| By :
Michel Maling
Choosing, buying and taking your new bird home is all very exciting. Much as you are tempted to spend loads of time with your new pet, it is better not to overwhelm him. Rather ease him slowly and comfortably into your home and family life. Before bringing your new cockatiel home, make sure that you have the cage set up and ready. Place food containers on the floor and some near perches so that your new bird can choose where it wants to eat. When you first let the cockatiel out into his cage, he may fly around wildly at first, before settling on a perch. Leave the cockatiel on its own for an hour or so to get accustomed to its new surroundings. Turn on the light before it gets dark, as a young cockatiel will get a fright if a light suddenly comes on and it is used to darkness at night, especially if he has been living in an outdoor aviary. This fear will pass, but do try and avoid turning the lights on and off for the first few days. On the second or third day you can try offering your new bird some greens through the mesh of the cage. Hold it still and keep it a slight distance away so you don't overwhelm him. If he shows no interest at first just drop the food through the bars, and repeat this process every so often. With a bit of patience, the cockatiel will start to enjoy taking the food from you. How long it takes to train your new cockatiel depends on how tame or wild he is when you acquire him. Hand reared birds will generally be easier to tame, and if you have bought a young cockatiel, it will also be a faster process. You will shorten the training time dramatically if your spend loads of time with your cockatiel each day. It is recommended that you let your new cockatiel get used to his new surroundings for a week or so before starting to finger train him. You can offer him food in your hand for the first week so that he can start getting used to you and learning to trust you. Next, try opening the door of the cage and offering the food to him directly. Always move slowly so as not to upset your bird. Once your cockatiel is used to you, you can slowly start tempting him to climb onto your finger. Coax him gently by offering your finger just above the perch that he is sitting on. Start by touching his toes and gently running your finger up his feet. Once your new cockatiel steps onto your finger, half the battle is won and you can start by moving him short distances within his cage, and then eventually taking him out of his cage. Trusting relationships come from these moments, so make them all count.
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