CockatooCarl

My Bean went through a phase like this around 10 years. I was terrified but it passed. Birds are weird sometimes lol.

Oh my bird did this for about about 10 days and I tried everything. Honestly, time was the biggest factor. They just grew out of it.

I've tried a bunch of brands and Hagen Tropican is hands down the best value. My Noodle devours it.

Can we start a support group for this? Because SAME.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is getting a kitchen scale and weighing them weekly to track health. A lot of people also recommend rotating toys weekly so they always have something "new". My avian vet in downtown Toronto also suggested checking for stress from loud noises like construction which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

Dealt with this for months. What finally worked was changing their perch layout and just being really patient. They come around eventually.

What does their diet look like? Sometimes these things are diet-related.

You're clearly a caring bird owner — the fact you're asking for help shows that. Your bird is lucky to have you.

Couldn't agree more. This has been my experience as well.

I'd suggest trying adding a full-spectrum Arcadia UV light near the cage. My avian vet recommended it and it made a huge difference.

This reminds me of when I first got Captain. I was so overwhelmed but looking back, those early days were actually really special. The bond building phase is tough but beautiful.

Now that it's warming up, I want to take my cockatiel outside in Guelph but I'm terrified of them flying away. Do you use a harness? A travel cage on the patio? Have you done any recall training? I want Charlie to enjoy fresh air and sunshine safely.

Welcome!! Looking forward to hearing more about your feathered friend. Don't be shy about asking questions!

There's a great little shop in Leslieville that specializes in parrot supplies. Way better selection than the big chains.

What worked for me was adding a full-spectrum Arcadia UV light near the cage. Took about a week but my lovebird responded really well to it.

Nice to meet you! Always great to connect with fellow bird owners. You're going to fit right in here!

Reading this hit home. My canary went through the same phase around the same age. What helped us was playing calming bird sounds from YouTube during the day. Also just accepting that birds are gonna bird, you know?

I'm tired of the attitude that budgies and cockatiels are "starter birds" or somehow less than macaws and greys. My blue and gold macaw is just as intelligent, just as bonded, and just as deserving of excellent care. The size elitism in the bird community needs to stop.

Reading this hit home. My parrotlet went through the same phase around the same age. What helped us was leaving the radio or TV on when I'm out — background noise helps. Also just accepting that birds are gonna bird, you know?

Same here! Glad it's not just me lol.