Post by a11ycat on Jun 16, 2006 10:43:11 GMT
Hi,
As you know I have two cockatiels, Sunny and Minstrel. Sunny I've had for 9 months now, and Minstrel for 5 months. Sunny is very tame, just wants to be sitting on my shoulder most of the time. I was trying to teach her to talk a bit, so I'd go over and say "Hello", and she'd usually respond with a noise, and then it got to the stage whenever she'd make a noise I'd respond with the "Hello", and I think I've encouraged her to call for me all the time.
I didn't mean to do it, but I didn't think about what I was doing in terms of how she'd see it... so now I have to untrain her to do that if I can.
I've been reading about how you can train them in flight, because her clipped wings have grown out and she's pretty un-controllable when she flies.
Minstrel on the other hand, was bought as a companion for Sunny as she was getting lonely, and although he sees Sunny as his companion, its not reciprocated, and he's not interested in me. Its got to the point where I actually feel very frustrated with him, and its not really his fault. I've caught myself thinking about finding him a new home which I feel really bad about. So, I'm trying to separate him (he's in a cage at the opposite end of the house to Sunny). He's very loud, and when he decides to call for Sunny it causes my ears to ring. His wings are growing out of being clipped and when he comes out of the cage, he flies between the high perches in the room door tops/curtain rails etc. I follow him around and offer him my finger, giving him the up command which I know he knows (and obeys when he's on my level). When he finally gets tired out, he'll come down and he'll sit on me in a fairly relaxed state. I'll do some training with the 'up' command which goes fairly well, and talk to him.
I'm just frustrated with him at the moment, if anyone can offer advice for me and him, I'd appreciate it!
One major problem I have him, is he hates fingers! If you don't give him the 'up command' soon enough he'll hiss and peck his head down (usually in front of the finger) which I think is his way of threatening the finger... I think it originates from his time in the pet shop where he was sitting out with the other parrots for a few days, and probably got poked by school children. If I can get him over that, it would help alot!
As you know I have two cockatiels, Sunny and Minstrel. Sunny I've had for 9 months now, and Minstrel for 5 months. Sunny is very tame, just wants to be sitting on my shoulder most of the time. I was trying to teach her to talk a bit, so I'd go over and say "Hello", and she'd usually respond with a noise, and then it got to the stage whenever she'd make a noise I'd respond with the "Hello", and I think I've encouraged her to call for me all the time.
I didn't mean to do it, but I didn't think about what I was doing in terms of how she'd see it... so now I have to untrain her to do that if I can. I've been reading about how you can train them in flight, because her clipped wings have grown out and she's pretty un-controllable when she flies.
Minstrel on the other hand, was bought as a companion for Sunny as she was getting lonely, and although he sees Sunny as his companion, its not reciprocated, and he's not interested in me. Its got to the point where I actually feel very frustrated with him, and its not really his fault. I've caught myself thinking about finding him a new home which I feel really bad about. So, I'm trying to separate him (he's in a cage at the opposite end of the house to Sunny). He's very loud, and when he decides to call for Sunny it causes my ears to ring. His wings are growing out of being clipped and when he comes out of the cage, he flies between the high perches in the room door tops/curtain rails etc. I follow him around and offer him my finger, giving him the up command which I know he knows (and obeys when he's on my level). When he finally gets tired out, he'll come down and he'll sit on me in a fairly relaxed state. I'll do some training with the 'up' command which goes fairly well, and talk to him.
I'm just frustrated with him at the moment, if anyone can offer advice for me and him, I'd appreciate it!
One major problem I have him, is he hates fingers! If you don't give him the 'up command' soon enough he'll hiss and peck his head down (usually in front of the finger) which I think is his way of threatening the finger... I think it originates from his time in the pet shop where he was sitting out with the other parrots for a few days, and probably got poked by school children. If I can get him over that, it would help alot!
