What Are Common Behavioral Problems Of Cockatiels

Every pet owner aspires to keep one’s pet happy, but all said and done your pet cockatiel could have some frustrating and saddening behavioral problems. It is best to look at the behavioral problems of your pet cockatiel and find ways to overcome them.   

Common behavioral problems of cockatiels: 

Biting is a behavioral problem of cockatiels, and it is best to understand why cockatiels bite.

Being prey birds, cockatiels may at times not trust you when you invade their space, grab them from above, or make fast jerky movements or loud noises that may scare them to bite.

On reaching adolescence most adult cockatiels have hormonal messes; they turn territorial about potential breeding sites that they indicate through their aggressive body language. Sticking your hand without paying attention could lead to a bite, especially when they have a nesting box.

Misbehaving especially with a single cockatiel could make one bite; most single cockatiels treat you as their mate. So pay attention to your body language when they invite you for mutual grooming and do not upset them.

The next behavioral problem is plucking their feathers out; there could be many reasons for it. 

It could be due to diseases, allergies and parasites especially icky that is not only bad for the cockatiel’s healthy, but also itchy and leads them to over-preen and pull out its feathers. In worst cases it could be caused by psittacine beak and feather disease for which there is no reliable treatment.

Plucking their feathers could also be due to some irritant in the environment like air freshener, cigarette smoke or pesticide in their food.  

Most cockatiels pluck their feathers when they are unhappy or frustrated; they could not be receiving enough companionship and interaction, or sexual frustration when it occurs in certain times of the year. Watch out for anything lacking in your pet cockatiel’s life.

Overcoming this behavioral problem would first mean a consultation with an avian vet to rule out any physical causes. Positive reinforcement training works best when it is behavioral. Start ignoring the pet bird when it pulls its feather out and reward him/her by playing with toys, sitting quietly or singing when he/she doesn’t; avoid unnecessary fussing as it would only aggravate the behavioral problem.

Keep the pet cockatiel distracted and entertained by giving a nice toy to chew up, pull apart or play. If you suspect skin irritation due to an allergic reaction, remove one thing at a time to check out if the cockatiel feels comfortable. Patience would pay and you would ultimately find out the allergic reactant. 

Screaming is the next behavioral problem that you could face with cockatiels; it could arise out of boredom, frustration and being abandoned by the flock that includes you.

The method to tackle this behavioral problem lies in ignoring them as they scream; giving them attention then would only mean that they continue to do so to get your attention. When they are quiet you could reward them with some treats, indicating to your pet cockatiel that he/she would get attention when one are quiet and does not scream.

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