Cockatiel-Training

Training Cockatiels can be a lot of fun and also pretty easy. There are several methods you can use to train cockatiels and we have some free Cockatiel Training videos that show you how. You can also check out our web site for more cockatiel training videos and sign up to be on our newsletter that gives you the most up to date training information out there.

I included two videos here for you to see our Cockatiel Training methods. ONe covers teaching your cockatiel to do tricks. The other covers why your cockatiel bites you. I work all the time with my cockatiel Magoo so if you are having some other issues just Let me know.

Cockatiel training - tips and steps to reduce unwanted behaviors.

As a general rule, cockatiels are easy-going members of the parrot family. They are happy and affectionate birds, but each has its own personality. Sometimes bad habits develop and your once friendly bird begins screaming loudly. You ask yourself, "What happened? How do I stop this?" This is the point where cockatiel training comes in handy.

Screaming is one habit that is extremely bothersome. Your once peaceful home is no longer peaceful. You try to watch television and the noise is unbearable. You want to nip this in the bud before it becomes more difficult to break the habit later. Luckily it's not difficult to train a cockatiel not to scream.

Cockatiels don't just scream just to be screaming. They are doing so because they are trying to tell you something. Here are some things they may be trying to communicate to you when the scream:

They are bored, they need mental stimulation.

They are lonely and need to spend time with you.

They are stressed or fatigued from not getting the rest they need.

They have a poor diet that is causing them physical discomfort.

They are maturing sexually and don't have a mate.

Of course, there may be other reasons, but these are the main reasons that a cockatiel might begin screaming.

Before you begin training, there are some things to understand about cockatiels. First, cockatiels are noisy birds by nature. That's how they communicate, so you can't expect them to be completely silent. Learn the sounds your cockatiel makes and listen for sounds that are out of the ordinary. These are often good indications that something is wrong with it.

Second, you may be inadvertently reinforcing your bird's screaming by giving in to its demands. For instance, if you take your bird out of it's cage to get it to stop screaming, you are teaching it to get its way by screaming. Instead of reinforcing that behavior, you ignore your bird until it stops screaming.

One of the first things you must establish in your relationship with your cockatiel is that you are the boss, the bird is not. You also cannot react when your bird bites or screams at you. If you let the bird think it's the boss, you've already lost the cockatiel training war.

Consistency and patience are required when cockatiel training. Just as your cockatiel didn't learn these habits overnight, they are not going to be trained out of them overnight either. In fact, be prepared to spend several days to a couple of weeks retraining your bird.

Routines are important when training your cockatiel. In fact, set a routine for when you remove the cover from your bird's cage, when you having training sessions, and specific times that the bird is allowed out of its cage once training and behavior issues are no longer a problem. Repetition is the name of the game if you want to be successful at cockatiel training.

How do you establish the routine? Start working with your cockatiel daily for at least 15 minutes each time, two to three times each day. Make sure that you include them in your day even when you aren't actively training them. Talk to them first the first thing you walk into the room. This may keep them from starting to squawk and scream because you're giving them the attention they desire.

If they are able, let them out of the cage so that they can be a part of the family's daily life. They are social animals, so they will enjoy the opportunity to go with you into different rooms and just be with you. Don't forget that they are still wild creatures at heart. They need freedom to roam, and allowing them out of their cage will give them this freedom.

Let your feathered friend know what's going on. Give it a consistent cue when you leave the room for a few minutes, and a different one when you plan to be gone for a while. Tell your bird, each time you leave the room, "I'll be right back." Use a different cue, such as "Be good today" when you're leaving for several hours or for the day.

Don't yell at or punish your bird for doing what comes naturally. Control the urge to bang on the cage if the bird is especially noisy. Your negative behavior will reinforce the behavior instead of causing it to quit.

Remember this important point when cockatiel training, you can't give up. You may have some setbacks before you have success, but you must persevere. Stay focused on the goal of training your bird not to scream and you will be rewarded with less noise in your home, and a much happier bird.