Advice for my baby sun conure please

[BirdLady93]

Hi,

I am a first time owner of a baby sun conure. He is almost 3 months old. He isn't my first bird, my other baby was a greencheck who sadly passed away. Because my other bird wasn't a baby when we formed our bond he was already semi trained. But with Fred, my sun conure, there is so much he is doing that scares me. I read a lot about the behaviour of the baby birds so I can understand him. But I worry. He chews everything. I put it down to him just being curious with his beak as a baby would but he chews on all my jewlery, I wear a fair bit all white gold, I don't know how to stop him doing this. I have read that birds can get metal poisoning and that's the last thing I want to happen. He also chews the zipper of my jumper. When he does this I tell him no and give him a little tap on the head and move him away from what he is chewing on but he goes straight back to it. Latley I've been trying to remove him all together. So when he does it I take him off me and put him on the ground or table depending on where we are. He is a very loving boy he has to be with me or his dad. He also bites us. No hard but it is annoying when you just want to cuddle. Although it's soft now I fear that when he gets older it will get a lot harder. Is there anyway I can stop him doing this.

 

[Hipster]

Hi I have a conure too so i know what you mean.. i'm not an expert though so hopefully someone will come along
but here's what i suggest-
a really easy option is to take off the jewelry. Birds like to chew on stuff and it's natural for your bird to be curious.
with the biting it kind of depends on your bird. some birds learn better when you ignore it. some learn if you put it in time outs for a little while. you should experiment to see what works with your bird good luck!

 

[Agapornis]

The minute i get home, I take my jewelry off. I also got a "bird necklace" to wear, and that keeps little beaks busy, with less hole chewing in my clothes. Interactive Plastic Pet Bird Toy: Super Bird Creations Treat Cup Necklace Bird Toy

Oh, and I also have what I call "bird shirts" that i wear at home, it doesnt matter if they get pooped on or chewed up. They may chew less as they get older, but I am planning on a lifetime of chewing.

Would love to see some pics of your baby Sun!

 

[riddick07]

Baby conures use their beaks a lot. They use it to feel and play and just because. Chances are he isn't biting you just using his beak to do these things. It is your job to teach him not to do it harder than what you can tolerate. When he starts giving too much pressure tap his beak and tell him gentle or easy or stop...whatever really. If he won't let up just grab the beak to stop him, tell him no(or whatever you want to use to express displeasure) push the beak away slightly and then just stop playing with him or talking to him for a half minute or so. Then try interacting again. Every time he gets too hard you have to do it again. Be consistent.

You want to teach him to play with things that are his not yours. What I used with Loki was a foot toy basket. I would have it out with me whenever I had her out. Give him toys from the basket when he tries to chew on your things. If he won't stop after you try this a couple times than put him on a stand and get him off you. Being on and with you is a privilege and doing things you don't like means he has to go away for a minute or two.

You also want to encourage independence...you don't want a clingy sun that screams because it doesn't know what to do on its own. Make sure he knows how to play with toys and forage. He knows how to be on a stand doing his own thing even when you are in the room. Make sure his cage has a million things to do to keep him occupied and busy. You want the cage to be just as great as being out with you.

 

[BirdLady93]

Thank you all for your advice. I have ordered one of the play necklaces that were suggested. I think he will absolutely love that. He has so many toys. Really he is like a spoilt child.
I brought him a extra stand today to have for night when everyone is in the lounge room so he can feel included. At the moment his stand is in our bedroom. He has everything there. All his toys and that's where his bedroom is (it's his special safe box)
So when he is out he is fully dependent on my partner and I to move him around as his wing was clipped by the people we brought him off.
So I feel like I will use this to also be a time out space for when we need it.
Thank you all again.

 

[ErichT]

When Mango was a baby I would keep Small Chewing blocks in my hands and when she went for my wedding ring I would give her the block to tear up. Also balled up coffee filters were fun for her. I used them When we got Kiwi as well to keep her from biting me and get used to my hands as perches not toys.