Pet Forum / Birds / Parrots / August 2005

Hi n,

If he's not getting attention that may be part of it too but I'd say
it's he's in love and want to be alone to make a nest.
Has she laid any eggs or were they trying to make a nest ?
Tiels are very territorial when mating and nesting.

Let me explain how my Birds are set up and can tell you about when my
Male gets Nasty and why.
I don't suggest this for Birds that are Nervous and have Panic Attacks
or they could hurt themselves.
Especially at night!

I've had my Male 25 years and the Female about 7 years.
My Wife and I are handicapped so we have a lot of time to spend with them.

I don't lock my Birds up ever so they have run of 30x30 room with us.
(Plan to build a 12x12x6 outdoor Cage at the Window for them later.)
They have a shelf a foot and a half wide 4 feet off the floor around 3
sides of the room.
One normal sized round Cage on the Shelf along with a Nest Box about 3
feet away from that on the Shelf.

Another much larger Square Cage with Stand on the Floor in front of the
small Cage with the cages doors locked open with a Ladder between both
Cages.

Their Play Pens, Toys and Chew Toys are all on that Shelf around the Room.
There are Ladders and Ropes so they can climb down all the way to the
floor if they wish but that's rare.
Mostly they stay on the Shelf and Perches we have set up or are with us.

I have 3 foot long Perches hanging from the Ceiling that make cleanup a
snap and keeps them off the Window Curtain Rods.
No Chewing :)

Paper on all the Shelfs and under the Perches is News Paper or large
Planters for their Greens before I plant them and again makes cleanup a
snap.
(droppings are great plant food but move them when growing the greens so
they don't crap on them)

After 25 years my Male is very nice but can be nasty if I get near the
Nest Box when he's Mating or she has Eggs in the Nest Box.
I have to ask him if I can check the Nest Box and he'll let me look
under his watchful eye but that's all I can do at first.
I had to earn that trust.

I can now touch the Eggs but this takes time and don't do it often.
He will be the same with her being VERY Protective !

The point is you have to let him know he has some say over his space
during this time.
And again he will always be protective of her even when you are trying
to help like when she is egg bound but try to understand and let him
watch so he knows your helping.
Over time he will give you more and more trust.

Most Tiels can be friendly for years but when you get a second one and
they will become more interested in the other bird and stop talking and
a little less friendly.
It takes time but you can reverse most of that.

Check to see if your Male or Female has tried to make a Nest in the
other cage.
You may still not see anything that looks like a Nest but I suspect this
is the reason he's acting nasty.
It's normal because of male dominance but it shouldn't last long.
He still will be protective of her though.

Wait awhile before trying this to have him get used to being nice first.
Then put him in with the female tiel alone in a cage for awhile.
He should stay friendly but not as close as before.

If they seem to be mating as soon as they are together then you have
your answer and they want a Nest Box.
When she's ready to mate or about to lay eggs, then he'll get nasty,
that's normal.
But he should be ok later, and over time that will change if you earn
his trust.

It'll take some time and effort but keep talking to him and reassure him
you are not a threat and he will tolerate you being near them.
The same will happen with the other Birds so you may have to put the
Cage near the other one for awhile too.

If you do it right he will grudgingly let you check his nest but I doubt
he'll let you touch eggs at first.

Others may have some other insights that are also of value so check back
here.
The point is you need to let him know he's got his space but your the boss.
But the boss MUST ask first and only does what he has to.

Reward him and Praise him for letting you do what you have to such as
cleaning the cage or checking the Nest Box ect... during this time even
if he is nasty and it will pay off in the end.

I hope this is of help to you.

Kevin