One ticked off tiel...any suggestions?

[jakd1971]

Okay, here's the deal, my husband and I go away every year for a romantic weekend on our anniversary. This year is our first year with a bird, and I didn't want to leave him alone for the weekend, so I had him stay with my sister, who totally loves him. She said that he hissed at her all weekend, and was very grumpy the whole time.
So now it has been a week, and he is still acting the same way. Its as if he hates me now. He won't come out of his cage, or even let me get close to his cage, he hisses like crazy and throws a huge fit.
We did also get another bird this weekend, thinking that Alfred may like having someone to talk too, or complain to. He only seems indifferent about the new baby, not impressed at all. I have the two cages side by side, so they could visit and get to know each other.
Everything I do, doesn't seem to help, I just want him to be happy again.
oh yeah, by the way, when I do get him out, which is no easy chore( need a towel) he is okay, and will let me scritch him, but for only a short time, then he starts to bite me.

Can he be helped, or have I offended permanently?

[aerobebe1421]

I know of a couple of parrots that did this to their owners when they left for a week on vacation. It is normal and will eventually dissipate. It's his way of "getting even" by being mad at you and not wanting to be friendly. He wants you to know how upset he was that he was taken out of his comfort zone and put into a different home without you there. And then to come back and find some other bird in his "territory". He is probably also upset that there is another bird around to take away from his attention from you. He should get over this and hopefully learn to like the other bird. Cockatiels are pretty social, so they should be chittering to each other in no time!

A couple of suggestions...I would stop toweling him to get him out. He may feel threatened by the other bird...and feel safer in his cage. He'll come out if he really wants to! With that in mind...you said the cages are side-by-side? You may want to move the other bird farther away, until he becomes a little bit more accepting of the new bird in "his space".

Hope some of that helps! Good luck!

[jakd1971]

Thanks, I will try those things. Today I took them both out at the same time, and Alfred, the tiel let me get him out without the towel, he hopped right on, and he got tons of love. Then, when I got Tookie out ( parakeet) I set him on the floor near Alfred, and they stared at each other for a couple minutes. Suddenly they went towards each other, and Tookie bit Alfred, and then Alfred immediately returned the favor, and bit Tookie! It was crazy!!!!!!!!! Neither one got hurt, and I separated them immediately.
I will be moving the cages this weekend, my husband will need to move the furniture for me b/c it is too heavy, hopefully that will work!!
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can help these guys get along, or is it a lost cause?

Thanks!