Need tips on new sun conure training and conditioning

[Janedeaux]

Got a brand new baby Saturday. She is already spoiled. We love her so much. Paisley is the snuggliest, cuddliest conure. I would like to have all of your tips and tricks of what worked for you to keep the screeching to a minimum, keep them from flying to your shoulder (if this is even possible), I don't mind her on my shoulder but I would like to only allow her there if I put her there myself. This way I can keep her on my hand or a perch if I need to for some reason. She flies right to my shoulder right now wherever she is.
Also, the screeching may have been picked up from Mystic and Gypsy, because they do screech but only at appropriate times. Paisley however has began screeching instead of normal chattering. She will sit on my shoulder, tummy, hand and screech loudly for no reason other than talking. I don't want this to be a habit but am not sure how to keep her from learning this more. I've tried to put her back on her cage when she does this, but not sure if that will work. Other than these two things I'm not asking for anything else specific, just all your tricks to condition Paisley into a lovely well loved, friendly Sun! I really just want her to be well adjusted and create a routine for us that works for her. Thanks in advance.

 

[weco]

Sounds like she's already well adjusted and well on her way to getting you trained just the way she wants.....

Suns scream, it's what they do, but if you start now with something like 'Quite Sound' or 'Quiet Voice' and show your displeasure with disappointed face and/or other body language, along with taking her back to her cage, suns , like other conures quickly read body language & your displeasure.....the same basic principal can be used for the shoulder perching, but unless you are willing to put in the time with learning & teaching her clicker training.....there is a pretty good yahoo group on bird clicker training, as well as videos on you-tube & a couple of published books on the subject.....While I've never had a problem with my birds being on my shoulder, I might think that, without some type of formal training/limitation encouragement, I'm not sure a shoulder-no...shoulder-yes routine would work, but an either-or will.....

Something else you need to know about suns.....they are excellent shirt chewers.....it is just something they do, so having a couple of bird shirts to change into every time you will be interacting with her.....they will ruin a blouse or shirt before yo know it.....

Good luck.....

 

[MonicaMc]

You may want to teach your sun how to station (aka stay put), fly to cage/perch, how to forage, fly to you on command, etc.

 

[Janedeaux]

Oh, I'm definitely ok with her screaming like a normal Sun, I'm only afraid of her somehow learning to scream and scream all day. I will keep doing the quiet voice and taking her to her cage. It does seem to be working. I don't mind her being on my shoulder, I just want her to do other things as well and allow hand holding without running right to my shoulder every time.
I will definitely be trying the fly on command and stay put training. Sounds very handy.