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Tiki, my cockatiel, has not been wanting out of his cage for the last few days. He paces back and forth, like he wants out and chirps. He even goes to his perch, like always, but when I put my hand in, he flies about. I have ended up forcing him out and cuddling with him; yet, in the process, he'll break a blood feather. He has never been like this. I've had him 7 months, and I don't know what is going on. He wants out, but doesn't. Any idea?
I have separated him, now, into a different room incase he's overwhelmed with something. He'll get my complete attention, away from Loki (he's been here quite awhile now too).
Any suggestions?

rradrobyn wrote:... I have ended up forcing him out and cuddling with him; yet, in the process, he'll break a blood feather. ...

Yikes!!! Poor Tiki That's enough to scare any bird into staying in his cage. I'd let him stay inside, door wide open, back in his familiar room, while you encourage him verbally -- while also letting him know it's okay for him to do just what he wants. He'll work out his fear faster without force and broken blood feathers, I'd think. He'll come crawling out when he's ready.

Patience ... and good luck, Paca

I'm not sure, but it sounds like he might be getting ready to molt. Jessie did that at about that age, and she started off by being restless and cranky like that. It took about two months until she had molted and was back to her normal self. Just make sure he gets enough nutrition; there is even a special molting formula to sprinkle on their food. I keep the temperature in the apartment very stable, so neither of them has molted since.

Of course, he might be a she and getting ready to lay eggs...

I agree with ParrontPlus, just open the door to the cage and let Tiki do what he wants. Let him sit on the door or climb up on the top of the cage. You can go over and offer your hand for him, but if he doesn't want to come up, don't push it. He will come around and calm down. Just might take some patience.

YOu all are fast. Look at my pics at:

www.flickr.com/photos/tikiloki

Tiki has already had one big molt. I do wonder if he is a she. Tiki only makes one chirp. He/she doesn't have the bright yellow like Loki, but Tiki is a lutino and Loki a pearl. So...Loki sure chirps several different sounds and is the talker of the two. Loki isn't as sensitive as Tiki, and Tiki I guess has always been a little tempermental. But, hasn't ever refused to come out of his/her cage.
I thought bringing him back to a room to himself with just me and my attention would help.
I'll have to bread-tie his cage open since the door only slides up. This room is safe, as we have a cat; declawed, but still has teeth and is a CAT.
I wonder...we got a new puppy two weeks ago. Though we already have several dogs (6), they stay downstairs and the puppy has been with us upstairs for house breaking. Do you think Tiki could just be jealous?

I think Tiki could be scared, especially after broken blood feathers. Puppies can be deadly to tiels, so please safeguard little Tiki and don't ever leave that cage door open when the puppy isn't LOCKED out of the room.

Don't worry, Tiki and Loki are kept away from all my other animals. Did you see the pics? Do you think Tiki is a girl as opposed to Loki?

Beautiful birds!!!! Do they both have the dark orange spot on their cheeks? Isn't that a sign that they are male, when the spot is a darker orange? Or is that not a fool proof way of telling?

If Tiki has already been through a molt, and "she" has retained her pearls, she is definitely female. Pearl boys lose their pearling after a couple of molts, just as my Gizmo is doing. Their tail feathers, if a female, will retain some barring as well. Hard to tell from your pictures about the tail feathers, but I'm guessing a female.

Sam

If Tiki is "quiet" compared to Loki then I'd say definately a girl. Chibi-Tori is correct about the pearling also.

I would also agree that she is probably scared with the puppy.

You may have to start from "scratch" with her. Try coaxing her out of the cage with a treat or even on a long dowel - perch, so your hand doesn't seem so scary to her.

Okay, Tiki has pearling on his/her wings, but so does Loki. Loki hasn't been through any molt that I know of (maybe in the pet store?). Neither have barring on their tails, nor had when I got them. (Tiki from a breeder while I was visiting in New Orleans. Loki from Petsmart two months later). Loki can sure sing. It's amazing all that comes from him. I just lay in bed cracking up at him in the morning! He comes up with things that I'm not quite sure what they are. Tiki just makes one chirp. He/She was a cuddler, but so is Loki. So...here we are...Loki talks, Tiki doesn't. Loki has a brighter yellow head, but both have bright, orange cheeks. Neither has ever had barring on their tails, and Tiki has been through the first molt. Tiki is a lutino and Loki a pearl. So, what do you all think? Go to my site. I'm going to add some more pics here in a bit.

Oh, my site is:
www.flickr.com/photos/tikiloki

Okay, I have to give you a play by play. Tiki is usually the "picker" at Loki. Loki is walking around, singing, with his wings in the heart-shape. Loki taps the floor. Tiki hisses and taps the floor back. Tiki goes away. I'm hoping to get a pic of this tonight to let you all see this! It is halarious!

Kura did that freaky thing too. He was less than a year old, and I do not think it coincided with molting, but it might have... He would avoid my hand like it was a monster, but after a few frustrating days, we discovered that if I offered him my arm or shoulder to climb onto, well, that was just fine. Go figure...
He got over it after a while, at least 3 weeks I think, but it recurred a few months later. This time, I knew to offer my arm, and keep the scary hands away.
That was all over a year ago - hands are no longer scary, and he is usually willing to step onto my hand when it is time to come out.
Kathy and Kura

From your description of behavior, and the pics, Tiki may in fact be a he. If there is no *visible* barring on his tail, take a real close look on the underside of the tail feathers and see if there is any there. Lutino females can not always be sexed by visual, but the female will usually show signs of barring barely visible. If none present, it would be a he. My lutino is still questionable. S(he) has molted a little, but there is no visible bars on the tail, not even faint ones. Behavior is of a female, but she has "bar thumped" and even attempted a very muted wolf whistle, but both have now stopped, and she just cackles a little when she wants something or is demanding to go to their bedroom. She is extremely cuddly, and is worse than a Klingon baby!

Questions will be answered if s(he) ever lays an egg

Sam[/i]