Troubled Cockatiel

Question
QUESTION: I recently rescued a female cockatiel from somebody who abused the bird.  When I got her, she had no feathers on her body.  She only has feathers left on her wings and head.  I made her a sweater out of an infant sock until she starts growing her feathers back in.  She is very shy and aggressive when I get close to her cage and shakes if I sit next to her cage.  When I reach in the cage to change food/water or to clean the cage she bites at my hand and hisses at me.  If I get her out of her cage she either tries to go back in the cage or will perch on top of it and not move and will shake.  What can I do to win her trust and let her know that I only want to her to get better and to be happy?

ANSWER: Your doing fine. Let her settle in for about a week.

After that take her to a small room, bathroom's work well for this (just remember to put the toilet seat down), and then place her on your knee. The first couple of days just let her sit there, if she jumps off of your leg then gently pick her back up and back onto your knee.

Then after this has settled in with her, move your hand up your thigh until you can set your hand next to her. Again if she jumps down, pick her back up and place her on your knee and start again.

Now you've got her sitting on your knee, and she is alright with your hand being near her, so you are going to put your finger up against her lower belly and say "step up".

When she jumps down, put her back up on your knee and begin again, until you get her to perch on your finger. After she gets comfortable perching on your finger, start having her step up onto your other finger and go back and forth stepping up from hand to hand.

If her wings aren't clipped, get them clipped. It will help hand-tame her, as she will be more dependent on you.

Remember 2-3 10 minute training sessions a day are best!

Also, don't fret if she doesn't stop shaking. She is under a lot of stress and it can take a long time, lots of love and patience for her to become more centered. As always a rescue bird may have life long issues from the trauma. Just love her.

Blessings,
-m

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I hate to report, but the bird died. She died at the bottom of her cage when I let her out of her sweater to relax. Maybe I should have left her in the sweater.  I don't know.  She will be missed.  Thanks to everyone who replied.

Answer
Rest easy, taking the sweater off is not what killed the bird. It was the abuse she suffered at the hands of her previous owner. You did a great thing, and at least she was able to pass away in loving hands.

Blessings, and thank you for caring enough to care for that poor 'tiel.

Blessings,
-m