Cockatiel Training 101 | Training Cockatiels to Spin

Meet our cockatiel student from a masterclass! We love when small birds attend our classes.
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217 CEDAR STREET 401
SANDPOINT, ID 83864
MY BIRDS (Oldest to Youngest) 🐦❤
BONDI 💗 Galah | hatched 2005
CRESSI 💗 Congo African Grey | hatched 2007
BANDIT 💙 Galah | hatched 2008-2019 💔
JINX 💙 Blue Throat Macaw | hatched 2008
COMET 💙 Yellow-Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
TUSA 💙 Blue-Green Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
ROCKO 💙 Toco Toucan | hatched 2011
LILY & PHOEBE & DETKA 💗 Sun Conures | hatched 2011
BLUEBERRY 💗 Budgie | hatched June 2019
😍 ABOUT US 😍
BirdTricks is a husband-wife team; Dave and Jamieleigh Womach specialize in parrot training and companionship.
#birdtricks #birdtraining #parrottraining

[@malakmohammed8586]

Omg a cockateillll finally, this made my day 💕❤️

[@haleemamannan]

@Prajith & Oscar yaa me too ✋ I'm happy to see this😊

[@dg.262]

Finally-- a Cockatiel! We all love the ' tiels. Thank-You, Jamieliegh and Dave

[@kcevirodem]

Me too!!!

[@Fistandtias]

Yeah

[@wendycottingham8011]

Dave we know how you REALLY feel about those little fried cockatiel brains.🤣 They are still freaking adorable!❤ Good job little girl!

[@tinydinoflock]

I think Dave has just not met the right tiels. I mean, they're not going to ever be on World's Smartest Pets, but they are wonderful.

[@wendycottingham8011]

@@tinydinoflock 🤣

[@dg.262]

I adore Cockatiels and I take it personally each time I hear/ see them being dissed in any way. They are precious,beautiful and very intelligent little birds. More on the small birds. This little girl is great! 💕

[@wendycottingham8011]

@@dg.262 I think they are one of the cutest little birds ever.

[@GuyG.KTalesOfAnimals]

I mean having a fried brain is also a benefit - half side full cockatiel. Domesticated cockatiels are kind of in breed, but if we love them anyway and they have a good enriching life they probably will be just as satisfying of a bird, iq is only one aspect of capacity. Just make sure you don’t feed an industry of breeding birds with zero care for their health an well being, you might want to find one to adopt, or if you’re a beginner or looking for a baby - from a good breeder.

[@Loveofpets]

What a smart Cockatiel. Mine have a one second attention span, lol

[@mioneconure10]

That means so much coming from you. We watch all of your species spotlight series and love it :) Thank you!!

[@BlessedWithPets]

I have a male cockatiel, looks exactly like her but a yellow face. He’s about 8 months old but other than talking, spin is the only trick I’ve taught him. He talks a lot though lol he says “what doing” and is at the beginning stages of “I love you” but anyways nice vid! Love your channel!

[@mockfanatik]

I have two that spin. I taught one (female)and the other one (male)watched and learned from the first. They are so cute when they spin together. It was so easy, it only took a day. They male uses the spin when he wants things now and not necessarily food related. He can fly but he likes taxi service. He’ll spin and he will step up and point to where he wants to go. So funny!

[@krisf9265]

To be fair if I had the option to spin and get carried wherever I wanted to go I would too lol

[@spiritmatter1553]

Smart birb! Spin and point!

[@Dionaea_M]

HAHAHA mine used to poo when he wanted things

[@shaylarsen6704]

Yessss, a cockatiel video! I have a cockatiel that I rescued that is extremely cage bound and I've been slowly training him that it's ok to come out of the cage. These videos are very helpful, so thank you!

[@itzbreanna1153]

awww her little whistles are adorable

[@coolparrots2672]

That's not true what Dave said about Cockatiels; they are so smart I have had four and they are amazing! I also have an African Grey and an Amazon ALL super intelligent, but I love the Cockatiels they are so funny and interactive

[@flockclock4080]

That birdie bubble explanation did helped me a lot..thanks😊🙇🏻‍♀️

[@beckiechild9874]

This was a great video! I do have a slight problem. That problem is the video ends! LOL! I so enjoy watching people work with their birds. I'm not a bird owner and I probably never will be. However, I have learned so much from watching these videos! Thank you to all the participants, their birds and to BirdTricks! But seriously, why do the videos have to end? ROFL!

[@BirdTricks]

Awe! Thanks! 🥰

[@greenleaf-bs1tu]

Hello!! I have been watching your videos for more than a year now - I don't own any bird but enjoy learning all the training - and I just wanted to stop and tell you how amazing and important what you guys are doing is! This whole thing about teaching people how to understand and speak bird is amazing, this is real training - we adapting to them. Soooo many people (like I did) dont even know they are doing something wrong or that a certain cute behaviour is actually agressive. And this videos about cockatiel's is really nice as I believe is a more ordinary bird, at least here in Brazil it's more common to people to have those. The way you guys show what each behaviour mean and how to build a relationship with the birds is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us and enlightening so many people like myself. You are doing a great job! How marvelous to leave a little mark in the world like this!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Great explanation of the birdie bubble and clean communication. Moving the perch and table seemed to make the training easier for the bird and the trainer. It was really good to hear how important recognizing the different psychology of small birds.

[@carolemomma]

Love seeing the cockatiel and conure content lately! We have one of each. They're both quite smart and receptive to training. I would say of our two the conure catches on quicker. Our cockatiel is 2 and spins, waves, head shakes, big wings, goes through a hand tunnel and recalls fairly reliably. Maybe she has 3 brains cells as well? 😆

[@mioneconure10]

I'd say 4 brain cells!! 🧠 😂

[@morganglasscock5711]

Ahhhh i just got a tiny toy box from you guys for my two cockatiels and im so excited to see one on your page now! Were working through general fright of the toys with a bunch of treats hidden in and around them and its day 2 and my timid little birds have started picking at them! The pineapple looking one is great for hiding chunks of millet in

[@bubbaccino9417]

So awesome to see these training techniques on smaller birds! I can’t wait to try these things with my budgie ❤️.

[@Blobbington131]

Aww yes, finally a cockatiel!!

[@WeAreNotGoingBackEver]

This is really helpful. I've never understood clicker training.

[@briannarose586]

omg I was just looking for cockatiel videos, got so excited when I saw it was your channel!

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

I am so excited to see a Cockatiel! That was the first parrot I ever had. Unfortunately, she flew away when she was on my husband's shoulder and someone came to our door. When he answered the door Spike got startled and flew off his shoulder. We never found her. 😪 But she was a joy while we had her.

[@michelehemlokhexwhite4310]

Awww I'm sorry :( I'm so careful when people come to the door; I'm paranoid this will happen to me. I hope you get another chance in this life to have a parrot companion ❤🐦

[@flockclock4080]

Small bird content, i am all yours😍😍

[@corawalkswithdogs330]

I lost my male ‘tiel last month, this helps motivate me to get back to working with my female 💜

[@mioneconure10]

Nin!! She did so wonderful! Thank you again!

[@sofianeves4797]

I have a cockatiel and taught her to do kisses on the cheek in 20min so she is pretty smart too! Same thing with the spin, she is so cute!

[@michaeljohnson9760]

This was easy to teach my bird with two legs. My cockatiel with one leg learned to fly in a circle and land back on my finger instead.

[@corawalkswithdogs330]

I also love the way you guys work with people, it’s what I feel like I sound like with people and dogs🤣

[@maybekay44]

Yay!!!! Cockatiel and GCC videos in that last week 🤗

[@rachr8873]

So excited for a cockatiel video! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@Greatbiggrandma]

I’d love to see a parrotlet training!!

[@BirdTricks]

Would love the chance to work with a parrotlet! 🥰

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

I'd love to see a Parrotlet training too!! 🐦

[@hagrid397]

Yay! Cockatiel! This is awesome you guys are going this. I also really love your budgie content too.

[@BintOummiy]

Yeessss I have been waiting for cockatiels video for long time! Thanks!

[@frededward6176]

Always learn something new watching your videos. TY

[@SaccharinSweet123]

Watching this, I have realized I've trained my cockatiel one thing: recognize me as a safety perch/constant scritch machine who she flies to when uncomfortable. I need to work with her, clearly. But my partner and I will be putting a deposit on a baby Harlequin once we are settled in a house. Definitely going to add the baby bird training into the budget...along with the fortress of an outdoor aviary that I find necessary.

[@courtzbennett6509]

I am a little disappointed that Dave doesn’t appreciate cockatiels like other parrots, my female is super smart and eager to learn. She spins both ways, high five, low five, shake, wave and she comes to me when called 🤷‍♀️ my male bird on the other hand is another story but he had a rough start to life with rickets and some other problems but he is learning to sing so that’s his talent :P I just feel like little parrots are under appreciated and I am a little sad that a big bird person like Dave is putting that out there too :(

[@TrevorATX]

Not so sure he is a bird person putting those cockatiels in those small little travel bags for a long time lol not sure anyone noticed the poor little cockatiel on the couch in the small ass travel bag

[@mioneconure10]

He was just joking around. He definitely appreciates smaller birds too. Source - I'm the owner in the video of the two birds.

[@ChaiLatte13]

aww I just love cockatiels

[@alwaysgrace2215]

Yay 😍 you guys uploaded this on my Birthday!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Happy Birthday🎉

[@BirdTricks]

Happy Birthday!!! 🥳

[@savitahedau2221]

Wonderful ❤️ Love from India 🇮🇳 😊

[@Fistandtias]

The bird is so cute🥰🥰🥰

[@drawingsbyyuli5070]

Finally a tiel video 😭💜 we need more cockatiel videos

[@perlitabonita185]

Same when i tried to do a spin.. mine is a female.. then she can target touch and wave on command.. she's so cute waving.. gotta teach her the spin now..i love tiels.. especially girls.. they are so sweet

[@mokshitoswal4107]

Yessss lesgooooooo was waiting eagerly for this😍😍😍

[@gamingtimeisbackyea9393]

Thank u i have been resarching macaws for 2 years and im getting a catalina macaw this year :)

[@acaciaq]

Its been seven months, how is it going?

[@TheLastSecretGarden]

Hey you guys, I really would love to see you take in a project cockatiel! I would like to add a cockatiel to my flock and your channel is certainly lacking in them! I am sure since these little guys are so obtainable and are looked at as somewhat of a "throwaway bird" I can only imagine they clog up rescues and folks could use some tips on how to approach these guys as pets. And surely, cockatiels can use a redemption arc after Dave's IQ claims!!

[@thezoo3950]

Yay finally my birbs! 😍❤️

[@amandacovington2548]

Its super helpful thanks heaps. Kid in a closet 😂

[@ChildofGod943]

Love you guys and your vids!

[@gustavobarros8226]

Muito bom ☺️

[@e1n697]

Why only 575 likes? Come on world! Give some love before the world goes completly to shits

[@lunawolfheart336]

I taught my male to do basic things like spin and shake. The spin was mostly because he likes to put his tail in my face when I'm eating so I'll tell him to spin using my thinger and he dose that.

[@patricianeff1724]

Hi I want a hand fed Indian neck parrot and I only had him three weeks and I can’t get him to go on a perch or my finger I can’t get near him he’s very very frightening now he’s supposed to be a haircut babyCan you please tell me where I go get a clicker so I can start training him I don’t know where to go to get one thank you I watch a program you guys are very very smart

[@fluffermcnugget191]

@21:49 Dave… 🤦‍♀️😂 it seems I’m the only commenter who caught that lol

[@R_ehanR]

My cockatiel is weird it comes to my shoulder let’s me scratch it and it even lets me touch is back bit (near the wings) but he won’t step up he just bites, he takes treats from my hand but won’t come to my hand once I used millet spray and it came but when it realised it bit me and went off😂

[@khaelith8192]

My cockatiel is very training resistant. But also having issues with him being hormonally trigger by... pretty much anything. D:

[@sonatruman2895]

I am here at 1 min . Let's gooooo

[@komalqais4821]

Please consider to make training , diet and care video on lovebirds also

[@BirdTricks]

I would love to work with more lovebirds, but also know that all of our videos apply to all parrots no matter the species. Here is a video featuring a lovebird as well 😀kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipqYp3ahjtGeZ6M

[@loritoler6289]

What do you do with any kind of small bird like this that’s terrified of the training stick? We have 2 conures and a cockatiel and they’re all so afraid of the stick they run from it so fast lol

[@acaciaq]

Try to lay it around their cage to get them use to it or just simply hold it and try to get your bird to go near it and then distract the bird(by letting it do tricks or giving it treats). You dont really have to do target training tho, you can also use your finger for a replacement.

[@overwallmoonclaw2108]

Hi i own a cockatiel and he wont do step up training He has a deformed foot from before i got him and he dosent like any one touching him he sings and talks and does kiss noises but not much else

[@DatBeautifulNightmare]

Both my ringneck and GCC spin, my ringneck is extremely scared of hands yet she spins and comes when called, my conure flies to the target stick. I don't need the clicker or the stick now.. to be honest, my ringneck will sell her soul for a pine nut,

[@sarahknight2584]

Ugh cockatiels are too smart for their tiny little bodies! My boy has been with my for 5 days and has learned (though still inconsistently unless actively in a training session) target, kisses, and step up. It’s insane how quickly they learn. I know, relative to bigger parrots, they’re dummies, but they are still parrots and wildly more intelligent than the majority of species on earth!

[@jamescrosby6426]

What is the clicker for if given treats?

[@joebean3615]

Marking the EXACT moment they do something right it’s another reinforcer and make training cleaner and faster

[@heinhtet6093]

My cockatiel is very aggressive sometime. how can I make him less aggressive.This is my first birb so I don’t know much about birbs. help!

[@Drawing_with_lillian]

Soo I’m I tried to teach my cockatiel this my budgie ended up learning it instead 😂😂😂I wasn’t even trying to teach her XD

[@juliamaloney7119]

Cockatiel mohawk hair to go with it???

[@Renvega77]

What kind of treat are you giving her?

[@joebean3615]

Spray millet, you can use nuts and seed too but I find smaller birds tend to always like spray millet

[@BestMoments4you]

My bird has become really nippy lately and I’m not sure why? Do you have any tips?

[@BirdTricks]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/laHLeWedpNqhaZo

[@skittlesrainbowprincess]

So.... Really, were you training the cockatiel to spin or training the human how to communicate /read the signals of the bird? 😂 🤣. I miss my little tiel (chirp) but wouldn't give up my greenwing for one 😊

[@mioneconure10]

They were definitely teaching me more than her, lol!

[@greyfox2349]

Guys, please let me know if it’s possible to get your books in hard cover because I find easier to read what’s in front of me not on some tablet or phone? I’m looking to buy all three books to help my Meyers Parrot become more healthier as he denies eating all kinds of vegetables and throws it off her plate, I’ve tried in large portions and as well as chop he just wants seeds and pumpkin seeds, I’m Assuming that’s all the previous owner gave him, he eats apples and sometimes oranges and that’s it so your books might be able to help me

[@krfurandfeathers8849]

birdtricksstore.com/collections/health-and-diet/products/natural-feeding-system-parrot-cookbook

[@shy_masky]

Do you guys do free flight lessons in person?

[@robb1460]

Hey BT's! I never see your Macaws anymore. Why? Are they saying no to camera time? As the treats are just not worth it? Or Macaws are not that trainable.

[@tinydinoflock]

Macaws are super trainable. I have seen some videos on Facebook of the macaws.

[@spiritmatter1553]

I think people are finding the small bird videos to be more relatable. I don’t have birds so I can’t say that working with a particular species is preferable. But BT has tons of macaw videos, especially their older videos and project birds. If you’re macaw-focused and haven’t met them yet, you’d likely enjoy the channels "Parrots of Primrose Hill" and "Mikey the Macaw and Friends."

[@C4mzee]

How old is this bird🙂

[@HelloFiggy]

Figgy has boycotted the perch and is terrified (possibly personally offended?) by the clicker, but otherwise I see no obstacles to working with him in this way. 😂 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@atama203]

I cannot even approach mine. Hissing and fly away is all I get

[@chrisvallance8176]

My 9 month old girl spins and waves to me

[@chrisvallance8176]

From tips I got from this channel may I add

[@333movie]

이렇게 하나 하나.교육

[@dg.262]

I would do anything not to have something/someone hoovering over my head or behind me.

[@mrpunchyface774]

I have a cockatiel and I think dave gives them too much credit. Mine has 1 brain cell and he never uses it.

[@udinae21]

is Cockatiel ever to old to learn new tricks?

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

When you are in there space you are having a nonsense conversation with your bird because you are talking to someone but they thing you are talking to them and you don't make sense.

[@WeAreNotGoingBackEver]

"She" looks like a young male.

[@TrevorATX]

Is no one going to talk about how they're just putting these beautiful cockatiels inside these tiny little travel pouches? How shitty. Yay you did your song and dance with spins now go sit in this space you can barely flap your wings.. tricks are cool and everything but you treating your bird better is more important imo.

[@antoinefoster8879]

What kind of treats are you using? My bird only eat what he has always been on. Never added anything else. But I would like to try this. I don't know what treat to use.

[@MCrvngraddip2013]

Thank God. I have a cockatiel called Putin (The name totally suits him) and I'm always desperate for behaviour content because he's so intelligent but also hardwork! My budgie (Biden) and canary (Chopin) are a piece of cake in comparison 😂🦜

[@yeetnama9094]

😒 why would you ever name your poor bird "Biden" smh

[@MCrvngraddip2013]

@@yeetnama9094 because I like Putin and Biden to discuss international politics over their chop. 😂