I got my cockatiel a new swing and he won’t sit on it!help?
any advice on helping him get over his fright?every single time i try to put him on it, he flies away.help!please!i really want him to sit on!it looks like fun,but he just doesn’t seem to get my message!help!
Every individual parrots has their own liking and dislike but it is quite common for them to be afraid of newly introduced stuff. This is how I introduce a new toy every time.
1. After getting a new toy home, hang it outside the cage or somewhere very near to the cage which is within their vision. Let them get use to it. My grey, for sure, will be scared but my albino is still okay with it.
2. Observe them when they are near or looking at the new toy. If they are no more afraid of it, then you can bring them out of the cage and show them the new toy while they are still on your finger. If they still do not resist it, then you can place it inside the cage.
3. Maybe it is the shape or material or color of the swing that they do not like. You can try another type of swing. For example, if you are having round shape, plastic type of swing, change to square shape, wood type with color beads at the side.
It’s been two months till now since I put the new plastic swing (which is actually meant for budgies) in the cage but my grey still do not like it. My albino loves to play with the round, plastic swing and swings on it everyday but she do not play with the square, wood swing at all.
In general, not all birds will like everything we buy for them. It may takes only a minute for them to accept it or it may never happen in the rest of their lives. So be patient in trying new things out. Do not hurry into pushing new toys to them as this may lead them to resent you and it may cause the bond between you & your tiel to widen.
Lastly, I know that there is no pure albino breed in tiels but at least when I say that, people will know what colors are they. ^_^
Please pardon me for my english if you do not understand what I’m trying to say… Hope it helps. ^_^
Hedwig the Cockatiel – Swing & Hanging Chew-Toy in Cage