What about the Cockatiel? It has no such opportunity. We are its flock. The people in its immediate environment are its flock. Cockatiels are extremely intelligent creatures. They observe and learn a lot more than we are willing to grant it.

Let's look at "feather picking" or feather abuse. Cockatiels do this for any number of reasons. The problem could be with the bird, its environment, us or our environment. But often the cause is put down to one of these and treated: 1) Insecurity 2) Hormonal fluctuations 3) Stress / anxiety 4) Disease 5) Internal / external parasites 6) Insufficient / incorrect nutrition The Cockatiel's feather picking can be because of any or all of these reasons, or not any of them and something totally extraneous.

Training To be able to address just this one issue let us consider the basics. What is a Cockatiel? It's not a dumb question? We'll give you the answer and then you will see for yourself that it's not a dumb question. A Cockatiel is more than what you've taken for granted.

A Cockatiel is a gregarious creature even though it moves about in pairs or in small flocks. And certain aspects of its psyche are hard wired. The need to keep with the flock. The need to constantly communicate with its mate or members of its flock. The need to feed together. The need for companionship and affection. The need to feel secure.

These are just some of its needs. These are needs that a captive bird may not be able to fulfill. It looks up to its human family to provide it these basic needs. If any of these needs is not fulfilled the bird will resort to feather plucking among other things. So even before you can think of any sort of training it is necessary to anticipate the basic needs of the bird and to see that Training they are met.

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