My cockatiel was a rescue from an attack in a park. She has been with us 6 weeks. She is happy but won’t come near my hand/finger. She’s been in the same 80cm square cage for 6 weeks. Should I let her out inside for a fly. She’s happier when the cage door is closed.
Hi Maggie,
I’m glad you were able to rescue the cockatiel. She really has not been with you for very long, so I would give her more time to settle in. You know nothing about her background. She may have been a breeding bird who escaped and is missing her mate. She may have never been a tame bird. Or she may be a pet who has just been traumatized. I would not let her out – she is more likely to fly around in a panic and hurt herself than actually enjoy being out. When you feel like she is ready to start working with, it would be a good idea to have a professional trim her wings. This will slow her down some and make her easier to work with. The following link will take you to a page of articles about caring for your bird and how to understand her and work with her.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
