Hand reared

[helijohn]

To what extent does a hand reared Conure differ from a parent reared one?

I realise this is a complex issue but I have now had two hand reared birds and have to admit that my best relationships came from parent reared ones. In fact the very best relationship was with a pigeon that had been brought down by a hawk and very nearly died. Unhappily she died a few years later and she was the sweetest bird I have ever had the privilege to be with.
I had a Conure many decades ago and it was as friendly as you could want but it was an adult when I got him from a pet shop and was certainly not hand reared.

 

[LordTriggs]

hand rearing and parent rearing at the early point of life have the difference of being used to humans already. Parent reared start off not really knowing humans that well so they take more time/effort to tame. A Hand reared does know that humans give food so they are more likely to come take food and not run away the instant they see a hand appear. In the long run a parent reared bird (mostly) understands that they are different to us, a hand reared bird can be more likely decide that we may be good baby makers for them.

One thing to remember when thinking of your relationships with birds is they do have different personalities. I've been privy to 2 conures in my time both parent reared from the same breeder with vastly different personalities. Rio my first was awesome, he came to me when I called for him ,loved hanging out with me and playing being a little goofball. Ozzy my second was petrified of everything, would climb in his food bowl and throw his food everywere and was so panicky that he flew into a wall which was his demise.

 

[helijohn]

One thing to remember when thinking of your relationships with birds is they do have different personalities.

I had a Nanday many decades ago and he was truly wonderful albeit very noisy.
It is interesting that you refer to training. I am wondering if the training of a parent reared bird makes for a better bond ultimately. I have been bitten infinitely more times by hand reared.
One day my pigeon opened her wing and pulled my hand towards her and from then on it was a bond.
This sounds like a novice question but as all of my birds have been parent reared bar this GCC and another I am a novice at 'training' a hand reared. For example does the bird bond with the person that reared it?

 

[GaleriaGila]

Good point, LT!

There's ALWAYS the issue of personality!

heli, I have often heard speculation that the hand-fed fids are just so fearless and may therefore be more bite-y.

 

[helijohn]

Good point, LT!

There's ALWAYS the issue of personality!

heli, I have often heard speculation that the hand-fed fids are just so fearless and may therefore be more bite-y.

Yes, this one is very fearless with familiar things and very strong willed.

 

[LordTriggs]

yes I would agree with the thoughts of fearlessness. It's the double edged sword of hand feeding as it stops them being fearful of humans at the start, but then the issue appears that they are fearless of much bigger things and are more prone to using their tools to "Voice their concerns"