Infatuation On A Whole New Level

Rocky is the normal male cockatiel seen here on the left. (Normal is the description of his color, not his behavior or personality.) He is staying in my cockatiel room and learning to be a bird. 

He is closely bonded to his human and has caused some trouble at home by being increasingly noisy. He has had different experiences with other cockatiels at his home as well.  Now he is an only bird and his deep connection to his mom has become an issue. If a bird doesn't feel that you're listening...he just gets louder.  And yet, if you respond, you're actually training him to be loud to get the attention. 

So what is the answer?  It's a very fine line.  When a bird calls out to you, you should acknowledge but without reward.  The best way to do this is to simply start to sing or whistle softly so that he can figure out where you are and know he is okay. If this doesn't quiet him, you can enter his area without making any eye contact and busy yourself in the vicinity.  Straighten magazines on the coffee table, adjust a picture on the wall, while you talk softly about what you are doing.  Don't pay any direct attention to him.  Your presence may be enough to quiet him.  

Make sure you go to the bird when he is quiet, eating, or playing and not when he is demanding your attention. 

While Rocky has been here, he has become one of the flock. However, he seems to be infatuated with my own male cockatiel, Echo.  Rocky zeroes in on Echo and follows him everywhere!  Echo doesn't return the interest and acts like an older brother who has his kid brother pestering him. Not sure how this will play out in Rocky's future.  Perhaps a male companion cockatiel would be in order.  Rocky certainly seems quiet here, but then, everything is relative.  In this home, quiet is someone else's noisy. 


Rocky Watching Echo