Hello, new conure owner in need of advice.

[melinda]

Sounds like you are doing well. Biteing is not something you want to let him get away with. Just keep in mind they are beaky birds Screams and nips. Offer him something to keep his beak off you. Mine loves cardboard. I give his one the size of my thumb to chew on and he is a very happy bird. Offer him different things to see what he likes best

 

[theocnoob]

That's a very good idea also. It's always good to keep your birds occupied all the time anyways as they seem to bore so easily . Just remember if he bites to injure never let it slide. Say ouch!!!!!! loudly, put him on the floor. After a while pick him up and gently touch his beak and say 'nice nice' or whatever. It could be 'toaster toaster'. Point is for him to associate BITE BAD, WILL END UP ON FLOOR, LATER BE ASKED TO BE NICE

Hope you guys get a loving relationship going
And when you get a chance, make sure somehow to check that the bird is sleeping on one foot and not two. A content bird will only sleep on one foot and it is an important sign.

Another thing, when you say free reign, is this bird fully flighted, and a good flyer? Some birds can do things stright out of the matrix (like my senegal) while others are clumsy and tend to crash, and those should be kept 'medium clipped' so they can gently fly down to the ground but not fly up.

If the bird is out free, supervise, and put away any dangerous soaps, sharps, nails screws for instance, keep him away from electrical cords, and so forth. Common sense.

Say you are cooking in the kitchen and boiling water. The bird should be in another room. Ideally caged. Stuff like that. Keep him safe. He doesn't know things like 'hot' and 'electrical' and 'sharp', 'poison' and so on exist and could injure himself.
You'll enjoy a parrot. Sounds like you want the responsibility and have resolved the neighbor issues. You'll enjoy his milestones like his first wave, his first words, his first time falling asleep on your shoulder, and so on. Best of luck with your friend over the next many years

 

[LatentHippie]

Hello again guys. Winnie is preening herself on my other hand as I write this. She's certainly eating well and has no qualms about taking food from my hand. She is free flighted, but I have "bird proofed" the living room and always close the curtains when she is out. If I have to leave the room I always insist she goes back to her cage and she seems to be getting used to the fact that I will actually return after a short while. (She's just flown back to her cage and is merrily bathing in her water bowl!)

I cover the cage at night and so I haven't noticed wether she sleeps on one foot or two. Certainly on the first couple of days she climbed to the highest point in the cage and slept grabbing onto the bars. (She has been sleeping on a perch since those first couple of days though). She is definitely starting to repeat some phrases. She is clearly trying to say "who's my good girl".

My partner and I have considered everything we can think of and we have made a firm decision to completely rule out a return to the part store and to embrace all that owning a conure brings with it. She is fast becoming a member of the family and she seems to like us. Looking forward to all the fun were going to have together!

 

[melinda]

Congrats on keeping her! The conures are such a fun little bird to have in your life. They will give you plenty of laughs for a life time. Just keep in mind you will go through hard times with her but you always have help a click away.

 

[theocnoob]

Hello again guys. Winnie is preening herself on my other hand as I write this. She's certainly eating well and has no qualms about taking food from my hand. She is free flighted, but I have "bird proofed" the living room and always close the curtains when she is out. If I have to leave the room I always insist she goes back to her cage and she seems to be getting used to the fact that I will actually return after a short while. (She's just flown back to her cage and is merrily bathing in her water bowl!)

I cover the cage at night and so I haven't noticed wether she sleeps on one foot or two. Certainly on the first couple of days she climbed to the highest point in the cage and slept grabbing onto the bars. (She has been sleeping on a perch since those first couple of days though). She is definitely starting to repeat some phrases. She is clearly trying to say "who's my good girl".

My partner and I have considered everything we can think of and we have made a firm decision to completely rule out a return to the part store and to embrace all that owning a conure brings with it. She is fast becoming a member of the family and she seems to like us. Looking forward to all the fun were going to have together!

All these things are good signs. Make sure your house is well lit if/when the bird flies freely and there are no blind corner obstructions (fly around a corner thinking its ok SMACK into the vaccuum, for instance)

It sounds like the bird trusts you. Preening itself on you means it feels comfortable with you and wants to keep itself looking pretty for you. Taking food from you is also a good trust signal. You're getting along well.

You will be great friends I'm sure.


When do we get some photos??

 

[LatentHippie]

I will take more pictures when I can, but for now this is the best one I have. This is Winnie (hope it works)

 

[Lacey]

I am so happy to hear that you will be keeping your baby!! That is great! Congratulations!! I am all too familar on being "mis-guided" in my search for a parrot that would be good for me. I got a U2 with the "mis-guided" impression that he was going to be quite, and reasonably easy. Haha!! I laugh at myself now for believing in one person and not doing my research. I think I would be pulling my hair out at this point had it not been for finding this forum and for Melinda's wonderful advice!

I too had to distinguish between Reno's bites, and even after a year it is hard to interpret his intensions. However, with time, you start to understand different body gestures to help with that. I was astonished to figure out that Reno wasn't all that different then me as in his wants, needs, and etc. He has his bad days as I have mine. If you really look past the feathers, its just like a 4 year old child sitting there. Melinda told me this 2 weeks ago, and I can not express how much that hit home. I live by those words, and in just 2 weeks our bond has changed significantly!

I can not wait to hear you updates and experiances!! You are definitely on the right track!! Best wishes to you and you con!!

 

[theocnoob]

I am so happy to hear that you will be keeping your baby!! That is great! Congratulations!! I am all too familar on being "mis-guided" in my search for a parrot that would be good for me. I got a U2 with the "mis-guided" impression that he was going to be quite, and reasonably easy. Haha!! I laugh at myself now for believing in one person and not doing my research. I think I would be pulling my hair out at this point had it not been for finding this forum and for Melinda's wonderful advice!

I can't believe someone told you a Cockatoo would be quiet. That is perhaps the loudest 'family' of parrots with a few exceptions..

Glad it all worked out though your Cockatoo looks very happy in your picture.

Latenthippie, your conure is SOOO CUTE! Let's get him started right.. what are you feeding him on right how? I'd get him on a top quality pelleted diet and stay on it with things like veggie fruit (some) seed and nut on the side. They can eat a little piece of meat like fish or chicken from time to time. Avoid avocado, chocolate, coffee. Keep really acidic things to a minimum if you can. Premium Foods like Harrisons and Roudybush are easily available mailorder like so http://www.parrotdiseperch.com/parrot/shop_details.php?prod=1087 that's what I did recently. It is on the way..... I was using Zupreem for years but heard about those other brands via the forum and everyone says I ought to use them instead. Remember seeds (fruit seeds ie the seed from a grape orange or especially an apple) are poisonous to birds to the extent that if your small guy were to be eating an apple slice and ingest the seed he may die. Always serve apple (they do like eating applie pieces especially the sweet kinds like the red delicious) seed free. Other fruit as well. Some people have said avoid kiwi I don't know if that one is true.

PS they like toys. In addition to many kinds of perches of several shapes and sizes and angles (they like level ones up high to sleep), he needs toys. They like to shred, inspect, bite, jingle, and generally play with things a toddler would. Picture a 1 1/2 year old being handed a bunch of wooden balls on a sliding string. That's how the bird will play with it. They do enjoy toys. And a cuttle bone and apple sticks to chew will be hugely appreciated. Just stick them through the grates of the cage where he can access them and secure them (ie with string). He'll likely rip the string eventually but all this will give him entertainment.

PPS place toys on the floor beside the cage for 2 to 3 days before placing them in the cage as new objects scare *SOME* birds. Your conure is likely one of them. I've found my gray, rather than fear, runs up to new things and tries to examine this (that is why my camera lens is scratched now hehe). I find small birds do the opposite though so be gradual introducing new objects.

Can we see a photo of his cage?

 

[Lacey]

I am so happy to hear that you will be keeping your baby!! That is great! Congratulations!! I am all too familar on being "mis-guided" in my search for a parrot that would be good for me. I got a U2 with the "mis-guided" impression that he was going to be quite, and reasonably easy. Haha!! I laugh at myself now for believing in one person and not doing my research. I think I would be pulling my hair out at this point had it not been for finding this forum and for Melinda's wonderful advice!

I can't believe someone told you a Cockatoo would be quiet. That is perhaps the loudest 'family' of parrots with a few exceptions..

Glad it all worked out though your Cockatoo looks very happy in your picture.

Thank you! I was and still am determined to make it work. Everytime I get frustrated, I say to myself, Lacey YOU chose him, HE did not choose you! I am very fortunate though as Reno is very good!

 

[theocnoob]

They are absolutely WONDERFUL friendly cuddly birds with a lovely comical personality. It's just loud. God made it that way. It's like asking an orange butterfly to be blue, or asking a green tree to be orange. It wasn't meant to be.

Oh the upshot you have a GORGEOUS parrot and it will make a lovely albeit loud life long friend for you. Cockatoos love to cuddle and be petted more than any other bird I know of

by the way did you know Cockatoos LOVE music? They even dance if they really enjoy it. Try and find music yours likes. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s"]Snowball (TM) - Our Dancing Cockatoo - YouTube[/ame]

Having such a cuddly loving and intelligent bird out weighs the SQUAAAAAAAAK. I think so. Hope your neighbors do too. I really do feel bad that you were lied to like that. Surely the person who sold you your lovely parrot knew they were loud.

I did my research for a long time to make sure I got the quieter of the parrots . I knew I wouldn't be able to take the noise otherwise. Mine are just perfect for me. You ASKED though. That's research. That's why it makes me so upset to read you were lied to. It's HIS fault (seller), not yours. I do love that bird. Gorgeous.

 

[theocnoob]

UPDATE about the food I said I ordered

http://www.parrotdiseperch.com/parro....php?prod=1087

They confirmed my order the 10th (*yesterday). The package arrived just now (11th, 5PM). THAT'S service. Shipping wasn't even that high. I recommend that seller big time.

 

[theocnoob]

Every PM I send you fails . We'll try to Skype tommorow. I get your PMS but when I send back nothing happens theres a firewall somewhere that doesn't want us talking.
But yes can we see your Conure's cage? What's the type of food you're using and how are things otherwise ? Is she still biting? Has she been giving you the one and two wing bird salutes at all?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHH0pWTpBEg"]Senegal Parrot enjoys a small snack - YouTube[/ame]
You have a wonderful relationship like this to look forward to and a stunning bird.
I wish my PMS were getting through to you. If you dont mind downloading steam (its free and you can get free games there too. It's a good thing to have) I am MRSPRINKLES on Steamchat.
Hope things are well with your feathery friend.

Has your parrot done the thing where they hold one wing out and stand on one foot yet? It is a sign of respect. A good sign of progress.