Fabian the Vicious Cockatiel

One of my cockatiels, Fabian, getting himself all worked up into a lather over his favorite game, cage soccer. I think he must have been a Doberman in his last life. Or maybe he was just wound up over John McCain's Super Tuesday speech on the TV in the background, who can tell? He is a very silly and rambunctious little bird (Fabian, not McCain!).

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• bird
• Fabian
• cockatiel
• vicious
• game

[Corpse312]

You have an amazing cockatiel.

[guleslionrampant]

@Corpse312 Thanks - I think he's pretty fabulous :)

[sugarkitty2008]

my cockatiel is just like this. i have peck marks all over my hands from tryig to pick him up.

[guleslionrampant]

Fabian isn't actually biting me here, just pretending that he *might* if I get too close. He's a big actor, really, and only does this inside his cage -- a territorial thing. Notice at the end when he happily "steps up" onto my finger. It's all just a game in which he can pretend to be a big, tough bird protecting his home. He's actually a very sweet, kissy little guy and only bites me for real when I clip his flight feathers or stop him from attacking his brother.

[searella59]

Ooo, at first I didn't think Fabian like the game or you for that matter biting and tail flared, but at the end he steps up on your finger very nicely. He was just playing "kill it" as we say in our house.

[guleslionrampant]

Yeah, it's weird-he likes to sit like that in the corner with his tail flared and lie in wait like a badger for his brother to walk past so he can attack him through the bars! Then he'll squawk at me and shake his food door to get me to come over and play this with him. If he gets bored with the game before I do, he casually climbs up to a perch and gives a happy chirp. The rest of the time he's really affectionate. He's just full of energy all the way around!

[juliesmiles247]

My cockatiel Ditto does the exact same thing whenever i put my finger near him. He will get on a stick that we hold in front of him and he gets on your shoulder but not your finger

[uploadJ]

Interesting observations and analysis; I've seen similar things with my 'tiels too. Thanks much for the videos.

[ImSoWorthItXOXO]

omg! my cinnomon is JUST LIKE THat!!!! my bff gave him to be and hes always on a killing rampage, LOL! he only let mt hold him ;)

[guleslionrampant]

It's funny, though, as I'd had him for a year and already had him trained before he started this. He'll sit in his cage and play this by himself too, throwing the ball all over the place and screaming. Especially if I put him in there for a time out if he bullies and tries to hurt his brother, Elvis. If I roll a ball to Elvis, he just looks at me confused. No interest in the game at all. Fabian's really affectionate - sits on my shoulder and gives kisses - but man, does he play hard!