new to me 5 yr old cockatiel

Question
Hi there, I was just wondering if you could give me some advice.  I just bought a 5 year old, hand tamed, male cockatiel today from someone who was moving and had to find him a new home.  I understand he needs time to get used to me, but I'm just wondering exactly how i do that.  I read one website that said I should handle him as much as possible and another that said I should leave him in his cage for almost a week before I handle him.  He will eat treats from my hand INSIDE the cage, but if I try and take him out he hisses and snaps at me.. He also seems to shake quite a bit whenever i get too close, yet I have had him out on my shoulder once and seemed OK but wouldnt let me pte him..  Anyways any advice you have will be much appreciated!  I don't want to do the wrong thing and make him never get used to me!

Thanks

Alina


Answer
Hi, Alina,

The way you should go about this depends on the personality of the bird.  Each bird is as individual as humans are and you have to find the best way for this particular bird.  Therefore, we may have to communicate back and forth for a bit until we find the best way for this bird.

Start out by just allowing the bird time to get used to his new environment in your home, get used to the routine in your home, get used to the people, etc.  Don't ignore your new bird...just don't push him to far and/or do anything that might frighten or make your new bird fearful/mistrusting of you.  Keep offering the bird treats as you are doing.  However, do not force the bird to come out of his cage.  If you do this, the bird will feel cornered and not be as trusting of you.  Allow the bird to come out of his cage on his own in his own time and then interact with him (leave the cage door open when you want to allow him to come out).  You can coax him out, etc., but just don't force him to do anything.  Take one step at a time.  As time goes on and he gets used to you and you learn about him, you can do more and more.  The shaking can be because the bird is nervous when you come near, is also a way bird's regulate their body temperatures, thus, can be a sign the bird is cold.  Not all parrots allow their humans to pet them.  It's an instinctual reaction, i.e., predators attack/grab birds from the top and back.  This is a trusting thing....the more the bird trusts you, the more the bird will tolerate from you.  However, I have some parrots I've owned for 18 years that still will not allow me to pet them on their heads/down their backs.

Be patient, give your new bird some space if necessary, but don't ignore him.  He's also trying to see how much you will tolerate from him.  If you allow him to get away with certain things, he'll learn he can and will use this to his benefit!  Come back when you need to.
   
hrys