Pet Forum / Birds / Parrots / January 2005

Hi,

I got my tiel yesterday and I think he's settling in well after his ordeal
in getting here (a long car trip). He certainly is shy, but I'm confident
we'll get there with patience. He often makes a hissing noise when I get too
close, but he's eating and no longer immediately goes to the other side of
the cage when I come near him. He's also preening, ruffling and extending
his feathers (wings, not tail) and making a funny noise with his beak (I
think he's grinding it), which I believe are good signs.

We have a lot of wild birds that visit our yard, and he seems to be turning
himself inside out to get out to them - to the point that I'm worried that
he'll injure himself. I read in one book that it's not a good idea to put
them outside or near a window because it brings out their fear of predators.
In this case he really seems to be trying to get to them rather that away
from them, and the only noise he's made since he arrived seemed to be in
answer to their calls. What do you think I should do, if anything?

Thanks,

Janine (Mummakook)