help - our cockatiel

Question
My 4 month old cockatiel cries, screeches and makes funny noises whenever he/she isn't on a shoulder or playing with a person, and lately has been trying to rub her/himself on my husband's hand (but hasn't seemed to try to masturbate on the perch). How can we stop the screeching, and if this is mating behavior, how can we prevent her (if it's a her) from laying eggs? it also seems like she/he's been shedding more feathers lately, but this may be because of the winter or growing out of baby feathers (although she/he's knocked out all of its tail feathers playing or landing terribly when it tries to fly).

Please help, THANK YOU!!!!!

Answer
Hello,
Well, your cockatiel probably has become very attached to you and your husband. The only way you can prevent this screaming is if you try putting his cage in a dark, quiet room, and covering the cage when he is not with you. If that doesn't work then maybe your cockatiel needs a mate. I would take the bird to a vet to see if it is a male or female, and if your bird is a male, get a female, or if your bird is a female, get a male. I do believe this bird could be a male.

Hope this helps,
Carly