if your cockatiel was already on a vegetable chop diet and they come to your home and only eat seeds, it's fine! Seeds are naturally their comfort food. Make sure to please still leave vegetable chop out for them to maintain the healthy habit of them consuming greens!