Cockatiels are energetic and often noisy birds that can occasionally get worked up or stressed. As cockatiel owners, it’s important to understand what causes this behavior and how to help calm our feathered friends. By making some simple changes to their environment and routine, providing plenty of enrichment, and using training techniques, we can dramatically reduce anxiety and excitement in cockatiels.
Why Do Cockatiels Get Worked Up?
There are several common reasons cockatiels may seem agitated, calling out loudly, pacing, fluffing their feathers, or engaging in repetitive behaviors:
- Lack of sleep – Cockatiels need 10-12 hours of darkness each night to get adequate rest. Disruptions or too much light can prevent them from sleeping well.
- Loneliness – As very social flock birds, cockatiels easily get lonely when housed alone and may call out looking for companionship.
- Lack of stimulation – Boredom from an empty cage with few toys often results in pacing and meaningless vocalizations.
- Stress – Any change, even happy ones like moving to a new house, can be stressful and cause nervous energy.
- Territorialism – Cockatiels may become aggressive or defensive of their territory, especially during breeding season.
- Diet-related issues – Low-quality food, lack of variety, or malnutrition can all negatively impact behavior.
- Medical issues – Pain, illness or central nervous system problems can manifest as irritability or unusual behaviors.
- Trauma – Difficult situations like injury, abuse or losing a companion may lead to lasting changes.
Figuring out the underlying cause is key to stopping unwanted behavior. For example, a cockatiel that is alone, bored, or sleep-deprived will not improve without company, toys, or a dark sleeping space. Consulting an avian vet can rule out any medical factor, especially for serious or long-term issues.
Adjust Their Environment
Making simple adjustments to a cockatiel’s surroundings can have a big impact on their stress levels:
- Location – Choose a quiet room in the home without constant heavy foot traffic. Avoid areas with loud noises, slammed doors, or rambunctious pets.
- Cage size – A roomy cage allows room for flying, climbing and playing, while cages that are too small contribute to restlessness and aggression. Minimum size for one bird is 24in wide x 16in deep x 20in high.
- Comfort – Ensure perches are correctly sized with varying textures, food and water are easily accessible, and toys are rotated frequently to prevent boredom.
- Temperature – Cockatiels are sensitive to temperature extremes and drafts. Optimal temperature range is 65-75°F.
- Lighting – Provide regular bright light during daytime hours, while ensuring complete darkness at night for uninterrupted sleep.
- Covering – Partially covering the cage at night signals sleep time and provides a sense of security. But take care not to entirely block airflow.
- Noise – Try to minimize sudden loud noises, move away from noisy appliances, cover cages at night, and provide soothing music if necessary.
- Location – Position the cage against a wall or corner, not completely isolated in the center of a room. This provides a safer feeling perch for observing their surroundings.
Enrich Their Lives
An enriched environment with ample opportunity for exercise and mental stimulation prevents boredom and frustration that can agitate cockatiels:
- Provide several hours per day of supervised out-of-cage time for flying and exploring new toys and perches.
- Rotate several types of toys frequently to introduce novelty including wood, rope, bells, mirrors, and piñatas.
- Offer several natural wood perches and platforms at varying widths to exercise feet and prevent arthritis.
- Place foraging toys like boxes and tubes containing treats around cage and play areas to encourage natural seeking behavior.
- Set up play gyms with ladders, ropes, and swings outside cage for physical activities.
- Offer puzzle feeders and boxes that require solving to extract treats and meals.
- Train new behaviors and tricks to provide mental stimulation and bonding opportunities.
- House cockatiels in pairs or groups to allow social interaction if possible.
- Spend time interacting, training, and playing with cockatiel each day.
Promote Relaxation
It’s also very important to build relaxation into a cockatiel’s routine. This lowers stress hormones and prevents high arousal states leading to problem behavior. Useful relaxation techniques include:
- Provide at least 10 hours of calm darkness for uninterrupted sleep at night.
- Keep room temperature cool and block daylight early in the evening to promote sleepiness.
- Ensure ample calm rest periods during daytime inside cage with a covered section for privacy.
- Discourage night frights or night calling by avoiding interruptions at night.
- Play soft calming music to minimize startling noises.
- Diffuse calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile to reduce anxiety.
- Offer relaxing baths a few times weekly in warm shallow water.
- Slowly massage head, neck and cheeks for 10-15 minutes to induce relaxation.
- Provide perches and swings outdoors where cockatiel can sunbathe and observe nature.
- Avoid handling excessively or overexciting before bedtime.
Use Positive Reinforcement Training
One of the most effective tools for curbing problem behavior and building better habits in cockatiels is consistent training using positive reinforcement and rewards:
- Train cockatiel to step up onto hand or stick to avoid chasing and grabbing.
- Reward calm behavior desired with treats to reinforce it.
- Clicker train or use verbal cues to teach tricks like spinning and retrieving.
- Practice targeting a stick with beak to redirect attention from bad behaviors.
- Train flight recall so they learn to fly back to you or their cage on cue.
- Use treats and praise to reinforce desired vocalizations, discourage screaming.
- Practice crate training to teach them their travel carrier predicts fun outings and treats.
- Clicker train them to forage among toys so seeking and destroying become rewarding.
With patience and persistence, training expands a cockatiel’s behavioral repertoire while strengthening the bond between bird and owner.
When to Seek Help
While simple environmental and routine changes can solve many issues, consult an avian vet if problems persist or your bird displays these signs:
- Excessive screaming, especially throughout night
- Self-harming behaviors like feather plucking
- Aggression like biting or lunging
- Pulling out and regurgitating feathers
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Lack of activity, lethargy
- Swelling, injuries or visual changes
- Soiled vent area
- Respiratory distress like wheezing or coughing
These may indicate an underlying medical issue or very high stress requiring medication. A vet can prescribe treatments while advising on long-term behavior modifications and stress reduction.
Changes Take Time
Implementing enrichment strategies, training, and environmental changes requires patience and consistency before seeing a calm, happy cockatiel. But the investment is well worth it. Avoid unrealistic expectations or quick fixes. Instead, focus on building a nurturing lifestyle and bonded relationship that prevents anxiety and agitation from developing in the first place. A serene, confident cockatiel demonstrates excellent overall welfare.
Conclusion
Cockatiels are excitable birds prone to loud vocalizations, pacing, and anxious behaviors. But there are many steps owners can take to lower stress and promote relaxation. Ensure cockatiels get 10-12 hours undisturbed dark at night. House them in appropriately sized cages in calm, enriching environments. Rotate many toys to prevent boredom and offer foraging activities. Spend time interacting and positively reinforcing desired behaviors. Allow them companionship from other birds or family members. Discourage territorialism, especially during breeding condition. Always rule out any medical cause by consulting an avian vet. With time and patience, the diligent bird owner can help create a peaceful, stimulating lifestyle that keeps their cockatiel calm and content. The reward will be a wonderful feathery friend who delights in their serene home.