training

Question
im in need of some advice on the best way to train cockateils. i dont know much about them at all. i had 2 given to me. a father and a daughter. they didnt have names when i got them amd i assume no training as they belonged to a breeder who decided to get out of the business. they are very touchy. you cant even put your hand near the cage or the male will bite. he has bitten my husband numerous times. we try to talk to them and have them near us at all times. we even open the cage so they can feel free to roam and explore. we got some training treats but they wont come near it, even if it is left sitting for them. id really like to get close to them, so if you have some advice, id really appreciate it.
         from a new bird lover

Answer
HI BETSY
YOUR DOING JUST FINE, TAMING OLDER BIRDS IS ALOT OF HARD WORK AND TONS OF PATIENCE.  KEEP TALKING TO THEM, DO NOT FORCE PICKING THEM UP YET AS BREEDER BIRDS DO NOT GET HANDLE OR TAMED AT ALL.  THEY ARE JUST USED FOR BREEDING AND THE BREEDER IN MOST CASES DOES NOT CARE.
I WOULD BURN A NIGHT LIGHT FOR THEM, PLAY A RADIO ALL NIGHT AND DAY FOR THAT MATTER ON MUSIC LOW.  STAND AND TALK TO THEM AS OFTEN AS U CAN MANAGE IT.
WHEN ENTERING THE ROOM, CALL THEIR NAMES, THEY MUST LEARN NAMES.  MY SONNY WAS QUITE A TALKER, HE DIED OF OLD AGE OF 12 YEARS.  HE WAS A PIED.  BLACK AND YELLOW JUST GORGEOUS AND TO THIS DAY I MISS HIM AND ITS BEEN YEARS.  THEY LEARN TO MIMIC SOUNDS MY FRIDGE SQUEEKED, HE MADE THE EXACT SOUND.
IT TOOK SOME WORK TO TAME HIM AND HE WAS A VERY YOUNG BOY.  HE BIT ME ONCE AND NEVER ATTEMPTED AGAIN AS I DID NOT MOVE WHEN HE BIT HARD, TEARS WELLED UP, BUT IT WAS OVER AND HE KNEW I DID NOT FEAR HIM.
JUST STAND AND TALK, SING, PLACE THEM NEAR A WINDOW TO LOOK OUT ALSO.  IN WARM WEATHER U COULD HANG THEM ON A PORCH.  
I WOULD SEPERATE THEM IF THEY ARE TOGETHER.  TAME ONE AT A TIME WITH MUCH LOVE AND PATIENCE U WILL SUCCEED, BUT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME ALSO.
TREATS MEAN NOTHING TO BIRDS AND THEY EAT ONLY WHEN HUNGRY, SO THEY DO NOT GET THE CONNECTION OF TREATING TO TAME.?
ALSO, WHEN THEY START TO EAT GOOD, HARD BOIL AN EGG WEEKLY AND GIVE A LITTLE OF THE YOLK.  THEY LEARN TO LOVE THAT AND MILLET SPRAY THEY SHOULD HAVE NOT LAY ON BOTTOM OF CAGE AND THEY WILL START TO NIBBLE AT THAT.
IF I CAN BE OF HELP FURTHER LET ME KNOW.

KIND REGARDS
PATT