Conure Bonding Worries

[beetory]

Hi guys,

Me again, grr. I was thinking about my conures today (who are parents right now and taking care of their babies) and I was wondering what's going to happen to the bond we have with them now that this is going on? I try not to bother them too much now or take them out of the cage because I know they need to focus on their little babies and keep them fed.

The only time we interact is when I visit their cage because I want to chat with my Booger for a while while Darling glares daggers at me for talking to her boo lol. And Booger manages to sneak out and on my shoulder when I change their water/food/add veggie bowl, etc. And he's still super affectionate and blows me kisses when I'm around and lets me scratch his head through the bars but I know the babies won't be fully fledged for a few months now and I'm worried we'll have to start from scratch again once they are with the parents.

Booger is kind of known for holding grudges for years lol. He still hasn't warmed up to my dad again after he left on a business trip for 3 weeks. And he suddenly despised my sister for about two years before he was all over her again last year to now.

With Darling I'm still trying but she honestly only likes my mom and my brother and I've just learnt to deal with that. I still give her attention and talk to her and give her treats but she does not like me putting my fingers anywhere near her or touching her. Never did after she got comfortable in her new home when we bought her. That's cool to be honest as long as she's happy and healthy I don't mind.

Does anyone else have any experiences like this? Where their pair of babies had babies and raised them?

 

[Laurasea]

No experience with this. Are you going to remove the nest box after this? Are you handling the babies, do they can make good pets down the road? Wish I could help.

 

[beetory]

We handle the babies every day starting from when they opened their eyes fully and not just to take a quick peek. I'd say we have them out for about 45mins to an hour. If I see they're too sleepy or starting to look hungry I put them back in. My conures are completely calm during this as well, they take time to preen each other and eat a lot. After we put the babies back in their nest they check in on them and sometimes feed them if it's time before returning to what they were doing before. I think they're going to make good pets, I really hope so at least, but they are barely nearing their 1month old mark so I don't think I'll know until they are grown.

Won't be removing their nest until the babies are staying outside of it on their own permanently, they are parent raised.

 

[itzjbean]

I had a pair of cockatiels that had babies and were my pets, too. They were good parents so I let them raise their babies...only one needed assistance as he was getting plucked by the mom and I had to separate and handfeed. He was fine.

Lots of lunging and hissing at first when eggs were laid, but as chicks hatched and grew, I was able to go look inside the box more and more with less aggression. I could change the food and water with less hissing every day. It's just an instinctual thing, nothing personal, they are just defending their chicks and have super strong instincts to protect their young. That your one is still kissing you and sitting on your shoulder is great!

As fledging time approached I made a transition nest box out of cardboard, 3-4 inches high filled with bedding that I moved the chicks to as first one began to eat on its own, and eventually every day as I would take them all out of the cage in the box and put them on the counter to play and explore outside of the cage. I surrounded the counter with a couple small animal pens (see below) and that way the babies began to explore their new world outside of the cage with their parents. I put some millet in there and small perches to get the little ones walking around and exploring.

Once they began fledging, one would take off flying and the parents actually flew near him to make sure he was okay and I was able to help, too. It was a great way to get the babies out and about with the parents there, too to supervise. I think the trust grows when the parents see that you are trying to help their babies. Hopefully the hen will come around and see that you are just trying to help and love on them.