Need advice re sun conure

[Mmartin]

Hello,
I'm new to the forums and to birds. I got my first hand fed baby sun conure a few months ago. Screech is approx 5 months old now, definitely loves me over my husband and kids and is very gentle. Im having a few issues, not necessarily problems and im just looking for someone with more experience to tell me if its normal conure behavior, something I need to correct, something hell outgrow as he matures, or if he needs more.....something......

The first issue I'm having is he almost constantly is grabbing me with his beak. He doesn't break the skin and hasn't bitten anyone but I'm worried it could be right around the corner. He does this if your petting him and holding him. He tries to nibble freckles which pinches sometimes. I usually tell him no when he nibbles. When he grabs me and holds on, I will disentangle my finger from his beak and grab his beak and firmly tell him no. If he doesn't get it a few minutes later I will put I'm back in his cage.

He's fine on my shoulder. Occasionally will sort of burrow under my hair but I'm ok with that. He won't step up from my shoulder either. He will go "hide" in the middle of my back where I can't really reach him. I either have to grab whatever part of him I can get ahold of or back up to the cage to get him off me.

He also won't step up when he's on the play top portion of his cage. I have no problem getting him to step up onto my hand from in his cage, off the floor, off the couch or off the kids shoulders. I have been reading about the cage height. Maybe since the play top is slightly above my head that's why he won't come to me. I have considered taking the perch off the top and getting him one to sit on a table instead. He will also back up flapping his wings a bunch.

Sorry I've been a little long winded. I'm just not sure if this is stuff he'll outgrow or if I should be doing something different. I appreciate all the help and info. I've already learned so much just by reading the forums here.

Michelle & Screech

 

[friedsoup]

I'll try not to be long winded he is beaking that a baby thing, keep being firm about it and he should out grow it. Shoulder is not a right but a privledge keep his shoulder time to a few minutes at a time (they are much more fun to watch when they are on your hand or sitting on you foot while you sit reclining ) and be sure to play hot Potato (bird) with your family handing off your bird to each other giving him a scratch or a treat so he knows that everyone is a member of his flock and wants to enjoy his company and that he is safe with all of them.

 

[Mudkips]

As friedsoup mentioned, the nibbles are not a huge problem as long as they don't get any harder. If you're lucky he may even get softer as he gets older, but it will depend on how you react when he bites you a bit harder then he means.
If you use the 'ignore' trick in this situation, Screech may loose the ability to tell non painful nibbles from the ones that hurt. Softly grabbing the beak is a good way around it (as you're doing), just make sure you do it instantly when he bites as to not cause confusion.

I can't really help on the cage aggression as I've never had that problem. If he really wants to stay up there, I would let him do what he wants till he gets bored. Then I would come over and offer him something fun to do, or maybe an easy way off with a finger ride.

 

[Mmartin]

Thanks guys for just reaffirming that I'm doing what I should be. He really is a very sweet bird. And not nearly as loud as I'd heard the suns could be. My 6 year old son can come downstairs to watch cartoons early, like 6 or 6:30 and Screech won't make any noise until I come down and he hears me. Then he screeches for a minute until I say hello and give him some breakfast. He loves blueberries, but the skins stain my floor if not wiped up quickly. He also gets to go to work with me. I own a feed/pet store and he has a smaller cage there that he hangs out on. He enjoys the attention from everyone that enters. There's lots of fun things to do at work! I keep expecting him to say "Feed Barn" one day. That's the name of the store and how we answer the phone.

 

[friedsoup]

Hey look into one of those pans that go under the washing machine and put it under the cage it will catch the mess and cleans of with a hose outside.

 

[dishgal1]

I have a sun who is almost 2. Nibbles very gentle (unlike my green cheek) never bites hard. Doesn't like to step up from my shoulder either. Sometimes the same with the top of his cage. I don't make a big issue of it as I feel he doesn't want to be taken away from his favorite spots. Just use a perch or stick or something and he will probably step right on it off your shoulder. He will step up for someone else off my shoulder if I am sitting and they are standing. I doubt he will get rougher mine hasn't . They are pretty mellow compared to green cheeks.