Everything scares him...? Why is he so nervous still?

[Sasha2]

Ive had our Sun conure now for a few months.But he is still so nervous.
Wont touch his toys.I dont mind the hands off part but would like to see him play happily in or out of his cage so I know he is at least content.
He will come out of his cage but only hangs out on the cage and on the rope perch attached on the outside of it.
He just isnt curious about anything at all.I dont get it? New stuff makes him scream and run away to the far side of his cage. Birds outside flying by the window make him scream. New food is a big nono, aint happenin.I feel very bad for him and dont know what to do to make him happier.


Im actually finding him rather boring.Dont get me wrong Im not the kind to just send him off because he isnt a good "pet".I am a firm believer that animals arent just pets.

My tiels will play with anything I put in their cages after just a few minutes of eyeing it suspiciously.My greencheek, while she doesnt play with alot of toys and is more scared of new stuff then the tiels will still play with stuff especially outside her cage.She loves to explore.
But Our Sun has no interest in exploring at all.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I 'get' what you are saying. Georgie wasn't what i had originally expected her to be when i was buying a conure. She was never a huge "player". She was always more calm/circumspect but 'clingy'. She didn't want toys; she just wanted ME, all the time.

Best thought i can offer is to just try to figure out who your bird is and work with it. Georgie LOVED music and would dance like crazy, really having a blast, even if i just sang and clapped. And she learned to like going outside in her cage or her carrier, seeming fascinated by all the new sights. Some confidence building/training also helped her. She learned some tricks and how to dance and enjoyed that more "interactive" play than independent playing with toys.

By the way, how long have you had your sun? Is he/she still new to your home and just getting comfortable with you all? If so, then move slowly, with treats, and build the friendship first, then work on the other interests and play time activity. Maybe he is withdrawn because he hasn't yet built a bond with you??

 

[legal_eagle]

As I'm sure you know, given your experience with birds, they all have different temperaments, just like people. Some are quiet and reserved, while others are loud and boisterous. I think you'll feel more at peace if you can accept your sun for the creature that he is. Sounds like you're giving him lots of opportunities to play and explore, so let him participate to the extent he wants to. Labeling him as "boring" is probably counterproductive to your own peace of mind.

 

[forbey]

People, dogs, cats and parrots! The secrets of personality If you could only bottle and sell it ...

At the same time if every single cockatiel acted like every other cockatiel they would all be boring,

 

[Featheredsamurai]

How old is he? Parrots are prey animals, making them wary. It's not uncommon for a bird who wasn't exposed to many different things to be frightened of anything new, they develop phobias. Try touch training with him, and try to introduce him to one new thing every week, or daily, depending in how fast he gets used to things.

 

[Sasha2]

I tried clicker training..He is terrified of the little chopstick.As soon as he sees it in my hand he is not going to take a treat from me.
Im not sure what touch training is but will look it up.Is it the same thing?

Hes had toys in his cage for the last two months and hasnt ventured near them.While he is no longer afraid of them he ignores them.
I feel bad for him.Just sitting around doing nothing all the time.Even when the cage is open he just sits on top the cage or perch and might walk back and forth and squawks alot.He seems to be entertained with the activity around the room but otherwise doesnt do anything.

Like I said, I do realize all animals have different personalities but it drives me nuts because I want him to be happy..

 

[Kalidasa]

SomE birds are just phobic and should be accepted as such. He might be better just hanging with you to feel more secure. Maybe just let him sit on your shoulder while you do things, or just snuggle. Or just sit. Curiosity usually wins out in the end.

 

[lotosha]

Maybe something in the environment scares him? Maybe something is bothering him with a cage location?
Also if I remember correctly it took about 3 month until my 'tiel started show interest in life and until then just set on one place and didn't move. So maybe it's a bit early. Hope he'll get better soon.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Hi Sasha,
I see that Nacho is 2 years old, but he's been with you only a few months. What do you know about his history, where he lived, what life was like for him. Seems like you will have to approach thoughts about him from a blank slate by not having any expectations based on what your other fids do. I realize that you are loving him no matter what and that's so great to hear.

Is he clipped? If so, perhaps he wasn't before and misses flying and is frightened w/o his flight ability.

Perhaps he used to hang out on the floor and roam. Or maybe he is used to lots of one to one interaciton or shoulder sitting. Pritti loves loves loves being on the floor pushing balls around, fliing foot toys, snuggling up to rolls of paper towels, wandering around looking for where I put some new "toys" for him, following me around, snuggling next to a foot.

Maybe you can try some one on one time outside of that room and away from your other birdies. Try toys that are different that what he and the other birdies there have.

Also, see if he likes bathing, perhaps a sprinkle in the sink, or in the shower with you. Although it sounds like it will probably scare him something silly. But you could put him on the edge of a kitchen sink with light water running and see.

Ruffled feathers discussion about music, singing and dancing are great ideas to try.

 

[Wdlodge]

I tried clicker training..He is terrified of the little chopstick.As soon as he sees it in my hand he is not going to take a treat from me.
Im not sure what touch training is but will look it up.Is it the same thing?

Hes had toys in his cage for the last two months and hasnt ventured near them.While he is no longer afraid of them he ignores them.
I feel bad for him.Just sitting around doing nothing all the time.Even when the cage is open he just sits on top the cage or perch and might walk back and forth and squawks alot.He seems to be entertained with the activity around the room but otherwise doesnt do anything.

Like I said, I do realize all animals have different personalities but it drives me nuts because I want him to be happy..

If I were you I would take the bird out of the cage, put him on a stand, the back of a chair anywhere but the cage. Give him a treat. Then I would take the toys out too, and leave only one in there, but not near his favorite perch, in a corner so it doesn't move too much. See what happens. Sometimes too many toys is just too restricting to a new bird. I have a stand that I move to different areas in my living room. I can even move it to the bedroom. I have a boing that hangs from the ceiling fan (attached to the light pull chain, fan isnt on) that I rotate my birds on. So they are either on me, or someone else, or on a stand, or on the boing. They are out of their cages most of the day. On good days I will put them in theor outside cages for some fresh air and sunshine (very important)

 

[Sasha2]

If I were you I would take the bird out of the cage,

This isnt an option.Last time I forceably took him out of the cage he wouldnt even take a treat from me for days.It was like I violated his trust completely.I had to chase him around the cage.He is very very afraid of hands.


Wannabeaparrot..

Is he clipped?

he was clipped when I got him but he can make it across the room.As a rule I dont clip.I just recently had to clip a very hormonal tiel but thats hopefully just temporary.
I know nothing about his previous life except he came from the base housing near Fort Riley.Lots of young people in and out of the house. I dont even truly know if he is 2 yo, I mean I just took her word for it.He does beg to have the door to the cage open but then ,like I said, just comes out and sits or nibbles at his rope perch, goes back in on his own.
He does have a real branch in his cage he has shredded part of but it sits right near his favorite spot.I also have one corner of his cage partially covered and thats his favorite spot to hang out in the cage.