How much should I handle my 6 week old sun conure chick ?

[Fire]

Hi Everyone ! I am new to this forum and I have a question to ask you all. I have a 6 week old sun conure baby . He is on hand feed. Whenever he sees me he starts shouting until I go and talk to him. Then he calms down and enjoys being petted. I have had him for 3 weeks now and he is healthy and has had a health examination conducted by an avian vet which confirmed that he is a healthy bird. I am thinking of naming it mango.

I want to ask how much should i handle him each day other than the hand feeding to make him used to handling and make him a cuddly bird ?

 

[TexDot33]

you are a braver soul than I, I would never attempt to hand feed ... too many dangers (crop burn and aspiration into the lung to name a few ... ) ... that aside let see if we can answer the question that was actually asked here ...

Well, I would say handle him all you want ... but understand that it will also be on you to train him to play with toys and entertain himself when you aren't around ... already sounds like he has you trained to pick him up when asked (I understand though, it's so hard not to when they are so cute ... ) ... probably want to try and break that habit, or you just might have a screamer on your hands ...

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I'd second everything Tex said. Just thought I'd pop in a comment on the name "Mango"...

It's a GREAT name for a sun conure... apparently ... because over half the sun conures I've heard of have been named Mango :11:

Don't mean to discourage you though. Just couldn't help myself. Mango for a sun conure is like Bailey for a dog. I used to work at a pet shop for a while and I remember one day there were two bailey's in my training class that day, then over at the vet there were THREE Baileys, and another dog who's last name was Bailey... I thought I was loosing it - but I went out into the store and met a family with a brand new puppy. I asked what they were naming him, and their response will forever be burned into my mind "We really wanted something original, you know not a dog name. So we decided to name her Bailey." I had to walk away before I burst out in a mix of laughs and tears.

Long pointless stories aside, welcome to the forum )

 

[Fire]

Hey thanks tex and auggie's dad for your replies.

Hey Tex I had to take him in for hand feeding as one of my friends bought the baby from a pet store and after keeping him for a few days he realized he cannot take care of him. So I thought I should adopt this baby as I have some experience in hand raising baby birds as I have successfully hand raised few indian ringneck parrots.

I think both of you are right. I should handle him in a way that he does not become too dependent on me . I guess 1 hour each day would be fine. What do you think ?

As far as the name mango is concerned I think you are right. Its way too common for sun conures . Please suggest me some other cute names for my sun conure baby.

Thanks.

 

[Fire]

Also Please tell me how can I break this screaming habit because whenever I put him in the basket where I feed him, he starts shouting like anything because he knows that food is coming. To stop this I place him in the basket when the food is ready and when I am ready to feed . Previously I used to place him in the basket before the food was ready.

I have kept his brooder in a quiet room but whenever he even hears my voice or any other human voice, he starts shouting from his brooder and we can hear it outside the room. Sometimes it really becomes irritating. I consulted the vet and he said that there are no health problems , its just the baby's nature.

Please Please Suggest me ways of stopping this habit.

Thanks.

 

[TexDot33]

.. Hey Tex I had to take him in for hand feeding as one of my friends bought the baby from a pet store and after keeping him for a few days he realized he cannot take care of him. So I thought I should adopt this baby as I have some experience in hand raising baby birds as I have successfully hand raised few indian ringneck parrots.

WHAT F***ING STORE IS SELLING 3-WEEK OLD BABY SUN CONURES UNWEANED??! :smile010:

*** on second thought, don't tell me ...***

This makes me very mad, and sad at the same time ... sunny's don't usually wean until 8-12 weeks old and then should be monitored for like 2 weeks once they start solid food to make sure they are keeping on the weight ...

 

[Jez]

I'd second everything Tex said. Just thought I'd pop in a comment on the name "Mango"...

It's a GREAT name for a sun conure... apparently ... because over half the sun conures I've heard of have been named Mango :11:

Don't mean to discourage you though. Just couldn't help myself. Mango for a sun conure is like Bailey for a dog. I used to work at a pet shop for a while and I remember one day there were two bailey's in my training class that day, then over at the vet there were THREE Baileys, and another dog who's last name was Bailey... I thought I was loosing it - but I went out into the store and met a family with a brand new puppy. I asked what they were naming him, and their response will forever be burned into my mind "We really wanted something original, you know not a dog name. So we decided to name her Bailey." I had to walk away before I burst out in a mix of laughs and tears.

Long pointless stories aside, welcome to the forum )

Hahaha!
If I get a Sun Conure, I was actually considering the name mango...

"Long pointless stories aside" Oh no, dont remind me of my English teacher who went on about the word "translucent" for 1 1/2 periods! Along with the everyday stories including the word shes exaplaining... which go on for periods...
I have to say though, long and pointless stories ARE interesting, so keep em up!

"WHAT F***ING STORE IS SELLING 3-WEEK OLD BABY SUN CONURES UNWEANED??! :smile010:"

Yeah, really.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I hope I don't discourage anyone from the name. There's nothing at all wrong with having a common name - many of us here have common names for humans and it doesn't bother us in the slightest.

In fact this modern trend of naming human children by some absurd verbal concoction for the sole purpose of being "unique" is just ridiculous. We now have human children running around with names like G-Shizzle not as a chosen 'hip hop name' but as their legal name on their birth certificate. ... of all the parents who need to get kicked in the head ....

Anyhow - if you are looking for other names the old standby is "just name him the first thing that comes to mind when you look at him." This apparently leads many sun conures to the name Mango ... a bit disturbing if you think about it, the owners first thoughts upon seeing their new family member was, at some level "This looks like something I could eat." Another strategy is to name them after someone or something significant. Auggie draws his name from two great individuals - the first is Augustine of Hippo (Saint Augustine to the catholics, though I've never been for the sainthood thing, the guy was pretty smart); the other holder of the name is the golden retriever who holds the world record for holding the most tennis balls in his mouth at one time: Fantastic Pets - Most Tennis Balls Held in the Mouth - Dog

I've also decided if I ever get finches the first one will be named Darwin. I've always been interested in Gouldian finches and I'd name one of those Steve (That reference may be lost on a wider audience - hopefully if you put it in the context of me being an evolutionary biologist the reference will become more obvious.) If I get a chicken as a pet (Gallus gallus) I would name it Gallileo. Following the trend, if I ever kept Carpenter Bees I might have to name the first offspring Jesus (Carpenter bees can reproduce by parthenogenesis - son of a carpenter, virgin birth, etc). I'm not much of a fan of bees though.

 

[Jez]

In fact this modern trend of naming human children by some absurd verbal concoction for the sole purpose of being "unique" is just ridiculous. We now have human children running around with names like G-Shizzle not as a chosen 'hip hop name' but as their legal name on their birth certificate. ... of all the parents who need to get kicked in the head ....

This apparently leads many sun conures to the name Mango ... a bit disturbing if you think about it, the owners first thoughts upon seeing their new family member was, at some level "This looks like something I could eat."

Hahaha!!! I enjoy your posts so much! They all bring a smile and a laugh.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Always glad to bring laughs and smiles. Well, not always - but when it's intentional )

 

[Auggie's Dad]

We seem to have derailed this thread though.... and Fire had asked some questions. Lets see if we can get back to them:

I also think selling a three week old is absurd, but of course this is the stores fault, not anyone's here, so we can try to make the best of it.

Depending on your level of experience in raising baby birds I'd highly encourage you are in close contact with the vet about feeding and weaning.

As far as vocalizations, your plan of only bringing him to the feeding area once the food is ready is just the right thing to do there. If they scream in anticipation of something good you want to make sure they don't anticipate so they don't scream, so they don't get rewarded for screaming.

The same principle applies to the other situation, though putting it in practice is a bit more challenging. He makes noise when he hears you in the house; this is most likely because he hears you coming before you ever go in the room to give him attention. So when he hears you he thinks he's about to get attention - he gets excited - he screams - and often enough attention follows this screaming. There are a couple ways of breaking this cycle, and I'd recommend doing a little of both.

First, similar to feeding, try to make sure he cannot anticipate when you are coming to give him attention. This may be hard to do - essentially sneak up on his room while he is quiet, then go in and give good attention and perhaps treats (if appropriate for his age.)

The second thing is physically easier, but takes patience: be sure you are not responding when he does make a lot of noise. Don't go in to quiet him down, don't scold, nothing.

Third ... okay I lied, there are more than two things you can do ... third, you cant teach him an appropriate way to get attention. Instead of screaming get him to mimic a more pleasant sound, singing/whistling for example. Get him to make this sound before you go in the room. If he screams you just wait, or perhaps give the whistle sound yourself then wait, if/when he whistles properly go in right away (before he has time to go back to screaming.)

-------------

All that said, there is one more thing which can also be an answer to how long you should spend with him each day. Baby birds need even more sleep than adults, but you can definitely spend more than an hour a day with him. If you are ever sitting around watching a movie or reading he should be able to be out with you - though those with more baby bird experience may overrule me on this but presently I know of no reason why he should not be with you at such times.

You want him to get used to alone time so he isn't to 'needy' but you do also want to spend a good amount of time to get him socialized. It's a fine balance.

 

[Fire]

Hi everyone !
Sorry was busy so could not reply. I discussed this name thingy with my friends and we decided to call him Tango ..lol.. Its close to mango (since I had already started calling him that ) and still not mango .. hehe..

To Auggie's Dad :
Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I know that the pet shop did the wrong thing and I was so angry at my friend when he told me he bought such a young baby parrot. I heard that pet shop has closed down because it was operating illegally but I am not sure.
Well yes I am in touch with the vet and take him for a check up every week just to make sure I am doing fine.

I really like your idea to teach him to whistle or something to get attention but I think he is too young for that. He is just 7 weeks now but still I will try to teach him some good sounds so he catches it at an early age.
I am already doing the second thing you told. I ignore whenever he starts shouting and do not respond to him. I only go to him when he is sitting quietly and feed him when he is not expecting it. But as soon as he sees the syringe in my hand he knows its feeding time and starts jumping here and there in the brooder ..( He is a funny little character...lol).

These things have really helped and his shouting has reduced by almost 50 %. Now he only shouts when he sees the syringe in my hand.

Otherwise he is very cuddly and whenever I take him out, He tries to climb on my shirt and sleep under my hand. I hope he turns out to be a beautiful and healthy loving bird.

 

[JoanneC]

I wanted to name what was hoped to be my male eclectus Otis! I also like Lucy, Suzi, Tori, and of course the name I picked out - Georgia! I picked it because she is red (females are red) and I am a HUGE UGA fan and from Georgia! BUT I was trying to choose between Agnes and Georgia. Agnes was after my grandmother and since they live forever I liked the idea of naming her something sentimental. I ended up asking people at work. Someone suggested Augi since she came from St. Augustine, FL. SO my suggestion is pick a couple unique names - fond people that may have passed in your life, things you love (like me UGA), and just names that come to your head. Get feedback from others and then if you have to like me - put them in a hat and choose one! The right one will come!