Cockatiels are so underrated as pet birds, being lively, playful, friendly, inquisitive and intelligent. Having been domesticated for many years, they are well suited to life in captivity, showing less nervousness to new situations than many parrots that are only a generation or two away from their wild predecessors.
For the first few days Robin was nervous whenever anybody approached his cage, which I had placed between the cages of my other two parrots. Having lived in the shop alongside a Macaw and a Grey, I felt that he might feel more at ease with
some bird company. Daily, I made a point of sitting near to him, for a few minutes only, to eat or read. Very soon, he took millet from my fingers. As active birds, Cockatiels do need plenty of opportunity to be able to fly. On the third day, I took Robin and his cage into a spare room. Having covered the windows, I removed the base and held his cage at an angle, whilst I encouraged him to come out. He took to the air, nervous and inept at first but his flying and landing skills soon improved tremendously. To return Robin to his cage without causing him any stress, I simply held the whole cage over him and allowed him to climb back inside. I kept these early sessions very brief. Nowadays, he will fly in the dining room, either with Polly or alone. I am unable to trust Billie with him as she has shown signs of aggression, whereas Polly has a good relationship with each of them. When Robin is tired he comes to me for comfort, perching on my lower arm, he will preen himself grind his beak and before long, will sleep. As yet, he does not appreciate a head scratch. Within a few weeks, Robin stepped up onto my finger I slowly guided him there with my other hand. My Grandaughters, Libby and Poppy, aged 8 and 6 years respectively, had always shown a keen interest in my
parrots but were unable to hold
20 BIRD SCENE
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