My new Green Cheek "Tori"

[Kokihi]

Hello guys!

I recently got a Green Cheek Conure named "Tori"

He has not been sexed yet, so I will be referring to him as a "He" until I can find a good bird vet to get him sexed. He hatched on 04-20-10, and I got him 08-03-10. Hes a huge fan of bells and strings, and is pretty quiet for a bird.

I am new to birds, and have yet to gain his trust enough to be able to touch him. I've been trying to get him to trust me. So far he will take food that I offer him (Most of the time) and he lets me get pretty close to him without touching him. He likes to lick and nip my fingers when they are near or in the cage. I really don't want to keep him cooped up in the cage for very long, so I was wondering if anyone has any advice for how to get him to trust me more. Also, if you know of any good books or DVDs to help me, please let me know!

 

[Spiritbird]

Suggest the book Parrots for Dummies. It is very good for the basics and beyond. I am not talking about you personally here. I have the book and still refer to it at times.

 

[Kokihi]

Thanks for the suggestion! I know your not referring to my personality, lol. I have a few *subject* for dummies books. ^_^ I'll be sure to pick it up!

 

[_Cass_]

OMIGOSH (He's) SOOO CUTEE!! I love GCC's.. mind my crazinesss..
well you can read Birdtalk parrot magazine, it has loads of info- I think it comes out once a month. You can buy probs get it at your local pet/bird store

 

[Bobby34231]

He/Shes a cutie , I also suggest "Parrots For Dummies" great for the beginer as well as the experienced also a good refence book to go back to for years to come...........

 

[antoinette]

Tori is such a cutie, look at those gorgeous eyes peeping at us
Tori is still so young, needs to "find his feet". Spend time talking and talking, let Tori get used to your voice. It's a good sign, him taking treats from you. The more he begins to trust you, he will come to you, in his own time. Be patient, and preserver, in the long run you will be greatly rewarded.

 

[bogo1]

Agree with all said to date. It looks as if he was trimmed for you yes? Okay. I am going to offer some advice. I have cared for three GCCs over a span of 40 years. All three were shy at first and all became loving and loved family members. That said, no one is an expert on your particular bird but you. So only consider this if it feels right to you.

To support moving from calm interest in fingers to curiosity about you, consider sitting by her cage. Sit on a stool if necessary as you want to be level or below her slightly. Get a good book and settle in but with her cage door open. Every page or so place your hand at the door offering a treat. If she even looks at it calmly tell her (oops, sorry all my birds were gals) tell him he is a good bird. Tone should be calm but clearly pleased. If she ack he approaches give quiet praise. If she takes food from hand give quiet praise. In other words be present with her him LOL no matter what but reward curiosity and touch with words of praise and treats from your low non threatening self. I have found this works even with GCCs with difficult beginnings if you are calm, low to ground and just plain irresistible to your little bird. After a couple sessions when he approaches close enough to explore your hand offer your treat with your far hand so he must step onto the hand by the door. Give the treat. Offer quiet words that clearly praise. If he steps back fine. If not let him explore you while you read. You will sense when he is ready for more. Take it slow but honestly it has never taken me more than a week. If you decide to try this let me know how it goes. Enjoy your GCC.
Barbara

 

[Kokihi]

Thank you all for your advice! I actually picked up "Parrots for Dummies" today at Borders and have been reading it by my beautiful birdie!

I'll try your suggestion, bogo1, thanks a lot!

I'll also let you all know when I find out his/her gender! lol

 

[wildheart]

Tori is just beautiful and I love the name as well!

I just ordered my "parrots for dummies" - its going to take 2 weeks for delivery, so I'll be reading with you!

bogo1 - Your method sounds perfect and so easy, do you mind if I give others this advice in the future - if ever?

I am only used to taming iguanas and that takes up to a YEAR before they start trusting and some never does - based on that experience my advice is definitely heavy.

Birds are such a joy in comparison!

 

[Kokihi]

I have gained so much knowledge from Parrots for dummies! I've only had it for a day! Thank you guys so much for suggesting it! I'm going to try bogo1's suggestion now, since I'm off of work for the day.


_________________________________________
I tried your suggestion for the first time today. I think it was pretty successful. He took the treat from me every time I offered it, and I told him he was a good bird. He discovered that there is a door to the cage, and that the doorway is, in fact, solid. I got chewed on a lot but thats okay. It didn't hurt too bad. He actually reached past the treat to nibble on my finger. He lost interest after a little while, so I gave him the rest of the treat and told him what a good birdie he was, and how happy I was with him. Its been about an hour since I did that. Now he is sitting on his little foraging box (Where he was when I began) making little noises at me. I think he wants more treats lol

 

[bogo1]

You are welcome to use it wildheart but there is no one right way. That method is one I have used for establishing trust with creatures from horses to conures. It capitalizes on the animal's natural curiosity in an oddity that is near but not invading their space. Staying low makes you both non-threatening and irresistible. Even traumatized animals can get enticed to take that first step or hop to get closer. Healthy shy birds like Tori tend to delight to the control and opportunity to set the pace of the interaction. Big piece is voice. Some make error of praising shy bird like you would a cute puppy but quiet tones that express pleasure work best. Let me know how it goes with Tori.

 

[Spiritbird]

It is a one of the bet dummies books out there. I actually read through it 2 times.

 

[bogo1]

Great work. An excellent start. Birds vary in attention span. Okay consider this. Nibbling on you is equivalent to a baby chewing on every thing. It is how the bird explores and shows affection to other birds. But you wouldn't let a toddler chew on a light cord right? Neither should you allow Tori to get in habit of nibbling harder than is reasonable. I like to accompany the words "be gentle " with distraction. For instance I would move my hand away (setting Tori on cage door ) . Saying "be gentle"helps teach Tori just how hard is too hard. Bring hand back and repeat perhaps offering a piece of shredded paper or some other interesting toy. If nibbling is welcomed but harder nibbling is always responded to with 'be gentle ' and a redirect most birds will make sense of it pretty fast. This approach is not appropriate for serious defense or aggression based biting. It is for teaching a bird how to interact with us frail critters that lack beaks and protective feathers!
Barbara

 

[Kokihi]

Thank you for the continued advice Bogo1! I'll try that today!

 

[bogo1]

How is it going with Tori? I was thinking about you two as I am presently starting a CBC for my daughter and am now at the snuggle stage which should be coming soon for you.
Barbara

 

[Kokihi]

He hasn't stepped up yet, and hasn't let me touch him. He let me touch his foot once after I had given him a treat, but that was all. He comes to the door of the cage eagerly when I offer a treat, but won't come out.

I tried your last tip of distracting him when he started to chew on my finger, and it seemed to have worked. He doesn't really bite down so much any more, but just licks my finger with his little birdie tongue and tries to stretch to get the treat. I think he may have figured out that I'm going to give it to him eventually anyway.

Any further advice would be appreciated! Thank you very much for your help so far!

Oh, Hes been taking treats from other members of my family as well. My sister, who he has never seen before was able to give him a treat, as well as my boyfriend.



I've been reading Parrots for Dummies too. Very helpful! I'm about 1/2 way thought the book.

 

[bogo1]

Okay. ..sounds good. Tori sounds like a super bird. Do you want to try something more? If you do you need to discipline yourself just a bit.(It is for a good cause! ) Remove Tori's food bowl tonight after she argh he has settled in to sleep. Set your stool up and set your watch for whatever time Tori tends to wake. In morning get up and put fresh aromatic food in Tori's bowl and sit in your place. Open the door and put your near hand against it and a fraction below.Hold the food bowl so that Tori has to step onto your near hand to reach the bowl in the far hand. This is the discipline part. You must commit to the wait trusting that Tori won't starve if you give it 30 minutes. When she does take the food, be still and let her retreat and return as needed. Let me know how it goes.
Barbara

 

[Kokihi]

I can't really do that till Wednesday when I have the day off cuz I start at 4:00 AM, but I will try it.


Till then, I'll be doing what I've been doing, and OHMYGOSHGUYS!!!!! HE STEPPED UP!!!!! only with one foot, but that is much much much more than he was doing before! He wouldn't even put a foot up to the bottom of the door way before! He only really bit me once this time! I'm so proud of my birdie!!!!!

 

[bogo1]

Great work! This technique takes a bit longer than some but it teaches so much more than some of the short cuts. Whenever Tori step up say whatever cue you will use in future. I use come but most use step up. You two are making progress not only on step up but on trust. It is possible you will get there before your day off.
Barbara

 

[Kokihi]

I don't mind doing it the long way. It will most likely pay off in the end anyway. ^_^

It would be great if I could hold him before Wednesday! Then my only problem would be getting him back in the cage. lol.