Green cheek conure biting at cage time

[BentleyandNori]

I recently purchased an approximately 2 y.o conure. It is believed to be a male but we’re not sure yet. He was said to have been close to his previous owner and bonded and would ride around on her shoulder. She got rid of him when she got a new bird and they fought. The rescue that took him in didn’t really work with him or take him out of his cage the short time they had him.

After I purchased him he did bite through the cage and seemed fearful, however he was released from his cage after a couple days and was very friendly. However, he will refuse to go back in his cage. If he’s on my hand and sees me heading for the cage he will fly away. If he is sitting on his cage and I try to put him in he will bite aggressively. It takes a very long time to eventually get him back inside. I know it’s only been a week but it’s frustrating to keep getting bit hard after his exercise. Is there anyway to prevent this? Thanks.

 

[LaManuka]

I recently purchased an approximately 2 y.o conure. It is believed to be a male but we’re not sure yet. He was said to have been close to his previous owner and bonded and would ride around on her shoulder. She got rid of him when she got a new bird and they fought. The rescue that took him in didn’t really work with him or take him out of his cage the short time they had him.

After I purchased him he did bite through the cage and seemed fearful, however he was released from his cage after a couple days and was very friendly. However, he will refuse to go back in his cage. If he’s on my hand and sees me heading for the cage he will fly away. If he is sitting on his cage and I try to put him in he will bite aggressively. It takes a very long time to eventually get him back inside. I know it’s only been a week but it’s frustrating to keep getting bit hard after his exercise. Is there anyway to prevent this? Thanks.

Welcome to the forums, @BentleyandNori, and thank you for giving this little one a loving home! At 2 years old he is likely into his first ever phase of over-active hormones, in preparation for what would usually be a breeding season if he had a mate around, so that may be one factor at play here. At this time they can get VERY territorial about their cage, in fact GCCs are fairly notorious for it, and it's surprising how hard they can bite for such a little bird! Is there a particular treat that he really likes? Maybe you can use that as bribery to coax him back into his cage at the end of the day and save your fingers!!

 

[BentleyandNori]

Welcome to the forums, @BentleyandNori, and thank you for giving this little one a loving home! At 2 years old he is likely into his first ever phase of over-active hormones, in preparation for what would usually be a breeding season if he had a mate around, so that may be one factor at play here. At this time they can get VERY territorial about their cage, in fact GCCs are fairly notorious for it, and it's surprising how hard they can bite for such a little bird! Is there a particular treat that he really likes? Maybe you can use that as bribery to coax him back into his cage at the end of the day and save your fingers!!

Hi! So he I’m still learning what is his favorite treat is. It seems to be millet currently as well as blackberry. I was thinking that he was too young for him to be hormonal but I honestly didn’t know. I will continue to try luring him in with treats as that did work one time. Thank you!