2 month gcc hates head strokes

[ILOVEKIWI]

Hey everyone! I have a 2.5 month gcc, and I love him so much, we got him half a week ago, and he seems to be adjusting pretty well. He's healthy and eats well and poops and everything. What I have noticed though is he doesn't seem to like strokes on the head he squawks whenever we pet him there and he squirms whenever we try too. Should I be concerned about this? Is it natural? Have any of you had the same experiences? Is it because he doesn't trust us yet? (he lets me cuddle him and hops on my shoulder and seems comfortable) Thank you so much

 

[wrench13]

Some parrots don't care for scratching, some do. Don't push it. Always proceed at your parrots pace and not the pace of your expectations. Parrot rate of change is glacial compared to human change.

 

[clark_conure]

Is it fully weened? It can take like three months to fully ween a GCC, It can be done in two I've read. Just curious.....

Let him/her sit on your shoulder and in time you can basically do anything with a green cheek, they crave attention so much they don't even care where it's from. Most the parrot rules like "don't enter the cage", etc. seem to fall out the window with this "look he thinks it's people" species.

Just give it a week or so.

 

[noodles123]

AGREED with above (both replies 100%)-- I will say, I think you are rushing (don't think dogs or cats. Think painfully slow with birds...)

 

[ILOVEKIWI]

Nope he's not weened at all yet, we're hand feeding, we were told that we could begin weening in a couple months or so. He really does even now, ADORE attention and like to be held and stroked on the back, it doesn't really bother me that he doesn't like head strokes, I was just kind of concerned because a lot of websites told me that were conures favorite places to be pet. I understand all birds are different and I'll go on his pace. Thank you both so much for the replies!

 

[Scott]

Agree with all of the above, they are individuals with widely varying tolerances. One reason for skittishness is lack of trust. Over time you may find less resistance as the bond deepens. Check out this thread with suggestions: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[clark_conure]

I was thinking, if it's still weening its probably still has pin feathers, that might be the reason ....

Pic related.

 

[Laurasea]

He should wean himself soon, usually before 12 weeks in a GCC. Morning and evening feeds are usually the last to drop.
After the Morning feed is when tgey are most likely to try new foods. Its never to soon to offer veggies and leafy greens, free choice pellets, and some seed mix. You can offer warm scrambled eggs, or oatmeal ( I always mix and mash in pellets when I feed oatmeal.

https://gcch.tripod.com/faq/faq3.html#:~:text=Most green cheeks wean around,of eating on his own.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you! If I scratch my JoJo anywhere but his beak, I bleed! Life!

 

[ILOVEKIWI]

Updates: I think it was a bonding thing because now he trusts me a lot more and we've incorporated cheek and head strokes in our "cuddle routine" and he LOVES it. Of course he's not always in the mood for it but after he's fed he demands it, but when he's exploring/playing he doesn't (logical since he falls asleep when I give him cheek pets). Also we started weening, we spoke to his vet about all of this a while ago during a check up, and he said that we could start feeding him things like seeds and mushed fruit and stuff on the side from the hand feeding, at first he was afraid of the seeds and now he loves it (still working on the fruit but it's a process and I'm going at his rate) We're doing great now. Thank you again so much for the replies!

 

[Laurasea]

don't forget the veggies and leafy greens! Try and offer lots of variety.

 

[ILOVEKIWI]

Yup, started with the veggies, and greens and he's very open about trying new things!

 

[Flboy]

Great progress!
FYI, you mentioned stroking his back. For a bird, I believe that’s sexual! That can lead to some frustrations!

 

[ILOVEKIWI]

Hi David
I know that now! I actually learned that from a reply of a thread I posted a week or so ago. So yeah, don't do that anymore! but thank you so much though I really do appreciate it. Everyone's replies have been so helpful, and I'm so grateful for each and everyone of them.

 

[noodles123]

Just make sure you pet on the head and neck only once he is weaned etc (excluding touching that may occur as a part of a vet exam or harness training etc)...You don't want to start something that will be inappropriate in an adult bird.