Sometimes when I scratch my tiel he does this too, but he does it as a "You're doing it wrong!" and starts scratching his own head like "See, this is how it's done. Idiot."
+A Bird Lover Exactly, because it's most likely that he's indicating, same with this beatuiful guy in the video :) Animals are very smart living beings, yet people think they only act by their animal instincts, which is as false as anything could ever be!
aslan nasir If you've never had a bird before, I think a budgie is more suitable, but it's a lot of responsability, effort and love that has to be put into taking care of any bird either way, even more with a cockatiel than a budgie I'd say. I probably don't need to tell you this, but in case of, remember to do your research, like reading on the internet about everything regarding the specific bird, also visit a pet store and ask loads of things there. It's a complete MUST to know what to feed and not to feed the bird, how much company it needs and how to wash the bird in case it doesn't take care of that on its own when it has a bath in its cage. Last but not least, at least consider to perhaps get a rescue bird instead of buying one as there are so many that needs a new and proper home! Good luck! :)
My bird does the same thing. It’s perfectly normal. Just like when you show affection to a child or an adult. At some point it’s enough and the person pulls away. So does the bird. He is not mad, just affectionate and he is putting up some boundaries. Usually, my bird nibbles or bites lightly to show that he has had enough and then comes back for more. It’s so cute!
I have a male tiel that does this behaviour all the time. He was an unintentional rescue when I went to the SPCA. I happened to see him sitting alone in a cage and my heart broke. They said he was young 6-12 months. His owner had gotten him as a hand reared, tame baby. This was her first bird. Then she didn't pick him up much so when she did, he wasn't used to being handled anymore and would bite. When she left him in the cage, all he did was scream. Anyone with a tiel knows how much fun that is! So she said the neighbours in her building complained and she had to give him up. So 3 years ago, he came to join me and my kakariki parrot. It took a few months of working hard with him to even get him to step up with confidence and not attack my hand. I didn't mind and have lots of patience. Now he asks to come out of his cage in the morning to spend the day with me. He rides my shoulder all day, no matter what I am doing. He still gets upset or nervous easily. I associate this with a lack of self-confidence. In time he will feel secure enough to accept all handling and petting. Being that I don't really know how he was treated in his previous home, I'm happy to get a head bow to ask for a scratchy, then after 1-2 minutes he bites me and backs away. And none of my neighbours can hear him scream (during a time out in his cage) except in the hallway & that doesn't bother them.
Mine is like: "I love you! can you scratch my head please?.......................................NO NOT LIKE THAT YOU IDIOT -scratched own head- LIKE THIS YOU PEASANT!"
Mine too! I will kiss his beak and he's fine, open my mouth he starts gently nibbling m tongue and teeth but the second I show my finger he goes full scale attack 🙈 sounds like we all have dysfunctional cockatiels
My hand-reared ducks are the same. Faces are good, hands are not! They've probably learnt that faces can only do affectionate things, whereas hands can trim claws, inspect wings, move them about, etc.
It can be 4 reasons for that (mostly combination): 1. Feather is growing and that is very sensitive (feather is still in hard peel). 2. Fingers are to close to bird eye 3. Scratching is to gently (tickling) - women problem or to rough (pain) - men problem 4. Hands is to cold (women problem)
My bird every time see me start to be verry scary and when i scritch him he relax but when i come next day he start scary again and every day the same how can i fix his memory
Cockatiel’s are bloody crazy! Lol! We had one when I was a kid called: “Dinky” and he was attached to my Dad and wouldn;t have anybody else go near him and got crazy mad when they did! He was such a smart little thing, adored my Dad. ❤ He used to have a bell at the top of his cage and if my Dad said (and only my Dad!) to him: “ring your little ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong!” He used to go scurrying to the top to ring his bell for him! Lol!
This video turned out as I expected - you are doing fine. I have found this to be normal behavior with the three cockatiels I have had experience with over the years. The animal has its own expectations for "you to keep up" with the affection that is taking place. It is "assertive love bites and nibbling" of sorts. It is description, expression, and response on its behalf for you to "keep up" and challenge you to "keep going" and "Watch me challenge you - so don't stop now." sort of stuff. It is a fine line of intimacy (so watch things and let it have its space, but you seem to be doing just fine), but based on my own experience, you are being challenged to "keep up" and "don't stop what you're doing" at times. Very gently even the pecking - while you're away at times toward the end of the video - it is all a love game by my experience - the dance of "upkeep" is in play. With care, there is the story that is being told within. :) *Reviewing again: ~2.22: Yeah, to close in the neck area - no biggie - no harm. But there after, is the play by what I am reading. ~3.44: Maybe there is some sensitivity around the neck. They really like the jawbone area - I know this much. There is enough going on around their neck area as ours - there are and there are not areas on our neck we are accepting of someone being intimate with us around. 'Likely got to close to the airway. But the other stuff is total love bites - totally common. :) Even at ~4.50 - it's game on for your friend still for you to "show up to the show."
We had a cockatiel same coloring very spoiled loved him with all our hearts he would walk around like a human looking for the kids jump on the table either serial pick up their neck if they wouldn’t listen he was so cute he passed away we only had five years.
Cockateils, bless their tiny, little hearts, are "moody" and "unpredictable"...full of wild surprises. He's only nibbling because when they're "really mad," they bite hard enough to tear off pieces of your skin and draw blood...My poor aching finger can testify to that...🐒
After having 2 parrots and seeing them do this to each other, it makes sense now. Those areas especially around the cheeks are very sensitive. So they will squawk and nip when one digs a little too deep or whatever
I know this too well, I had a female cockatiel that would really bite if I didn't scratched her just right. So be happy he just gets mad :) I always had to be very attentive to retract my finger very fast as soon I saw her displeased. A few time it was because you touched his body, mine hated that too. Other times dunnno, maybe the spot wasnt right.
+George Lionon My experience is, its best not to change places too much where to scratch, the bird moves his head by itself where it wants to be scratched.
+George Lionon Spot on! I started to have cockatiels 2½ years ago, still learning every day. My lutino female does the same and it became obvious to me over time, if you do it in a way the cockatiel doesn't like, it pecks at you. Also my female prefers to adjust her head to where she wants you to scratch/pet her at :)
I think not by the beak. Awwwwwww how cute. I take heaven to homeschool. She enjoys listening to the same sounds every day. The happier you make your bird the happier they will make you.
my cockatiel does exactly the same thing and no i dont go to far down he will bow his head and sometimes he will go for me before i touch him hes funny my other two love cuddles and don't do it like him :D
I taught mine to squeak when she wants head rubs, and pretend-bite when she wants me to stop- otherwise she has to struggle out of my fingers or move away, which isn't always easy when she's on my shoulder. She does get frustrated if I don't focus on spot she wants, though.
My mom's would do that after a few mins of petting and we would start doing the deep circles like that thinking it would like it/ feel good. I think it's just too rough for their little skeletal bodies...theres no meat to them u know. He would flip out and bite a bunch of times in a row real fast but they were the gentlest bites 😊... your bird is too cute thanks for sharing 😍
All tiels do this, its just one of their quirks. Weve had ours for 19 years and she still does it. In fact she will challenge my husband it seems as if to play fight, he calls it jousting. 😁 She will climb his pant leg request a duel battle for 10 mins get sleepy climb down then nap on his foot. Its the silliest thing. They're so emotional, I believe that is 90% of their existence, goofy little weirdos. 😄
It must be in the genes. My cockatiel Tigger used to do the same thing. He'd only let me rub his head, and when he'd had enough, just like yours he'd let me know the same way! Sadly he passed in 2010 at 17. Great video! What's his name?
It is making begging noises it is not trying to hurt you it wants you to feed him, like a cockatiel mate would feed him, it's how parrots bond to their mates, and the person in the video is it's mate.
Mine looks and acts the same. He will do closed mouth bumps not real bites when he has had enough, walk away for a while then present for more rubs. I have been bit to know the difference in vocalization, wing presentation and my pain..
My cocktail loves my mum and when she is around she will attack us and when my mum is not around she will come to us.........so I can relate...... and when I do scratch her head after a few seconds she attacks my finger and starts scratching her self....... ;-;
You are lucky my tail went let me touch her at all. But comes to me and kisses me and calls me when I leave the room! Ive had her 5 months and she's only now 8 months old!. But won't let touch.
i wish my parakeet came to me and asked for a head rub...I can only pet him with my nose or a feather and only on his beak. if I try rubbing those puffy cheeks he gets tickly and runs away... it really breaks my heart not being able to pet him :3
Mine did this sometimes. He either felt playful or didn't like the way I was scratching him. For yours, I guess it's more about the way you do it then the playfulness (he seems pretty calm in the vid).
try to pet him with the direction of the feathers and pulling outward, not inward, and the orange feathers are a cover for the ears maybe don't concentrate too much on this area, good luck
this make me cry cuzz this cokatiel look like mine cokatiel and she dead and evertime shecomed too me and wanted me too kiss herand she was a sweetheart i missher but she didnt bite😭😭😭😭
Why does your cockatiel bird let you pet em ?? :( mine will not let my hands get near him ! I can pet him and give him love with my face but not my hands.. :( he’s scared of hands, fingers, and toes. Any suggestions from cockatiel owners?
why are you torturing this bird? he's telling you how he wants to be pet and you keep scratching the back of his neck and he keeps telling you cheeks and you keep doing it but then working your way back to the back of his neck which he does not like as much.
Yeah, 100% this. He keeps moving so that you get the right spot and then you move your hand past the right spot onto the other side. You do this at least 3 times before he starts to get frustrated and beaks you the first time.
