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I brought a new tiel "charlie" on saturday from petsmart. since i brought him he has just been sitting on his perch and is very nervous when i go anywhere near the cage. it has now been almost 3 days he is however drinking water. My other tiel "joey" is curious about charlie and sits on top of his cage. I was told by petsmart he was parent raised. could someone please tell me why "charlie" is like this is it just stress to being in a new home.
Thankyou all

Awww, poor charlie! My parent's cockatiel was named charlie. If charlie was parent raised, he was not hand-fed by people and probably not as used to them. Does charlie eat?? Mine would not eat for the first two days------but he would eat millet though----try millet if he is not eating, and make sure you are feeding him what they gave him in the pet store. As soon as I went back to the pet store and got what they were feeding him, he ate right away. It's so hard to tell when you first get a bird if something is the matter with him-----After you know the bird better, you know better if he is acting like himself. Also try covering up the back part of his cage where he will probably go when he wants to sleep----it will make him feel more secure. I still leave my bird's cage covered over his sleeping area(back left hand corner) for when he takes naps during the day. He's ok without it, but I think it comforts him to have his sleeping area covered, and make sure you leave a night light on during the night nearby his cage.

thanks for the info my friend. He has not eatern from his food dish. but he has a couple of fruit stick's hanging in the cage and yesterday (monday) he ravaged one of them.

Awww, that is a good sign! he will come around, just give him some space for a while. They told me to just let him be for the first few days------It's a big adjustment for them. Most don't like change and get scared easily. He should be eating his food from his dish by now though, are you putting the same kind of food in there that he was fed at the pet store??

Charlie is experiencing a very stressful time at the present. Being moved, changing his surroundings, and such will cause him to perhaps not eat for a day or so, but hunger can work wonders. As was said, provide some millet spray for him, and speak gently and often to him. He'll come around once he understands nobody or nothing is going to hurt him. Being parent raised will present some problems, but they are not insurmountable. It's just going to take a lot of time and patience to get him where he trusts you. Hopefully the bird is young, so he will adapt in short order, but if he's never been handled, you will definitely have your work cut out for you. You didn't mention his age.. is the baby just weened, or is he a little older? Main thing is him not eating for much longer than a day or two.

Lets hope Charlie warms to you very quickly.

Welcome, new tiel, Charlie. How is he doing? Sounds like he is taking little steps, which is good. I am sure he will be out of his shell before you know it!

thanks agin guys. I'm not sure yet what the food the store fed him but i'm sure it's ok as "joey" seems to love it. "Charlie" is a lutino and about 4-6 months. just for interest sake "joey" is a Pearl Pied and almost 8 years he is also very protective of charlie.

Hey guys after writing my reply i turned around and Joey was eating his food. YAY.
would love to show pics of both of them but don't know how.

Opps "charlie" i'm going nuts

Good! Casper took a bit to try new things. I have only had her since mid Oct. She is about 7 months now.

So good that Joey and Charlie get along. That might make him more comfortable too. Doesn't take long for them to become part of the family!

It took Sherwin a while before he would try new foods. Now he can't get enough. Sounds like Charlie is adjusting to his new home and with a higher comfort level comes more social behavior and more eating! That's so sweet about Joey being his protector.....he obviously loves having a brother! Keep us posted.

I will

AWWW, if charlie is a boy, soon he will be singing to you happily, and yelling for you when you leave the room! I even think he'll be a little happier because he has a brother!