Stress plays a major role in the general well-being of both humans and their pets. Due to their sensitive nature, birds cannot deal with stress like other pets. Hence, it’s important to understand your cockatiel so that you can know when it’s stressed and make the necessary adjustments to create a conducive environment where it can thrive.
The following tactics can be used to calm down a stressed cockatiel:
1. Removing the Stressors
Making adjustments and removing anything that might be threatening to your cockatiels will keep your pet bird happy and healthy.
2. Not Yelling At Your Cockatiel
Never shout at your bird, as this might startle it when under stress. Yelling when your cockatiel bites you is not good, as it lets your bird learn that bad behavior gets attention.
Stay gentle and calm when interacting with the bird.
3. Speak to Your Veterinary
If your cockatiel becomes self-destructive, visit your veterinarian for medication and to determine the root cause of the behavior.
4. Reduce Noise
If loud noise affects your cockatiel, it is best to minimize it or have it turned down.
5. Maintain the Same Environment
As a change in environment can be stressful to your cockatiel, always maintain the usual position of items in the cage or the cage itself.
Provide it with a safe environment. The environment should also be suitable for your bird’s stay and not overcrowded.
6. Provide Stimulation
Since boredom leads to stress, it is good to ensure that your bird is fully occupied by providing it with enough toys, perches, and swings to play with.
7. Stick Train Your Bird
If your cockatiel doesn’t like to be handled, it is good to stick-train it to minimize contact. This will help you interact with your bird without having to touch it.
8. Out of Cage Time
By letting your bird out of the cage, it will receive extra attention and have enough time to explore.
9. Feeding Your Cockatiel a Proper Diet
Ensuring that your bird gets a balanced diet will enable it to get the necessary nutrients, thus reducing the risk of getting ill.
10. Offer Enough Sleep
Ensure that your cockatiel gets 10–12 hours of undisturbed sleep. This will help the cockatiel have enough rest and be calm when they wake up.
Causes of Stress in Cockatiels
To give your cockatiel a conducive environment, it is essential to understand its personality and know the various stressors that make it uncomfortable.
The following are some of the causes of stress in a cockatiel:
1. A Change in The Environment
A new home or family member, a change in cage location, the introduction of other pets, or bright paint colors can be stressors for your cockatiel.
2. Loud Noises
Sudden loud noises around your pet can lead to stress as the cockatiel perceives them as being attacked.
3. Change in Routine
Cockatiels are creatures of habit and can stick to a given schedule. In the event of any changes, your bird can easily get stressed.
For instance, if you frequently visit your pet’s cage for interaction or play and you suddenly stop or the time out is reduced, your cockatiel can get stressed as a result of such a change.
4. Lack of Rest
Enough sleep and rest are essential for a happy and healthy cockatiel. Excessive exercise and training should be avoided, as they can be taxing and stressful on your bird’s body.
5. Presence of Predators
Due to their small sizes, birds are vulnerable to being preyed on. Hence, they are always on the lookout for any predators around them.
Sighting a hawk, cat, or dog even through the window can be stressful for your feathered friend.
6. Change in Lighting
Any slightest change in the light cycle can be a stressor for your cockatiel. Moving your pet to a dark room or covering the cage can be uncomfortable and stressful for your cockatiel.
How Do You Tell If a Cockatiel Is Stressed?
Various signs of stress can be seen in cockatiels when they are exposed to stressors for long periods of time. These signs can range from behavioral to physical.
The following are signs of stress in cockatiels:
1. Stress Bars
These are small lines that run across the shafts of a cockatiel’s feathers. Molted feathers should be examined from time to time to ascertain whether your cockatiel is under stress.
2. Aggression
When stressed, a cockatiel is always unhappy and can suddenly become aggressive toward anyone passing by or even other birds.
Biting, hissing, lunging, and excessive screaming are some of the signs of stress in birds. It will be best to visit a veterinarian to rule out any health issues, and if your cockatiel is not sick, look out for stressors.
3. Loss of Appetite
Cockatiels are known to have good appetites and can eat throughout the day. If your bird suddenly loses interest in eating, then it might be stressed or ill.
Hence, it’s advisable to visit a veterinarian for checkups and, if in good health, figure out your bird’s stressors.
4. Being Afraid
A stressed cockatiel will become afraid of being handled. Bright colors, a new toy, or a beard can also make a bird fearful.
5. Repetitive Behavior
When bored, birds engage in repetitive behaviors such as head swinging, toe-tapping, and pacing to stimulate themselves. If your cockatiel exhibits such behaviors, then it might be under stress.
6. Change in Vocalization
A stressed cockatiel can become loud and noisy by screaming, or it can decrease vocalization by not chirping or singing.
7. Feather Plucking
This is a common sign of stress. Stressors initiate feather plucking in birds; however, it can continue even when the stressor stops.
Some birds can self-mutilate themselves by chewing their skin, causing severe damage.
What Does a Scared Cockatiel Look Like?
The following behaviors can be seen in a scared cockatiel:
1. It leans back on its perch.
2. Crouches down to get ready to fly and run.
3. The cockatiel sucks its feathers close to its body.
4. The bird becomes aggressive, and it can bite.
5. It escapes when you try to handle it.
6. It hides in its cage and refuses to come out.
How Do You Get a Scared Cockatiel to Trust You?
You can use the following tactics to earn your cockatiel’s trust:
1. Let him gradually get used to the environment. You can achieve this by putting him where you hang out most to allow him to get used to you.
2. Make him feel comfortable around you by talking to him or singing to him. Getting him used to seeing and having you around the cage will help reduce anxiety faster.
3. Move slowly when approaching your cockatiel.
4. Place your hand near the cage to let your bird get used to your hand
5. Offer your hand and put it in the cage for the bird to step onto.
6. Offer food and eat together with your cockatiel.
7. Trick it with a treat.
How Do You Get a Scared Cockatiel Into a Cage?
A cockatiel that is untamed can be difficult to get into the cage. However, you can lure it into the cage by:
1. Putting a treat inside the cage.
2. Leave food bowls inside the cage.
3. Place a night light near the cage.
How Do You Train a Bird Not to Be Scared?
You can train your bird not to be scared by doing the following:
1. Gradually introduce it to a new cage location or a new member of the family.
2. Using treats to reward your bird.
3. Removing threats from the surroundings The threats can be other household pets.
4. Talk to your bird in a calm and soothing voice.
5. Offering positive reinforcement for good behavior.
How Long Does It Take to Tame a Scared Cockatiel?
It can take weeks or even months to tame a cockatiel.
This is because it requires lots of time and effort to gain a bird’s trust. However, with constant training, repetition, and a good relationship with the cockatiel, you can easily tame it faster.
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