Cage aggression

[dtmayer56]

Hi,
I am a new bird owner. I have a parrotlet that I use with my special needs classroom at school. She is awesome steps up, rides on the students shoulders, gives kisses, loves to come out of her cage because she thrives on attention. Ok about 2 months later I rescued a conure from a lady that had so many animals in her house it was disgusting, so filthy with feces etc... I got the bird home we were bonding. He was coming out, sitting on my shoulder, starting to learn step-up and purring I think while sitting on my shoulder. I was gone for two days and I came back and he's lunging at my hand when I go to open door and say step up. He is trying to be aggressive towards the stick when I say step up on stick. I read some other responses to similar step up issues and I think I heard reward for any positive behavior. Looking at me treat, taking step towards my treat etc... But I also thought I read where do not let them out if they are lunging. Terrible habit to start. Thing is he will climb out of his cage and step up from the play area on top of the cage but seems to be very territorial over his actual cage. Goodness I have never owned birds and my parrotlet is a piece of cake as she came so loving and tame. How do I get my conure to let me reach inside his cage ?
Thanks for any advice !

 

[OneHorseRanch]

Kind of makes you wonder what had happened in those two days you were gone. Was someone else taking care of the birds? Some negative aggression while he was in his cage? maybe he;s just made that you've been gone. I always worry about that with my bird, but so far he's been fine. Maybe just another phase these guys go through. Sheldon can be the same way for a while and then he snaps out of it.. not sure what else to tell you. Hope someone else chimes in

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi I have a Patty to stay for several weeks for the holidays and see him at irregular intervals outside of that time. He is completely different to my RB2 in as much as I know he loves me but I have to start from base with him each time. He doesn't usually take very long to warm up but he doesn't take it as red that things are the same as the last time you were together. Take it slow go through the re-bonding practices remember you left not him. Don't take it for granted that he thinks it is OK. The Patty will charge at the edges of his cage when I go near till happy that I truly am who he thinks I am and all is well. Then he will fly to my shoulder and life's good. Be kind, be patient, take some time ... Good luck

 

[dtmayer56]

Thank you for the advice. Actually my older daughter took care of him. She said he was loud while I was gone. I did make some progress today. I reinforced with treats and good job and got him to the door of his cage without any lunging or biting. I guess he's just ticked I was gone and letting me know that everything is not ok. I was pretty sure the last few days he's been mimicking my words step up. I guess I didn't expect him to talk while being ticked off and trying to bite. Oh well patience is all he needs.

 

[glutes]

I don't even own a bird yet so don't take my word for it, but it sounds like the bird came from a neglectful home. If you gave him tons of love and then suddenly disappeared for two days, he probably thought he had been abandoned and neglected by you. Now that you're back he's likely angry that you left him .