Step-Up or Up commands and puberty problems?

[Kushala Daora]

Hi everyone,

I've got this female cockatiel, Miko, for myself on my birthday, just about a month ago. She's not hand-raised. (I'm a teenager. My dad said the trained one who looks like a hybrid bred bird is 'way too expensive' and bla bla bla... You know them, parents. =.=)

So uh, sometimes she steps up willingly when I say up, even without a treat. Most of the time a word of praise like 'good girl'. But just lately, she kinda mistakes my fingers as a threat. Yeah sounds sudden right? She's eager to come out of the cage to play with me, but sometimes she'd fly back to her cage and avoid my fingers. (Her wings aren't clipped. I chose to have a bird with pretty wings. Clipping a bird's wings is like chopping off my fingers. You wouldn't want to lose even ONE finger do you? Uh this is just my point of view. If she flies off in panic or anything, I'd just get a stool and reach up to her, she'll get onto my finger. Last time I used her cage, she'd get back in. And I didn't train her to do that!) Is there anything wrong with the method I'm using? She does step up, but not quite lately. (Related below?)

As for the puberty part, she's 'nine months old' if the pet shop staff is correct. (No I don't trust him much cause he sounded uncertain.) Till today, Miko's real fond of getting on my shoulder. And bites when I try to get her off. Some said it's cause Tiels like it there? Not sure bout this. But she's been real nippy lately. She did bite much harder than last time. (Puberty?) Took off a small piece of flesh from my thumb. (I lost my nerves and threw her upwards and let her fly around. Even threw stuff at her. Note to all: don't do this! I cried after this...) Are birds the same as humans? I mean, as girls go through 'period'? I do understand birds get hormonal problems. I just don't know what can I do. Searched the Net but found no helpful info.

Thanks.
Note: I love Miko, a lot. She's actually in my room. It just hurt my feelings when she bit me hard after all this time.

EDIT: Miko used to sing to me. Twice in the morning to wake me, and once before sleeping. She stopped this beautiful behaviour since last week.

[Marrie]

Did her step up problems start before or after you threw her up in the air like that? Sounds like she might have freaked out and lost some trust in you and now you'll have to work it back up. Yes birds go through puberty and yes they get very hormonal, usually around 1 year old. It can cause aggression, behavior changes, mood swings, etc. If she's biting you too hard when you ask her to get off your shoulder, stop letting her up on your shoulder until she's nicer about it. Shoulder sitting CAN cause dominance issues in some birds, with smaller ones usually not that bad, but she should with just a little fuss get off your shoulder if you ask, not bite you that hard. When she does bite, the best thing to do is grit your teeth, take it, say calmly "No" in a firm voice and put her in time out away from you (cage is good for time outs, just a few minutes). You can do "earthquake" to stop her biting in mid-bite, just shake her hand a little bit gently to throw her off balance (though don't knock her off) and she'll have to stop biting to keep hold.

[Kushala Daora]

Stepping up's kinda okay. But she didn't seem to obey me when she's on my shoulder. The problems started before I did that. I didn't respond to her bites until she REALLY took my skin. Bled like crazy from that wound. >.< Every time I put her down and make her stay, she'll just fly back on. The worst comes when I bathe her when this is happening. She flies out of the bathroom and heads for the cupboard, sometimes to the top, sometimes just clinging to it. The second she's back on my hand, she heads for my shoulder. Yeah bout that shoulder issue. Think it's started already... I do scold her when she does something wrong. Oh and how long is it to a next molt? Her wings were clipped unevenly when she's still at the pet shop. Thanks. ^^

[Marlow Riddle]

My bird has had a similar problem. He's around 6, maybe 7 months old. Suddenly one day he wouldn't step up when I tried to take him from his cage. He would start trying to bite me if I ever reached in. Now he just comes out on his own. I've also had problems with him randomly biting my ears if I have him on my shoulder. I don't know what might have caused this behavior. Normally he's very calm and well-behaved.

[Kushala Daora]

He's okay now. I suppose it's the puberty period. Miko's actually a he! Got shocked after his first moult. I thought I got myself a female.
Marlow, try to be gentle on asking him to step up. Especially saying the command before you stick your finger to him. This worked for me. And if he bites, leave him be. Don't force him or get angry. After some time, mine took about a month, he'll be back to the cute and cuddly tiel again.

[Liz Ball]

My 6 month old male tiel has taken to biting my ears as well. I kind of "earthquake" him and if that doesn't work he is told "no bite" and put in his cage for a brief time out. I am the only one he does this to. When he is sitting with my husband my fid doesn't bite his ears. I have to wonder if it is because usually my husband is online gaming and the screen is fascinating. When my fid is with me I am usually sitting down watching TV or doing light chemical free housework (like the dishes, picking up, etc.). Lately all my fid wants is to be with me and gets upset if I have to put him back on his gym or in his cage.

[Marrie]

Liz, try putting him on a strict schedule - IE: in cage/on gym from 10am-1pm then he can be with you from 1pm-3pm, etc. If they get on a schedule they know what is coming so have less of an issue if you have to put them away. Tiels are very prone to becoming clingy and throw temper tantrums if they don't get their way.