Help! My cockatiel bites and won't bond. How can I earn his trust?

Question

How can I get my bird to rust me? He is a cockatiel who has lived with me for 3 years. I have tried everything but he just doesn't seem to like me or any human interaction at all. I do not know what past he comes from since I got him from a friend. He just seems to like to be alone and tends to bite when I try anything, the bites are soft however. Many times I have to force him to step up on a perch near us. He only comes to me after we go to the vet. Should I get a trained bird to help? Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male | unneutered | 80 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

I don't think adding another bird will necessarily teach TJ to be "trained." Instead, I would recommend spending time bonding together. Does TJ have a favorite treat? Begin by offering that every time you approach the cage, without any other interaction. Once he is comfortable, you can then start offering it from your hand, and then move on to petting him. If at any time he becomes stressed or nervous, going back to the previous step he was OK with for a while is best until he is comfortable again. If he is biting softly, it may be more that he is exploring his environment (and you) as a way to interact. Offering a toy or fun thing you can both play with may help. However, if he is hissing, backing away, and the biting, it can indicate he is stressed out by the situation and needs some time to himself. Not every bird will bond closely with every person, so even if he doesn't seem completely comfortable with you, you can still offer enrichment through new toys, play spaces, etc, and enjoy watching him have fun.

Help! My cockatiel bites and won't bond. How can I earn his trust?

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