Please help!!!

Help!!

PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS!! I am a new owner of a blue crowned conure. I got it Friday and it is now Sunday. It's previous owners did not even know what kind of bird it was or the age and sex of it. When it would scream they would spray it with water. It will take treats out of my hand and will now let me open the cage and give it treats by hand. It is EXTREMELY terrified of me and runs away if I get to close though. If I try to pet it, it snaps toward me and then bites. If I put my fingers up to the cage it bites at them. When I first got it, it would run at me with its beak open. It has a nice two story square cage with toys and a perch. It is missing feathers around its neck and wings. The previous owner said the skin where the feathers were was red and bumpy but since they put a bird protector in the cage the area looks better. I am going to continue to hand feed the bird treats and start leading it around the cage with the clicker technique and use positive reinforcement. I also am going to invest in some foraging toys because it screams a lot. Do you have any advice for taming it or making it not scared of me and not scream a lot and bite whenever I try to get near it? Also, where could I get good beginner foraging toys for a good price? Thank you so much!!

Understand this could take months [that's just how birds are] . Consistently visit the your guy understand how scared he is . Just seeing him and talking softly is the first step . Be very positive , look for an interest in you . I believe he will eventually respond [be happy with what hes willing to give] If hes trying to bite [your doing something he doesn't want]. It takes a long time to build trust ,next step is treats ,then see if he will come to the front of the cage [then out]. Trick is learn your bird . Pay attention to what he likes and don't do things he doesn't.Hate to say their all different but they are. Good luck {you can do this}

Hi this is Natalie my advice is to read The parrot Wizards guide to Well Behaved parrots by Michael Sazhin you can buy it on amazon or Parrot Wizard - Parrot Training, Shows, & Consultations by Michael Sazhin.

I have a rescued Blue Crown myself. It takes a very long time to earn trust of a bird that has been abused like that. I'm going on 2.5 years with Rosco and he barely trusts me enough to step up. I do not think that he is ever going to be a cuddly bird but the progress he has made has been great. When I first got him, he was ready to take a finger off and drew blood a couple of times. But we have an understanding now and he likes to fly over to visit me and perch on my laptop screen. Recently he has started to talk a little and we can have "conversations". But that is the limit so far. And I'm satisfied with that. He is fun to have around as he is a real clown.

The biggest key for your bird is patience. Beyond that, patience. Then even more patience. Give him plenty of time to settle down and don't push his limits. There is a good chance that this bird was hand raised and at one time trusted humans. If you work calmly with him and build a level of trust over time, he could come back around and start to trust you. Let him calm down over a couple of weeks. Speak gently and keep offering the treats occasionally. Don't ever try to force him to step up or be petted.

Another thing I would strongly recommend is to get him to a good avian vet. The missing feathers and bumpy skin could be of real concern and he may need treatment. An avian vet would be a good source of advice on helping the bird adjust to his new life. Especially if he has been on a poor diet.

There are a few websites out there that sell foraging toys. My Safe Bird Store has a good selection but bird toys really are not that cheap. Especially when you consider that they are something that is supposed to be destroyed. My Senegal can take a large wooden toy down to toothpicks in a day's time. Down near the bottom of the items they sell are toy parts. You can get a variety of things to make your own toys with.

Re: Help!!

Start with NOT doing anything that scares it. For the next at LEAST 2 weeks concentrate all your efforts on NOT frightening the bird no matter how frustrating it is that nothing moves at the pace you want. Then, yes, the target training (that is ok to do now as well but ONLY if it doesnt scare or stress him - keep your sessions short). Work from there. You are working at this point to undo what was likely years and years of abuse. Most likely this bird has never had a good experience with people. Ever. Imagine someone trying to convince you that you should put your hand into a fire. When your bird is slow to respond, remember what kind of fear has been instilled in him.

So my advice is slow slow slow, and patience. Also, good for you. We are here for you every step of the way. Keep us updated please!

Hey guys thank you SO SO SO much for the advice. Polly is starting to settle down a lot. I can feed him treats in his cage by hand now and keep my hand there for a short time without being bit. He will come to me if I open the door and offer treats but usually only comes close enough for his beak to reach the treat. I'm not pushin petting him though as he walks away when my hand gets to close. I can also put my fingers on the cage in front of him and even through the bars without being bitten or attacked. He does not freak out when I take his water bowl out to clean anymore either. I am super exited about the improvement and am loving his companionship. He is a clown and we often have conversations too. He says hello clearer now! I am absolutely falling in love with this bird! I am worried about the feather loss still though. I don't know of any avian vets around where I live.. I would love to hear your responses to Polly's improvement. Thanks

Very glad you have made that much progress so far. You might have a sweetheart waiting to come out of his shell. Trust will come with time. Keep patient and let him come to you as much as possible.

My Rosco will accept treats from me but he is really funny when he does it. Head feathers up, he leans towards it and yanks it out of my fingers with a "Give me that dangit!" attitude. He seems mad that he is accepting something from me.

Certified avian vets tend to be in areas of large populations. But internet research can help find if there is one near you. And there are lots of people on the forums that know good vets that they can recommend if you give a general location. If you live near West Palm Beach, FL I know of one that I would drive a few hours to see. Unfortunately, I'm over 1000 miles from there now. I miss having her close as my BCC Tootsie passes through 30 years old and gets more and more old bird problems.

When you find a good vet they will usually run a bunch of tests to get a general idea of the health of the bird. It can be a little cost but worth it. While you are there it is nice to get a gender test. It is good to know for sure plus if you have a female it is helpful to learn what to do if you have a bird that starts to lay eggs. I'm happy that Tootsie has never wanted to lay.

Great posts James Encouraging info since Roscoe has taken so long to trust. It does take some birds a very long time to even take that first little step, even birds of a usually cuddly species.

I didn't want to go to far off topic, but I was really surprised when you said your Senegal can take a large wooden toy down to toothpicks in a day??

Both my Poi's are different. Griffin the Ruppell's loves all toys and does love to chew wood, however, nothing like Sidney! Robin my Red Bellied doesn't really chew wood.

You mentioned, at the beginning of this thread, you mentioned "but since they put a bird protector in the cage" what kind of a bird protector? Are you talking about a little container with holes in it, that clips/mounts to the cage?

If that's what you're referring to, throw it out, it will cause a bird's feathers to fall out.....I'm not sure if there is an ingredients notation on that can/package but those things contain the same thing moth balls are made from and those ingredients are dangerous to birds.....

RavensGryf said:

I didn't want to go to far off topic, but I was really surprised when you said your Senegal can take a large wooden toy down to toothpicks in a day??

Click to expand...

Ever see those 12 inch by 3 inch diameter branches with some partial holes bored in it? He completely demolished one in a day while I was at work. I put it in the evening before and he chomped on it a little. He started on it as I was leaving. Finished it off before I got home. I was....shocked...

After I read this thread & posted the above reply, I took a look at the pics you posted & yes, I'm almost positive that little container that's wired to the outside of his cage is what I was referring to and you really need to throw it away.

I have no idea, without having seen it, what might have caused "bumpy red skin" on him, but have you or the previous owners taken this bird to an avian veterinarian? If not, I might suggest that you do so as soon as possible.....

Since you are new to being owned by companion birds, not everything that is sold for and/or purported to be good for or safe for our feathered friends is true.....somewhere in these forums should be some information, posted some time back, about supplements & additives sold in the pet industry.....in the information I'm talking about, I quoted an article published in a pet industry magazine where the article's author had interviewed a president or other supplement company official who made the statement that in the making/formulation/concoction of supplements/additives that that industry could not, because of time & testing constraints, test each batch of raw materials used to produce these supplements/additives.....

What struck me as interesting is the fact that, in the United States, supplements & additives (for both animals and humans) are are billion dollar business that has virtually no oversight, industry control or federal regulation, so you might want to get in the habit of questioning statements about those good things someone wants to sell you for your feathered friend.....just because it's printed somewhere doesn't mean it's true.....

Good luck with your new feathered friend.....

JamesC said:

RavensGryf said:

I didn't want to go to far off topic, but I was really surprised when you said your Senegal can take a large wooden toy down to toothpicks in a day??

Click to expand...

Ever see those 12 inch by 3 inch diameter branches with some partial holes bored in it? He completely demolished one in a day while I was at work. I put it in the evening before and he chomped on it a little. He started on it as I was leaving. Finished it off before I got home. I was....shocked...

Click to expand...

That's why you see some members post about their little "Buzz Saws".....some companion parrots enjoy making toothpicks almost more than eating.....

weco said:

You mentioned, at the beginning of this thread, you mentioned "but since they put a bird protector in the cage" what kind of a bird protector? Are you talking about a little container with holes in it, that clips/mounts to the cage?

If that's what you're referring to, throw it out, it will cause a bird's feathers to fall out.....I'm not sure if there is an ingredients notation on that can/package but those things contain the same thing moth balls are made from and those ingredients are dangerous to birds.....

Click to expand...

I put pictures in my album of what it looks like. Please go check it out! Thanks.

He is scratching his beak a lot on his cage. That's normal right?

Staggsmalexis said:

He is scratching his beak a lot on his cage. That's normal right?

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When companion parrots do that, they're manicuring it, getting dried food, straightening out/removing any beak peels...think women & filing their finger/toe nails.....

If you get him a manicure perch (rough on both sides, smooth on top & bottom) you won't have to trim his talons or beak, he'll do it himself.....

I put pictures of the bird protector in my album.

Staggsmalexis said:

weco said:

You mentioned, at the beginning of this thread, you mentioned "but since they put a bird protector in the cage" what kind of a bird protector? Are you talking about a little container with holes in it, that clips/mounts to the cage?

If that's what you're referring to, throw it out, it will cause a bird's feathers to fall out.....I'm not sure if there is an ingredients notation on that can/package but those things contain the same thing moth balls are made from and those ingredients are dangerous to birds.....

Click to expand...

I put pictures in my album of what it looks like. Please go check it out! Thanks.

Click to expand...

Yep, that stuff, at least the stuff inside it, can do neurological damage to your feathered friend.....

If he needs a bird protector... which is as useful as a flea collar. He needs a trip to the vet make sure doesn't have any hitchhiking friends. And make sure it's not a skin infection. Congrats on your new friend! Sherlock my blue crown is the love of my life lol. Your going to be tested with this guy once a birds confidence is crushed, which is what it sounds like, it's going to take a tremendous amount of patients and work to get him to even act like a companion pet bird. Hand feeding is a great way to gain his trust. Work out a schedule with him so he knows what to expect on a daily bases. Try not to push him to far to fast what you gained in a week can be broken down by one simple act he sees as a threat. Please keep us posted on your progress I'm rooting for you guys!!

Thank you all so very much for the support and advice. I took the bird protector out of his cage. I have noticed he scratches and bites at the places he is missing feathers a lot. Maybe it's just me. I will be calling my local vet and askin if he would look at him or if he knows an avian vet close. The thing is my dad is ridiculous and I've brung it up to him and he said he will absolutely not pay for any vet fees, that it is just a bird and he should have never bought it. That really hurts me because I care a tremendous amount about animals and want Polly to be healthy.

Maybe you could volunteer to do some work for the vet in exchange for a visit. When you speak with them, explain your situation and maybe they could help you out somehow. Do some odd jobs around their clinic on weekends. You never know, since you love animals it could be a great thing for you in the future.

The only other suggestion that I can think of at the moment, and this is one that I hate to even mention, is consider giving the bird up to a rescue. I know you probably would not even want to think about doing so. But in the end, it may be what is best for Polly. They will be able to treat him and bring him back to health.

I am really sorry for having to make that suggestion. I would be torn to pieces if I ever had to consider that for any of my birds.

Regardless of what you decide, I would suggest contacting a rescue anyway. They may be able to suggest a vet that they use at low cost. You could use a website like petfinder.com in reverse to find one. Search for birds in your area and the closest rescues will show up.

I do hope for the best for you and Polly. Thank you for caring about him.