Hello 👋, so my cockatiel (Simmy, male, 1) is a good boy, he lives with 3 more cockatiels in one BIG cage, but 2 days ago he suddenly started to screeching like he was being ripped apart (in intervals of 20-30 minutes, sometimes less), he bites and hisses at me or attacks his friends if he gets touched, he won’t leave his cage.
His living conditions: he lives in a big cage with 3 more cockatiels, I let him out of the cage and let him roam my room (rarely the whole house) or return to his cage for about 5-7 hours and his sleep time being 12 hours. His cage has a lot of toys, food (food of course having a lot of options) and water, perches and branches, outside the cage are also some toys and perches, (he likes the top of my bookshelf or the top of the cage and a couch pillow top), I give all birds lots of attention (I work at home) so it can’t be attention seeking, I’ve even tried to play with him for 2 hours (he won’t budge), it can’t be boredom as I let him out of his cage every morning and shuffle around the toys and perches, sometimes the food bowls too.
Due to his screeching the other 3 cockatiels and my other cages conures, have become quiet and less energetic.
I took him too the vet, but the vet can’t see what is wrong with him, so he prescribed Simmy with AviCalm.
Yes, the drug works, but as soon as it wears off he starts to screech again.
I’ve had birds, since age 11 and I’ve NEVER seen or heard a bird screech like that, not scream but screech.
I don’t know what to do at this point, I’ve tried, EVERYTHING.
How do I make him stop??
-Lauren
Answer:
Hi Lauren,
When it comes to parrots – and cockatiels are a species of parrot – everything they do is based on natural instinct. They are a wild, exotic species, even when captive bred. They never do anything for no reason. As the owner, it’s up to you to have a better understanding of their natural behavior, to give you clues on how to deal with why they are doing something. Yes, they can be frustrating, but when you understand the difference between a behavior being undesirable versus bad, then you are more open to understanding possible solutions. You are not alone – many owners use the same terms like “for no reason” “I’ve tried everything” – but there is a solution, although it might not be what you want. And the solution is rarely a quick fix. You have to be patient, and consistent, and your bird will eventually respond the way you want him to.
To begin with, get rid of the AviCalm and find a good bird Vet. I’ll give you a link from one of the top Avian Behaviorists to explain what this product really is and why looking for a magic fix is never the answer. I can’t imagine any experienced Avian Vet recommending this or similar products. Parrots do not need to be calmed, they need to be understood. https://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?threads/do-you-give-your-bird-avicalm.221445/
So why is your little Simmy suddenly so vocal? Hormones – it’s almost always hormones. The majority of behavior issues with pet birds comes down to hormones. It could be that something has changed, and he is alarm calling, so definitely think about anything that you may have added or changed just before he started this. But most likely, he is experiencing hormones. At a year old, he is experiencing his first strong hormonal signals and he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He may also be experiencing his first adult molt, and some birds do not handle a heavy molt very well. They are itchy and even sore and it makes them cranky and tired. He’s living with 3 other birds that apparently do not view him as a potential mate. You didn’t mention their ages or sex, but they either are not at that first hormonal experience yet, or they are older and do not take a young bird like Simmy seriously.
And why is Simmy SO hormonal? Because you have created the most wonderful environment for him full of enrichment, ample space, abundant food, great places for nesting and everything he could possibly need to be a successful breeder, except for a mate. And don’t get me wrong – at his age, he has no business being with a female or being allowed to breed. While a volume breeder puts their birds to work as young as 8 months old, a breeder who raises quality cockatiels will not pair their birds until both are between 2-3 years old – usually closer to 3 years old.
I am surprised that only he is exhibiting hormonal behavior? Are the other birds all males? Or are they all relatively young? Going back to instinct, young cockatiels live in a flock and interact and preen and groom each other until they are old enough to choose a mate. Once they are mature and choose a mate, they will no longer have the physical interaction with other flock members, and will distance themselves even further once breeding season starts. When you have a pet bird, you are the companion, and you want to avoid sending any signals that you are a mate. This means avoiding any petting below the bird’s head and neck, and avoid excessive and long periods of petting. With several birds together in a cage like you have, as young birds they all may get along with each other and you, but as they mature, they will almost always pair off – even if all are the same sex – and they will eventually lose interest in having any contact with people. So if your birds are all young, you may have more issues heading your way. If they are older birds and this arrangement has continued to work out, with no aggression or hormonal issues, then you have what we call an exception and that’s great!
As for Simmy, the best way to handle a hormonal cockatiel is to set some limits and boundaries. Avoiding and removing hormone triggers is necessary to minimize his hormonal behavior. Cockatiels in the wild nest during breeding season when the days are longer, the weather is warmer, food is abundant, and they have a safe place to nest and raise chicks. Sharing a cage with other cockatiels, especially if any are female, is a hormone trigger because he has a flock with potential mates. Allowing him to roam, even only in one room, mimics looking for a nesting area, so this is another hormone trigger. Having a large variety of foods in abundance tells him he and his mate will have plenty to eat and plenty to feed their chicks. High places like the bookshelf are great options for a nesting area – safe from predators and a good lookout point. Simmy has everything he needs, but he also probably doesn’t understand how he feels – he likely has this drive to mate & nest. The solution is the same as for a pair to force a rest from breeding or a female, to discourage egg laying. As for his freedom and roaming, he needs to only come out of the cage when you can handle him. This isn’t necessarily permanent, but it’s something to try for now, to give his hormones a chance to calm down. You may also want to check out some of our webinars on hormones & parrots, and some of our behavior webinars. We actually have a 2 part webinar coming up next month, which will address common behavior issues, including excessive screaming.
Again, the main hormone triggers are longer daylight, warmer weather, abundant food, and a quiet, private environment. The goal is to reverse these conditions.
Limit light to 8-10 hours by covering the cage early each evening
Do not give him anything to use as a nest – no bird huts or tents, no box, bowl, etc. If he decides to sit in a food bowl, remove it and replace with smaller cups. Yes, males will nest alone sometimes.
Do not give him anything to shred such as paper or cardboard.
Rearrange the toys in the cage frequently.
Move the cage to a different place in the room. Move the cage about once a week, or whenever he shows signs of nesting – settling on the cage floor for example. This disrupts his idea of having a stable place to raise chicks.
If you feed a lot of fresh foods, stop offering any for a couple of weeks, and then only offer them in small amounts about 2 or 3 times a week. You can resume normal feeding later when the birds aren’t being hormonal.
When he is let out of the cage, do not let him get in any dark cozy places and don’t give him free roam. When you let them roam around, this mimics searching for a nesting site.
When you handle him, limit any petting to only the head and neck – do not pet a bird on the body. Only a bonded mate is allowed to groom the body. We can’t be a mate, so touching the body is off limits.
When he is out, if he presents herself for mating, distract him with toys or food to get his mind off of mating.
You can register for the upcoming free behavior webinar at the link below. Translating Parrot: Behavior Misconceptions – Do I Have a Problem Parrot? Part 1
