New Cockatiel

[KTedham]

Hiya, I hope I haven't posted this in the wrong place since it's not a reptile question. I'm new so I'm not really sure. Sorry.

A couple of days ago my partner and I became the proud owners of a pretty little 2 year old male cockatiel that we've called Charlie.
We were sold him by a breeder who warned us he wasn't exactly handtame but she assured us that he would be perfectly tame if we took him out and wrapped him in a towel and stroked him everyday.

When we took him out to put him in his nice new cage at our home he took chunks out of my partners fingers and now trembles and gets in a fuss if we so much if we change his water or food.
I was looking online and now I don't know whether forcing him to come out against his wishes with a towel is really a good idea. I want him to trust me but I'm also scared of being bitten or making him more scared of me too.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I could get him to trust me and my partner enough for us to handle him?

I'm also worried about his eating habits. He won't eat any of the salad or fruit that we've offered him and I don't want him to get ill. Is there a certain way to give them these foods?

[LauraandLee]

To be honest hun, we got cockatail few wks ago and he hisses at us. Im now beinging to think that we should have got a baby think ours is bout 6 mths. I have read the older the cockatail the harder he will be to tame.
Read these tips (as not working of us)

1. Start by gently talking to him.
2. Then try and often him fruit etc from your hand into cage.
3. After that he is meant to being to hop on to your hand.

Im not sure if grabbing and wrapping him up was a good idea esp after few days he needs to get to trust u.
Also he may not eat tidy of a while due to stress of moving

[cathandtam]

hi,
we breed cockatiels and if we ever tried to sell a 2 year old in would never be handleable. think you have been told a load of porkies. sorry.
you can try talking to him in a nice calm voice.
go near his cage when the room is dull(shut the curtains) and he might not be so flighty.
gradually get closer but if he gets stressed stop as it will just not work.
eventually you should be able to get up to the cage and lift a hand.
then when he is more settled you may even be able to put your hand inside the cage.this may take a very long time.
we have one 9 year old rescue that we can't handle at all unless he is well wrapped up in a towel and even then you are still in danger of loosing a finger or two lol. some just don't like it at all.
if you do get the birds trust clip his wings before you bring him out of the cage. it will make it easier to catch him when he flies away, which he definitly will.

good luck, sound like you need it,
cath

[cathandtam]

forgot to say about his veggies and fruit. don't worry. some love them and others hate them.
as long as he is eating his seed and drinking water, has acsess to cuttlefish bone and a mineral block don't worry.

cath

[KTedham]

Oh dear. I hope it's not too late for him then.

Thanks for the help. I'll see what I can do using the tips you've both kindly shared. lol, you never know, there could be a tiny chance that he might change yet, maybe...?