New cockatiels: biting, fighting, and night frights. What to do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Bird | Cockatiel | Male
Today I bought a lutino and a grey cockatiel but the lutino try to bite me anything when I touch the cage...... They keep on fighting for eating food although they were together in shop for around a week or two......... And suddenly lutino cockatiel acted as night fright although light were bright and on.... What sholud I do for the three cases???
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 30th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out. Providing multiple food bowls around the cage could decrease aggression over food. Biting now can be due to the stress of re-locating to a new home, and time could be the cure. Try to offer treats to win his side. If the lighting is too intense, that is stressful also and can lead to the sudden attempts to fly. Try to lessen external stimuli and have patterns of daily routine to be consistent. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 11th, 2017
Aggressiveness in Cockatiels is very common, especially in a new environment, hopefully he will soon get use to you and his new home, it may take a while (even several months) so be patient and try to handle him with care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My pet cockatiel is biting his cage and tries to bite/hiss at anyone who comes near his cage. He lives in the cage with another male cockatiel who is much more calm and abit scared. It has been a couple of days since we got them. I need to clean the
Since they are "new", they may need time to acclimate to their new home. A cage with a removable tray may make cleaning easier and safer.
You can try offering some food or a treat to distract them while you clean.
Acclimating them to you will take time and patience on your part. You will need to start by simply sitting near the cage daily or multiple times daily. Gradually increase the time as they get used to your presence. Move slowly and speak softly. End each session with a treat or reward. Once you gain their trust, begin again, but this time placing your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Make no attempt to pet or hold them. Again, end each session with a reward. There will be squawking and fluttering about initially, but you will know they are acclimating when this response decreases then disappears. Eventually, you will be able to teach the perch command and hold them.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have bought my cockatiel 3 weeks ago. He is 5 months old and not tamed completely. He used to eat a bit from fingers but now he doesnt. When i try to bring my finger near him he hisses and what to bite me! I think this comes from being out of his h
Aggressiveness in Cockatiels is very common, especially in a new environment, hopefully he will soon get use to you and his new home, it may take a while (even several months) so be patient and try to handle him with care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My cockatiel keeps walking back and forth around the cage and out of no where got really aggressive. Not sure what’s happening and I’m getting kind of worried what can I do to help it.
What you can do really depends on what the cause is, so trying to find the cause is best. If you suspect illness, seeking out a vet appointment is a good first step to rule out any health issues or pain that can cause behavioral changes. Sometimes, aggression can be caused by boredom, stress or even an urge to mate. Adding in enriching toys or allowing Coco to explore his environment may help with boredom and keep him happier and occupied. Moving his cage to someplace quieter or without harassment by other pets and people can help reduce stress in addition to adding some fun toys or treats to play with. If he is trying to mate, sometimes changing the daylight hours and decrease protein amount in the diet can help, as well as distraction with interactive toys/ignoring/avoiding the behavior. If he does seem stressed and lash out, giving him a chance to calm down and relax before interacting again may also help.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
I have a problem with my pet parrot(cockatiel).5 months ago one of 2 birds died. And the bird has gotten really agressive. Before that death, I could scratch it and overall he was comfortable with me, but right now it attacks me,always tries to bite
Losing a mate or part of the flock can be traumatic. Try to gradually reacclimate him to you. Begin by simply sitting by his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Speak softly and move slowly around him. End each visit with a small treat. Once he is fine with that, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may squawk and flap and move away at first. That's fine. Do not attempt to touch or pet him. Once he settles down, you can coax him closer to you using treats. It will take time and patience, but eventually you should be able to win him over and get him to per h on your finger.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My cockatiel was fine yesterday, he was cuddly, he sang a lot etc. Earlier today he was doing just that but now (its 20:32) he started biting me and is quiet (he screams but doesnt sing) and is exploring my bed. When i come close to him he starts att
Thanks for reaching out about Keke. It appears as if he might be hormonal, searching for a nesting site, becoming territorial. Monitor for appetite. If becomes lethargic or eating less, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi ok so I have two cockatiels one is a male one is a female .I’m not sure how old they are but I’ve had them for 6 years and they hate me but ,the female bird loves my mom listens to my mom when my mom puts her finger in front of her she goes on her
Taming birds takes a lot of time, patience and consistency. You may want to find a favorite treat of theirs, and begin offering it only when you approach the cage. Getting them used to you first without handling them can help them gradually overcome any fear and prevent extra stress. Once comfortable, you can then move onto feeding them from your hand, petting them, etc. If at any time they do become stressed, taking a break until they calm down and then returning to the previous step they were comfortable with is best. These articles below may also help give you some tips and tricks to make things easier: https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-bird-training-how-to-train-your-bird-to-step-up/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-biting-why-they-do-it-and-how-to-correct-it/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my pet cockateil petre dose not really have a treat food ive tried millet sun flower seeds ect and i can take him out of his cage on a stick but he resists i use a stick because he bites but once i have him out he will let me scratch him sometimes wh
You can use grapes sliced in half or small bits of cheese as occasional treats. He may feel protective in his cage. You can desensitize him to your hand in the cage by leaving it in there for ever increasing periods of time. Use a small treat or reward after each episode.
The vocalization and nibbling while being scratched is normal. When he begins to bite harder or gets "antsy", return him to his cage for a break.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My budgie has started eating from my hands but when ever I try to touch him he bites. I have a pair the female is afraid to come on my hand to eat so may be it scares the male budgie. How should I tame them? Also they bite each other while eating wha
It will take time. Allow him to keep eating from your hand. Use treats to coax him onto your hand and when you pet him, do not come in from above. This can be a threatening motion for birds. Approach at or below eye level and move slowly. The female will require a bit more work in getting acclimated to your hand. You can do the same though. Use treats and rewards. Keep your hand near her, but don't try to touch her, for ever increasing periods of time. Provide additional food and water bowls to prevent resource protection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cockatiel lost his ability to sing. I was playing video games and was petting him and all of a sudden he started biting my ear. I screamed since it hurt and he kept on doin it alongside screaming. Now he doesnt sing nor responds or looks at me whe
Thanks for reaching out about Keke. He might have become frightened when you reacted to his biting your ear. It might take some time for him to returned to a stress-reduced state and for you to win his trust again. If the behavior continues, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess health. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
He is biting my other male birds feet and pushing off his perches and counters? They don't share a cage but talk to eachother all day and their cages are only a meter apart? They want to be together and often try to fly to one another? How do I stop
Thanks for reaching out about Peekaboo. Not all birds get along but can often be trained to get along. Suspect this is more dominance that anything else. Allow to interact in neutral territory so no one is defending their home territory. Allow to interact with plenty of feeding stations and for short periods of time, to get acclimated to each other. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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