blue crowned conure behavior

[pearlglory]

hoping someone can help me deciefer my conures behavior ;0) We have had MICKEY for just under 2 weeks. He is a 7 year old blue crowned conure. I will be honest in saying i am new to conures. I had a pair of love birds about 8 years ago. Anyhow Mickey is just now coming out of his shell. I have a couple of books and have been trying to read everything I can. I don't think his previous owner had him out much. She was older and didn't have time for him anymore. He has just started talking to me and has quite the personality. I have been getting him out of his cage and he was pretty wobbly at first. But I kept taking him out for a few minutes each day and he is getting better. But yesterday he started acting strange, He will puff up and nod his head up and down quite a bit (he will also mimic you if you do this, but not sure what the nodding head means) then he will open his mouth and breath a little loud and talk to me, but he will lunge at me, especially when i'm not looking, but when I turn around to him, he will walk away. I read that some fluffling of the feathers like the head means he wants attention, but he will fluff his whole body and give me what I call the serial killer look! ;0) his eyes look big and he opens his mouth some what with his tongue moving around in his mouth, nodding his head and talking to me. Sometimes he breathes a little heavy. Because he is talking it makes me wonder if he isn't mad, but other words I think hes pretty upset with me, What should I do? I can try and take a picture of him doing this ;0) Kelly

 

[Pheonix Rising]

It's hard to say without video or pic at the least
the behaviour could be going either way fluffing feathers can be a relaxed and affectionate state or it could be an adgitated defense state

Combined with the bead bobbing I would say it's more of an affection thing
Birds usually bob their heads to be fed or when sharing food with others ( reguritation). This is often followed by loud breathing ( I think it has something to dobwith relaxing the muscles after such a manouver)

The words he uses may just be a learnt behaviour in that he got a response ( good or bad) from previous owner when he said them

I may be completely wrong however like I say it'd very hard to judge without a video etc and also not knowing your birds personal behaviour

Hopefuly other members will chip in on this

Good luck

 

[pearlglory]

Thank you for the response. I have been REALLY hoping it was affection! I know the heavy breathing is not a health issue, but I have been worried that he doesn't like me ;0) Its just making me even more dedicated in being with me! ;0) I will try and get a little video of him. Are those easily posted on here? i will also try to take a picture, each time I tried to take one, he would fluff down, stinker!

 

[[email protected]]

Hi, I am happy your BC has found such a good new home!! These are Super Sweet birds. I have a 6 year old female and she is so sweet and cuddly , I think she must believe she is a cockatoo baby. Pickles loves people and will bob her head and make herself big ( fluff up ) for anyone new. She will also lung and try to bite it they do more than just admire her. She occasional still does this behavior for me if I am too slow to pick her up. I think his behavior is a very sign that he is coming around. Offer him favorite treats from your hand and keep talking to him. Let him come out of his cage on his own and don't force him to allow a touch until he acts relaxed with you. You are doing great!!!

 

[pearlglory]

Thank you so much! It feels good to get some reassurance! I usually have him step up and help him out of his cage each day, but will let him do it on his own. I'm learning! ;0) thank you for the reassurance!
kelly

 

[Jodi]

Just an idea...If you go to youtube and search for blue crown conures there are quite a few videos up there with BC's talking and doing some of the things you mentioned.(search for Avis..he's a great talker and you see how much his body goes through displays (eye pinning and fluffing) ...
I thought my new baby blue crown was wanting to attack my hand the first two days with the lunging and opening up of his beak until I realized he was only wanting to play because when I did put my hand up to him, he would lay his head down for scritches! It just looked mighty scary with me being used to the smaller conures. Anyways, youtube might give you some more visible ideas of what they do when excited and such...
congrats to btw

 

[pearlglory]

oh wonderful and thank you!! I will go and look now! I envy you have 2 conures Jodi, are they kept in the same cage or seperate? how do they do? I would love to get a baby conure as soon as I get this settled ;0)

 

[Jodi]

No they both have their own cages. I feel much better with their size difference that they are alone in them. To many squabbles could happen and I would never forgive myself if I were not there to interject. I know some people do house their birds together, but either they're close to the same size or the same kind of bird. I've also read how they can bond with each other more that way and you could "possibly" lose some of the bond you have with each of them. I've only read that though, no experience in that area.
How is Mickey doing?

 

[pearlglory]

Hi Jodi!
Well i'm not going to lie. I was really struggling with mickey. He was completely happy as long as you left him in the cage and didn't mess with him. His original owner had him since he was a baby and for 7 years he never was really handled. He was my first 'parrot' and was so worried I would do somethin wrong. Well I lucked out and a gal who really knew a lot about working with birds ended up taking him. Then about 2 weeks ago we brought home Mini Mae. She is my LOVE! she is a 4 month old yellow sided green cheek conure. She does everything with us (even took a quick shower today ;0) she is so friendly. We do miss Mickey and his talkativeness but the affection Minnie Mae shows is so AWeSOME it makes up for it ;0) i will post pictures soon. I think one day when i'm ready I will find another blue crowned, but from now on i'm sticking to babies. I do have a question for you ;0) Minnie Mae loves to play in my hair, is she eating it or just cleaning it like she does her feathers? is this ok for her? then when she sits on my shoulder she gives me VERY tiny little pinches. They don't really hurt, but you know she is doing it. Are these affectionate? they seem to be but i'm not sure. take care!
kelly

 

[Ladyeclectic]

Congrats on your new baby Kelly!! I have a Sun and a GCC and while the Sun is finally starting to wiggle it's way into my heart (we've had her about 3 weeks now) my little Green-cheek is my love. Even though she's quite attached to my Dude - if he's nearby, all she wants is to go to him - when we're alone she's my little cuddlebug. It's funny, when I first got her I was SO worried I'd hurt her because she's so tiny! But now I'm fine - either she's grown or I've gotten used to her being small. My Sun seems huge by comparison!

They sure are cute and cuddly when they're babies aren't they? Our Sun is still handshy and doesn't want to be pet or preened but is on her way otherwise to being a Velcro bird. She seems particularly enamored of me which I find funny, since the Green-cheek was supposed to be "mine" and the Sun "his". Capricious little beasties, nothing like dogs or cats (more like having a human friend or little kid as a pet).

 

[wildheart]

Minnie Mae loves to play in my hair, is she eating it or just cleaning it like she does her feathers? is this ok for her? then when she sits on my shoulder she gives me VERY tiny little pinches. They don't really hurt, but you know she is doing it. Are these affectionate? they seem to be but i'm not sure. take care!
kelly

Do you have hairspray in your hair? My girl used to do this in the beginning but I taught her not do it when I had to pull one of my hair out of her mouth. (It must have been a loose hair on my head). She also gave me little pinches while on my shoulder - she is actually playing with the fine hair on your body. Best is to find something else that she loves chewing and hold it for her, she will then forget to chew you.

 

[pearlglory]

Well I don't wear any hair spray. I will definately keep an eye out with my hair though thank you ;0) Do you know what the little pinches mean? She snuggles the crook of my neck when she does this ;0) I do love that little stink! my youngest daughter has a thomas the train set and Minnie Mae likes to ride on it! ;0) I will get a picture soon ;0)

 

[wildheart]

The little pinches are usually Minnie Mae pulling the fine hair on your body or picking at your freckles etc.

 

[pearlglory]

Thank you! So she is preening me? little stink. I will post some pictures of her on my photo album. How do I type up my different animals so it shows up under all of my messages?