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I have a 2 month or so old pearl pied cockateil. I have had him home now for a little over two weeks. I got him in DE MandT if anyone is familuar. They finger feed them so he was already finger friendly.
I have noticed that now he is starting to nip a little. I have him out of the cage most of the day and he will set on my shoulder. When it is time to go back to the cage he gets a little nippy and hides behind my head. I have been working with him by giving him some mullet today to get him to step up on my finger.
I also noticed that later in the evening he seems to get a little more nippy and does not want to go in his cage. I read that they have evening grumpies and need to go to bed earily.
I have some more questions he is attebbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbmpring to pull of the keys right now

My new friend Charlie

Placing him on the top of the new cage

Me putting the cage together

Birds go through a mouthing stage as well as a biting stage. Considering the age, I'd say you are probably at the mouthing stage wherein your cockatiel (are you sure it's a male? - ask what mutation the mother is if you can) is exploring with his/her beak.

There's also the fact that perhaps your bird is telling you something? Perhaps he doesn't want to come off of your shoulder where he likes it? Or perhaps he doesn't want to go into his cage. How else is he supposed to tell you "No, I don't want to?" Every time you remove him from your shoulder, does he immediately go back to his cage? Or does he go other places as well? Perhaps in the evening you may want to restrict shoulder time so you do not have any issues getting him off. When he's put back in his cage, give him a little treat (such as millet) for doing so.

beautiful bird
I have one of those too, Mango his name is.
Mango is definitely male but I am still hoping he gets to at least keep some of his pearlies
With this mutation it will be hard for a while to be sure on his sex but behaviour will be a dead giveaway.......
My boys started doing heartwings and head bobbing at about 8 weeks of age so pretty much same age as your Charlie is now.
Birds are smart, Charlie knows you are putting him back in his cage and is telling you he is not happy
Enjoy your new baby, he is beautiful!

What a cutie pie!! Also a spoiled cutie pie!! When I brought Dino home he was sick ( I didn't know) and underweight. So, for the first month or so he was out of the cage on a table with LOTS of food for him to gain weight (he didn't ). It took some time and some heartbreak (mine - watching him pace back and forth ) to get him used to his cage and enjoy the fun toys in his cage.

So before it gets any worse, make sure he gets cage time while you are home so he learns he may not be out of his cage every moment you are home - it's just not practical for most people to have their bird out every minute. Try him out on 12 hours of sleep, and see how it goes. Dino gets nippy at bedtime also - he could fall asleep on me then complain about going to bed. Crazy birds.

We look forward to hearing more about Charlie in the future!

Jo

What a beautiful bird.. and what a nice cage!
All my birds get mouthy once in awhile when they don't want to do something or when they want to do something that you don't want them to do. It's normal Just ignore it, he is just being a bird

Thanks for the replies. He does do the heart thing with his wings. He also grinds his little beek and puffs up his cheek feathers when he his on my shoulder. The owner of the store felt that e was a male but she could not be sure. I guess I will know after the first molt? I wanted a free standing cage with lots of room. I liked the top of the cage, I thought that he would have a little walk about area.

He realy is a little buddy, I think he his doing the monthing thing/stage, and telling me no, I'm not ready to go back in the cage.

I never know that birds were so wonderful as little pets. And yes they do do bird things,lol

He is very cute! I love his coloring! The very first bird in my life was my parent's cockatiel who's name was also Charlie. He talked and said his name and would say he is a very good birdie and a few other things! Birds do make good buddies.....it's amazing the bond they can have with people!

Sounds like a little male! And a cutie, to boot!