Need help with settling in new GCC

[John410]

Hello all,

I just brought home my newest family member, a 2 1/2 year old GCC. I adopted him from a very nice young girl who just took a job which has her away from home for very long hours and she wanted him to go to a home with more time (us!).

Anyway, I've read a lot about the first week home and many of the things I've read say to leave the bird alone as far as handling and talking to them for the first week or so. The thing is, this bird came straight from the previous owners house to mine with his cage and all his toys right where he expects them to be and a few hours later already seems to be settling in quickly.

I certainly don't want him to be stressed but I also don't want him to be too lonely or cooped up in the cage for a whole week if it's not necessary in this situation. I'm going to let him relax and settle today and tomorrow either way but hes already contact calling me when I leave the room so I am wondering if I should be at least letting him get used to my voice and when it's appropriate to let him play on his jungle gym and do the other things hes used to doing.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Congrats on the new addition!

Personally I don't see a reason to do a week long shut down with a confident and happy bird. My IRN strutted out of his carrier and into my life like he owned it. I had originally planned to let him settle for a few days without interaction, but he settled just fine without my help. If your new friend is already looking forward to time with you, then I'd let him be the deciding factor. But it's important to remember not to reward poor behaviour with attention (undesirable screaming, for example).

 

[Flboy]

Go at his pace, if he wants to play with you starting day one then go for it! My JoJo road on my shoulder for three hours while I assembled his cage when I brought him home!

 

[John410]

Go at his pace, if he wants to play with you starting day one then go for it! My JoJo road on my shoulder for three hours while I assembled his cage when I brought him home!

I might have gone just a little fast for him. I opened the cage and he came right out and went on top just like the previous owner said he likes. I offered him a dried banana which he loves and I could see the excitement but I tried to make him step up for it and he gave me a very hard bite right at the edge of the fingernail that drew blood. I didn't scream out or anything but I placed him back in the cage for now. He might need just a little more time than I thought

 

[Flboy]

Remember, in his mind right now you are the blame for his displacement!

 

[T00tsyd]

There are certain things he's familiar with and feels confident with but personal contact maybe the step too far. Use a perch to move him around so its not so full on and lots and lots of talking and hand fed treats through the bars to encourage him to have a close look at you, without too many changes in your personal look.

I often wear black and one day suddenly donned bright blue and Syd decided he didn't know me at all and disappeared to the back of the cage for quite a while until he was sure it was still me! Nowadays he's at hand while I get dressed so is well clued up from the get go.

 

[Flboy]

There are certain things he's familiar with and feels confident with but personal contact maybe the step too far. Use a perch to move him around so its not so full on and lots and lots of talking and hand fed treats through the bars to encourage him to have a close look at you, without too many changes in your personal look.

I often wear black and one day suddenly donned bright blue and Syd decided he didn't know me at all and disappeared to the back of the cage for quite a while until he was sure it was still me! Nowadays he's at hand while I get dressed so is well clued up from the get go.

All so very true! He is frightened and confused, when you violated his personal space he did not know how to handle it!

 

[Skidood]

My situation is exactly the same as yours (same cage/toys/loving previous owner etc) and I also wasn't sure what to expect. My Coco was out of the cage the next day and generally wont let me out of her sight.... but I can tell she is still getting used to me and wondering what happened, even tho we have occasional lovey dovey moments. A week of leaving the bird alone seems very very excessive to me, but I am not an experienced GCC owner..

 

[John410]

My situation is exactly the same as yours (same cage/toys/loving previous owner etc) and I also wasn't sure what to expect. My Coco was out of the cage the next day and generally wont let me out of her sight.... but I can tell she is still getting used to me and wondering what happened, even tho we have occasional lovey dovey moments. A week of leaving the bird alone seems very very excessive to me, but I am not an experienced GCC owner..

There is such widely varying information online and a lot of the youtube commentators in particular act like their word is gospel so it's been a bit hard for me to pin point down what is good information and what isn't. I guess personal experience will end up being very useful in the end.

 

[Flboy]

There is such widely varying information online and a lot of the youtube commentators in particular act like their word is gospel so it's been a bit hard for me to pin point down what is good information and what isn't. I guess personal experience will end up being very useful in the end.

So true! But! Shutting the guy away for a week is wrong! You go at his pace, and develop a 'relationship'! He already made it clear, No kissing on the first date!
His age is in your favor, you are through the change from cool baby to adulthood! And he appears to understand loving humans as safe! At this point, he has lost everything he knows and is fighting to regain a life!

 

[LordTriggs]

I would say to try to take everything from youtube with a pinch of salt. when I was doing initial research I found myself in the problem of conflicting info, old outdated info and stuff just plain wrong! I even came across one who made a statement then contradicted themselves in one sentence.

They seem to like coming out so let them come out, it's about their confidence above all. you can't really put a blanket time for every bird. Some may want to say hello in minutes, others it may take weeks to do so. Just remember to keep calm and remember that he's most likely frightened and missing his old home

 

[clark_conure]

I'd agree with Flboy, open the door and let him play on top and do what he likes up there till he's used to you. Talk to him often. Offer treats. After a bit he might be calling you over to him so he can play with you.

 

[John410]

I'd agree with Flboy, open the door and let him play on top and do what he likes up there till he's used to you. Talk to him often. Offer treats. After a bit he might be calling you over to him so he can play with you.

That is how we spent yesterday and today. Whats really weird is he keeps flying to me now to perch on my shoulder but it's really unnerving because he keeps biting my hands HARD when I get him to step up. I have 6-7 solid bites on my hand as we speak. I have no problem with him being on the shoulder once we establish some trust but I'm afraid hes going to chomp my ear which could be pretty bad. He readily takes treats and when I ate dinner near him he went NUTS until I shared a bit. Very entertaining few days but the biting is a bit much at the moment.

 

[clark_conure]

heres the good part....he sees you as his owner now or at least he sees himself as your owner now.

When he bites say no and put him on the floor away from you. He will walk or fly back but he will learn that biting is not allowed social behavior...forget the earthquake method and anything you hear about. The "being removed" part gets the message through and he has to think about it for a bit as he comes back. It gives it time to sink in, not just a one second reaction.

Just be consistent, any bite means he goes on the carpet away from his new flock. He will pick it up very quickly. Birds don't put up with other birds biting them, shunning him for a minute till he comes back lets him know even though he is in charge, (and he is), that biting is not allowed.

 

[LordTriggs]

much like clark said. I will add they don't feel comfortable being low down which is another reason that putting on the floor works. I found "earthquaking" to do the opposite of what you want, they will latch on to you to get a grip which you don't want (duh)

I'd advise not letting him on your shoulder for now, the shoulder has to be earned IMO by showing they're trustworthy. Would you let a puppy that isn't toilet trained onto your sofa?

Naturally though be aware beaking should be allowed as that's how he explores the world, you need to set a pressure that is "acceptable" and gets his point across if you do something he is displeased by