cockatiel nails.

Hi newbie here!
I've always had birds. And right now I am the proud mama to my baby. He's a cockatiel, very agressive to everyone but me. I've tries everything to get him to "warm up" To other people but he doesn't. Before he would just squak at them, not he's to the point of attacking them. If he's out of his cage and people are in the other room he will fly to them and bite, claw and squak in their ears. As soon as he see's me he lets me hold him but he's still mean. He'll bite anyone that gets near me, its getting bad. Any advise?

I've also noticed his toe nails are getting long. He hasn't always been mine. People who had him before me would clip his nails. I never have because he has veins in his nails, plus in the 4 years I've had him his toes nails have never grown like this. His toys and pearches tend to file them down. But now his nails are curling under. Any idea why?

Thanks for any help you can give me!
Keara

 

Hi the problem with birds is if they dont have another birdy companion they tend to become attached to a family member and male birds have a tendancy to look at this person as his mate so anyone else in the house looks as a threat and he will attack to keep them away.

The only thing you can really do is get the other family members to talk to him and slowly place there hands in the cage with a little of his favourite fruit or veg this will help him learn that these people will feed him and be nice to him also.

As for his nails unless you know how far to cut i would take him to an avian vet to have them done or if you know any cockatiel breeders you could as one of them if they would do it for you.
His claws growing under can cause problems when he walks and can be very painful.

Mike

 

Hello! Without a cockatiel friend, cockatiels tend to bond very closely to their owner. In this case, it seems like your baby wants you all to himself! ^.^ That explains his aggressiveness. I would continue to attempt to socialize him to other people. As for the nails, it's not healthy for it to curl under. This means that it is too long. Bring him to a vet/pet store that would do it for you. I would watch someone else do it first before you begin doing it yourself so you can learn how far they cut into the nail and their methods.

 

He doesn't seem to like fruit's or veggies. Every once in a while he'll eat part of a carrot. But he's never in all te time I've had him been a big fruit and veggie bird. He does seem to like cereal. The other thing that always bothers me about him is his HATE of water. I was told he would love water and that most birds like to take baths. He hates it. Water seem to freak him out. Any ideas on how to get him used to water?

I think the people who had him before me were really mean to him. The lady who gave him to me told me if i didn't take him she was going to set him loose far away from her house, so he was not loved before I got him.

As for getting him a birdy friend, I had a parakeet for a while and he hated that bird, he was always trying to hurt it. I figured it was because baby is so much bigger than the parakeet. For being a cockatiel he's large. bigger than most cockatiels I've seen.

Thanks for all the help!

 

I noticed my 2 are getting long nails on them as well.I put that sand paper stuff over their perches.Hope this will help keep them down.

How far can I cut a Tiel nails' anyhow? Does anyone know?

 

As far as I know their nalis will just keep growing, after a while they will curl under ino their feet.

I was told a long time ago by a bird breeder that putting sand paper on their perches will rub the skin on their feet raw. Anyone ever heard of this?

 

Your correct sanded perches on sandpaper placed on perches can rub the skin off the feet causing them to bleed and become infected.

I prefer either my vet doing my cockatiels claws or my friend down the street as i am too scared i cut to far down which can cause the claw to bleed.

So i would have to advice against sanded perches

mike

 

Wow,thanks alot for letting me know! :shock:

Taking is off now.

 

I trim my budgies nails. I have to put them in a towel though because they aren't too cooperative.

If you look at the nail you will see a red line (quick) running thru it. If you trim yourself make sure NOT to trim on or above that line or they will bleed.




What works best here is baby nail clippers I got from the hospital when my kids were born. I also always have flour or styptic powder on hand to stop any bleeding that may occur. I would highly suggest that if you are nervous about it, take your bird to the Vet and ask them to show you exactly how. I use to work at a Veterinary Clinic so I learned how to do the birds and also the dog's nails.

And as far as sand paper perches, I don't use them. I did have the concrete perches for awhile but found out recently from an avian vet that the concrete can actually dry out the feet and cause Bumble Foot. Apparently there is a new perch (sand) that is on the market that is suppose to be very good.