The Dancing Cockatiel

Question
Hello!

I was given a completely wild cockatiel by a woman that kept her in a cage with no branches or toys. I have had her for a week now and lined the sides of the cage at about mid-height to make the transition to climbing easier for her as she seemed to have no idea how to move onto a branch from the side of a cage.

She was born at this horrible woman's house but not hand fed or trained or had any attention what-so-ever. In fact, the woman rather shunned her and warned me that she was a biter and untrainable. (I like a challenge!) She's now 7 months old.

In the week that I've had her, not only does she greet me at the door of the cage, but loves to eat from my hand and is just starting to step onto my hand (though only barely yet) Not bad for a week! She also seems to be getting better at moving around a cage with perches (quite amusing to watch! She's never sure where to put her feet verses her mouth! It's like watching a 2 year old with two left feet tap dance)

Now I'll finally get to my question.
Yesterday, she started doing this funny little dance with her wings held out a little though not fully unfolded. She then squats and bobs a little side to side seeming to dance back and forth on the perch. What does this mean? and I feel pretty certain she's a female, but could she be a he displaying?

Posey (as we call her/him) is a cinnamon pearl that has had her molt and has obvious markings despite the pale cinnamon (I know that sometimes males keep the cinnamon markings for a few years before turning to a normal grey).

She's typically very quiet except for mornings and nights or when she wants attention.

Also, she makes the motion of a baby bird begging for food (head up and out beak wide open, head bobbing in and out rapidly and screaming like the chicks do while still in the nest) sometimes when I approach the cage with her crest in the relaxed down position. This too started a day or so ago. I take this as acceptance. Am I being too hopeful or could I be right?

Thank you so much for your time and sorry about the long post!

Answer
Hi Suzanne,

I am very glad this bird has found you!

First I'd like to know if you have taken this bird to an avian veterinarian? From the description of her previous home it sounds like she really needs a vet check. You say she didn't have any branches, what did she stand on? Was it a wood dowel? Have you been able to check her feet? Improper perching eventually leads to feet infections. Also was she on an all seed diet at the previous home? When birds come from homes such as you describe this is usually the case. All seed diets, especially at that young of an age, lead to many health problems including affecting liver and kidney function.

As for the behavior you are seeing, I'll do my best to give you some ideas, but without actually seeing the behavior myself it's difficult for me to know exactly what this behavior is. When you say squats - is she low on the branch? Almost flat? I've seen this with courting. The side to side bobbing could be part of this. Does the motion look rhythmic? Almost robotic? If it does that could be a stereotypic neurotic behavior due to a lack of stimulation in her previous home. Sitting low on a perch is also a sick bird position.

As for the food begging, cockatiels wean at about the age of 6-8 months. If she is begging then she is not fully weaned or was weaned improperly. The stress of moving to a new home (even if obviously a better home it is a change) can make a bird do regression weaning. Try offering her soaked pellets from your fingers or from a spoon.

Here's an article the talks about regression weaning:

http://www.companionparrot.com/weaning%20transition.htm

Good luck with your new pet. I hope I have helped.

Jennifer
www.feathersandscales.com