Mixed Messages! URGENT HELP!

[mangotheconure]

Hi everyone, so I have this recently adopted Sun Conure Mango. He was one of my class mates and I asked to take him in because they thought he was to loud. When he came home I saw in his cage there was no toys whatsoever so I instantly ordered them (most likely the reason he is loud). He liked them and made little noise when I left only the occasional yell. After the first day I let him out as he was friendly, he climbed around the cage and enjoyed so, i tried to see if he liked hands and BOOM he bit me. I was a bit surprised so I put him back in his cage. I let him out once more and he flew onto my shoulder without warning and didn't want to get off, it took a bit off work without getting bitten but he got into his cage. Ever since, when we walk into my room he hops onto the front of the cage and shakes his wings while being loud, after we stay in the room for a while he settles and plays and eats. Recently he let me stroke his head through the cage but the 3rd time he nipped at me and when i get my finger near he nips aggressively. I havent let him out with me in the same room since, only him alone. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

 

[noodles123]

You need to build trust and not let him on your shoulder until he is step-up-trained. It's too much of a vulnerable position for you. If you can safely let him out without touching him, that would be ideal at this point...until he trusts your hands more. Associate your hands with things he likes but if he hesitates to take them from you, just put those those in his dishes (don't push it). You don't want to put yourself in situations where you will be bitten because the more a bird bites, the better the get at it and the more likely they are to learn how to use biting as a means of manipulating----it ALWAYS starts as a last resort- to failed communication, but people's reactions can result in a bird learning to bite to make certain things happen.

If you have a play -stand or training perch, that might be an alternative to your shoulder (once used to it)--although, he probably will still try to get on your shoulder since he has before. Trying to touch a bird while it is in its cage is one of the riskier times to attempt contact, as that is their space and they are pretty blocked in/cornered.

Have you let him out when you are standing right there?
If you are standing right there and don't try to touch him, is he still trying to get to you?
It's possible that he flew to you because he wanted to be near you and once he got over there, was scared to go elsewhere in an unfamiliar environment.

If you are getting bitten, you are missing some sort of cue that he is giving you (maybe you are invading his space too fast etc).

How old is he?

 

[Inger]

I’m glad you’ve come here seeking help. Hopefully you can have a wonderful relationship with your new companion.

The most important thing to remember is that building a bond with a bird can take time. You have to work at their pace. He was probably friendly that first day because everything was new and he was terrified. Now he’s reasonably certain you aren’t going to eat him.

If I understand you correctly, you’re letting him out of the cage and then leaving him alone in the room. I appreciate that you’re trying to give him some out of cage time so he can get some exercise, but it can be very dangerous to leave a bird alone since you don’t know what he might be getting into. They have a knack for finding that one thing we missed.

Oh and Suns are known for being loud. You may be able to work with him on this, but some of it you may just have to accept.

This thread has a lot of great information that you may find useful. Please keep coming around and let us know how things progress! Also we love pictures and Suns are gorgeous.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...read.php?t=49144&share_type=t&link_source=app


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mangotheconure]

Im not sure about his age maybe 1-2 years, the first time he took about 20 mins to come to me the next time it was instantly. The room is pretty safe and he doesnt leave his cage unless im in the room with him. The loudness is not an issue and to be honest he isn't that loud of a conure. He trembles his wings to let me know he wants to come out but even when i am opening the cage he nips at my finger quite aggressively. I tell him no he just looks and fluffls with a little noise and then avoids my finger instead. when im in the room with him its fine hell play with toys and eat and whatever but when i leave he will want to come out.

 

[noodles123]

They are flock animals so that makes sense that he wants to be where you are/have you in his sight. You want to make sure that if you leave the room and you know he is going to try to follow you , that you put him back in his cage before you leave (unless you are okay with him following you, and in that case, you will need a designated place for him to go when he gets where you are going (other than you)--at least until he is more trustworthy. Target training/perch training is another thing you should probably work on once trust is pretty established. You do need to teach him to be independent at times, so I wouldn't let him be with you all of the time, but it would be nice if you could get a perch for him to play on sometimes in another room where you spend a lot of time.

He is likely sexually mature, so another important thing is that you do not allow him to hang out in shadowy spaces (boxes, under furniture, tents, hammocks, bedding etc). This can lead to hormonal behavior (which often translates to aggression over time).

Never return to the room if he is doing something annoying like screaming, or you will just teach him that all he has to do is be obnoxious and you will return to him. -If you leave the room and he is quiet for longer than usual, come back in and praise him for being quiet (if screaming when you leave is an issue-- I can't really tell from your post).

^How do you know he wants out when you leave- what behaviors is he exhibiting? That will help people advise you better.

 

[MonicaMc]

I would recommend doing some target training through the cage bars. Once he's good at targeting to any location within the cage, then move to targeting through the open cage door and around the outside of the cage before even attempting to do any training away from the cage.

If he lunges when you go to replace the food and water dishes (which should be done every day), then work on station training.


Biting is often a sign of communication and boredom. It's best to avoid the bites, redirect before a bite occurs and replace. If you do get bitten, get the bird off of you! By "allowing" a bird to bite you, you are only reinforcing their need to bite.

 

[mangotheconure]

They are flock animals so that makes sense that he wants to be where you are/have you in his sight. You want to make sure that if you leave the room and you know he is going to try to follow you , that you put him back in his cage before you leave (unless you are okay with him following you, and in that case, you will need a designated place for him to go when he gets where you are going (other than you)--at least until he is more trustworthy. Target training/perch training is another thing you should probably work on once trust is pretty established. You do need to teach him to be independent at times, so I wouldn't let him be with you all of the time, but it would be nice if you could get a perch for him to play on sometimes in another room where you spend a lot of time.

He is likely sexually mature, so another important thing is that you do not allow him to hang out in shadowy spaces (boxes, under furniture, tents, hammocks, bedding etc). This can lead to hormonal behavior (which often translates to aggression over time).

Never return to the room if he is doing something annoying like screaming, or you will just teach him that all he has to do is be obnoxious and you will return to him. -If you leave the room and he is quiet for longer than usual, come back in and praise him for being quiet (if screaming when you leave is an issue-- I can't really tell from your post).

^How do you know he wants out when you leave- what behaviors is he exhibiting? That will help people advise you better.

yes i ignore when he shouts, thankyou for the info!

 

[mangotheconure]

This was so helpful thankyou!!!!

 

[mangotheconure]

exhibiting? That will help people advise you better.[/QUOTE]

He trembles his wings, I read online that it shows he wants something or is jealous but after about 3-5 mins he'll stop and just sit in the cage while im at my desk playing or working. He plays and grooms and eats but as soon as I eliminate myself more than a meter he does the wing thing and makes small noises not loud or groan type but he does that. I leave and close the door and i dont hear him, when i comeback after a few hours or mins he will shout like a little tweets not aggressive hes fluffed up and then the same chill thing happens. Its gotten better though he's getting more used to me! Thanks for the advice and keep it coming!