tlouiselle
New member
Hi,
I am hoping that I can get advice for my new black capped conure. I have only had him for 4 days now so he is still adjusting and doing WONDERFULLY. He was hand fed but had not been handled in a while. (Prior to bringing him home) I talked to him for a few minutes and he jumped right on my hand and was obsessed with giving kisses.
He is new and I would like to avoid as many mistakes as possible on my end for him. I do not want to do too much at the moment because he is new. He plays on his cage all day (I work from home so he can be out all day). When I shower he sits on a towel over the shower bar and sings with me. Every hour I hold him and kiss him. I want to make each short experience a positive one for him.
I have read that black capped conures can be shy...here are my questions that I am not sure about
1. He runs to the edge of his cage to me for a treat, to drink out of my glass, or give kisses. When I pick him up I am very cheerful and slow. He is skittish and trys to avoid my hands (only when he is on his cage). Once he has no place to run he steps right up with the "step up" command. He gets kisses, treats, and praise from stepping up.
Do I force him to step up onto my hand or wait for him to come around and step up willingly??? I don't want to frighten him.
2. THIS IS ONE THAT I REALLY NEED HELP WITH He is still young and exploring everything with his beak and tongue. He was chewing fingernails and I tell a firm "no" and move my hand around a little to distract him but not scare him and he stops. When he gives kisses he slightly moves his beak and is very gentle, HOWEVER, if my lips stay still for too long, or I kiss him for too long he will increase his beak pressure and latch on firmly (for this reason I keep them short and sweet. Each time I pull away he stratches up to follow my mouth for more). He does this with my ear too. He was on my shoulder today preening my hair then "kissed" my ear right before firmly clamping down and would NOT let go. (my ear is swollen, red, and has broken skin at the moment). When he latched on I calmly said a firm "no" and jiggled my shoulder to set him off balance (no response), I then put my fingers on each side of his beak to try to get him to release (no response)...I actually think this make him clamp on harder. Luckily my boyfriend was home and he was able to lightly blow on him to get him to let go (otherwise I think I would be sporting a fashionable and paingul feathered earring).
He is not afraid when he does this (so he is not biting out of fear), nor is he aggressive. It is simply a little beak exploring that has gone too far. He doesn't know he is hurting (thats what I THINK is happening...haha but who knows).
How can I teach him his limits without scaring him?
I have a small bit of experience with birds, I had a parrotlet that I finished hand raising and potty trained. She rode in my hair or pocket with me everywhere. I hope I can get this boy to warm up to me as much as she did...but he is a little older so I hope it's not too late. I was given another frightened parrotlet who was not in a good situation and he was a cuddly baby after a little love and patience...this new guy seems a little more timid than my parrotlets that I had.
Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated...I am sorry for writing a book on this topic
I am hoping that I can get advice for my new black capped conure. I have only had him for 4 days now so he is still adjusting and doing WONDERFULLY. He was hand fed but had not been handled in a while. (Prior to bringing him home) I talked to him for a few minutes and he jumped right on my hand and was obsessed with giving kisses.
He is new and I would like to avoid as many mistakes as possible on my end for him. I do not want to do too much at the moment because he is new. He plays on his cage all day (I work from home so he can be out all day). When I shower he sits on a towel over the shower bar and sings with me. Every hour I hold him and kiss him. I want to make each short experience a positive one for him.
I have read that black capped conures can be shy...here are my questions that I am not sure about
1. He runs to the edge of his cage to me for a treat, to drink out of my glass, or give kisses. When I pick him up I am very cheerful and slow. He is skittish and trys to avoid my hands (only when he is on his cage). Once he has no place to run he steps right up with the "step up" command. He gets kisses, treats, and praise from stepping up.
Do I force him to step up onto my hand or wait for him to come around and step up willingly??? I don't want to frighten him.
2. THIS IS ONE THAT I REALLY NEED HELP WITH
He is still young and exploring everything with his beak and tongue. He was chewing fingernails and I tell a firm "no" and move my hand around a little to distract him but not scare him and he stops. When he gives kisses he slightly moves his beak and is very gentle, HOWEVER, if my lips stay still for too long, or I kiss him for too long he will increase his beak pressure and latch on firmly (for this reason I keep them short and sweet. Each time I pull away he stratches up to follow my mouth for more). He does this with my ear too. He was on my shoulder today preening my hair then "kissed" my ear right before firmly clamping down and would NOT let go. (my ear is swollen, red, and has broken skin at the moment). When he latched on I calmly said a firm "no" and jiggled my shoulder to set him off balance (no response), I then put my fingers on each side of his beak to try to get him to release (no response)...I actually think this make him clamp on harder. Luckily my boyfriend was home and he was able to lightly blow on him to get him to let go (otherwise I think I would be sporting a fashionable and paingul feathered earring).He is not afraid when he does this (so he is not biting out of fear), nor is he aggressive. It is simply a little beak exploring that has gone too far. He doesn't know he is hurting (thats what I THINK is happening...haha but who knows).
How can I teach him his limits without scaring him?
I have a small bit of experience with birds, I had a parrotlet that I finished hand raising and potty trained. She rode in my hair or pocket with me everywhere. I hope I can get this boy to warm up to me as much as she did...but he is a little older so I hope it's not too late. I was given another frightened parrotlet who was not in a good situation and he was a cuddly baby after a little love and patience...this new guy seems a little more timid than my parrotlets that I had.
Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated...I am sorry for writing a book on this topic
