Cockatiel Diary - April 27 (with bonus traveling-with-bird question)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Cricket is definitely part of the family now. He is reluctantly (bordering on willingly) stepping up from his cage exterior (sometimes I have to chase him, but he relents) and he’s willingly stepping up from the floor or other non-cage places.

I allow him to spend a good amount of time outside his cage every day, which he loves because I definitely hear about it when I’m in a rush and have to skip a “recess”. I notice, however, that he’s been singing/talking a lot less now that I’m giving him this freedom, which is a bummer, because I sort of like his vocal stylings.

He definitely is showing his personality- there’s a common call that he does, and I’ve noticed that lately he’s been doing a little hop when he tweets the first note- so frigging cute! He’s also been really enjoying throwing a bamboo stick off the top of his cage repeatedly (which I retrieve for him every time- I’ve been taught to fetch!)

He is definitely doing the super-loud-call thing when I leave the room, which can be irritating. I call back to him to let him know I’m in the vicinity, but this makes him call in a super-panic until I return. So I’m trying to figure out how to minimize this.

He’s totally into checking out what I’m eating now and has enjoyed salmon (immensely), shredded pork, bread crust, and pizza crust. He still prefers dark green vegetables over apple and carrot-type things. He’s eating pellets now, but I’m still supplementing with some seed and attempting to wean him off of seed totally. A few times when I’ve significantly reduced the amount of seed, he’s gotten very grumpy and ornery, so it’s going to have to be a slow process!

His health seems good. I still have yet to experience his first molt- wondering when that will happen.

And so now my first cockatiel hurdle: I’m moving cross-country in June. I would LOVE to take him by plane and minimize his stress, but I just can’t afford it, so I’m planning on gradually getting him used to being in the car over the next 5 weeks until my move day. I’m full of anxiety about it- I know birds can get extremely stressed by travel, but he’s my kid now and this is happening, so I have to make it as stress-free as I can for him. I’ve been reading various traveling-with-birds sites and learning about the positives and perils.

Any travel suggestions from fellow doper 'tiel owners?

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Glad to hear that crickets making himself at home, the loud call he makes when you leave the room is a contact call, he is calling you back and giving you a beacon to the core of the flock and when you call back to him he thinks you are calling him to come to you. My first tiel hannabelle was a car bird, she loved to ride in the car and claimed the passenger headrest as her spot harrasing anyone who sat in that seat. She hated black cars and used to scream at and cuss them untill they got too close them she would go hide behind my head untill they went away. Best way to get him used to riding in the car is to start by getting him a flight suit and feather teather (light weight cloth full body harness and ultra light weight leash) then once he gets used to wearing it start taking him outside and for short rides in the car while giving him treats untill he learns that rides can be fun and tasty. Before long you will have a fid that will mug you evertime you rattle the car keys. Be warned that tiels find dashboards to be great chew toys and will leave your dash looking like someone took a chainsaw to it.
Good luck on the trip.
Peace
LIONsob

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Put him in the cage and drive with him. In my experiance cockatiels adapt well to moving cars, though they may be a bit nervous at first. The cage is a necessity, however–when you stop to view the scenic overlook or just go to the bathroom you don’t want the bird flying out after you.

Let loose in the car, they can be a hassle–not only do they play with the dashboard, they like to goof around with the passengers. One of mine untied my Dad’s shoes while we were going through the Front Range of the Rockies.

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Hanna stole the earrings out of my daughter in laws ears without her knowing it one time when I gave her a ride to work. Thats what she gets for wearing shiny stuff and setting in hanna seat without permission.