new and eager....well at least I am.

[schinsmom]

Hi. I am a new mommy to a very cute green cheek conure. Not sure how old he/she is. I've named "him" Schin. When first brought home he seemed gentle and not a biter. Unfortunately after 3 days of having him, I had to go out of town and leave him with family. Now that I've returned after 3 days, he has become an angry little bird. He will attack if you come near his cage and don't think about trying to put your hand in there. he has learned how to step up in his cage onto a wooden dowel, but he seems to not want to get to know anyone further than that. Any suggestions as to how to get him used to any body parts ;-)

 

[Molcan2]

Welcome to the forum Your new little addition may just need a little bit longer to get adjusted, its a lot of stress on them when they are in a new environment. I'd give him a week or two before asking anything of him and just letting him settle in. Good luck

 

[weco]

Time and patience...you don't mention how old (s)he is, and the initial gentleness is often because your home is a totally new environment a new bird does not know, then you up and leave and though you returned, Schin is upset you you were not there. My work sometimes keeps me away for months at a time & I've had birds that would hold a grudge until I next returned.

I ended up making video & audio tapes for my non-resident bird-keeper to play at different times of the day. I also had a TV & radio set to play for a while, cut off then recycle themselves. One of my nandays happened to be out of the cage when he first heard the audio tape. He walked around the speakers several times, trying to find the source of my voice.

Now, when I return from a long trip, I open the cages & end up with all the birds on me, without squabbling, for an hour or two & everything's OK. Just be patient.

Some birds become cage protective & will come out on a perch, but not fingers or hands...respect their choice, the cage is their house & they may view you sticking your fingers/hand in the same as you would someone walking into your house without knocking or previous warning.

 

[antoinette]

Welcome, great forum, congrat's with your new addiction.　
Great advise from the members above.

Your bird must have time to settle down and adjust. Just imagine how many new things the bird has encountered, in these three days. So many new faces and voices, it must be so scary.
To gain your trust could take days, weeks, months even years. Each and every bird is so different. He obviously feels a comfort zone is his cage.
Sit near the cage, talking and singing to the bird. Let him become familiar with your voice. Leaving the cage door open, offer him treats through the bars at first. When he willingly accepts them, try placing a treat near the open door. Eventually he will starts taking the treats from the door, make no attempt to touch him. When he does come out, he will probably climb around on the cage. Let him explore in his own time. To get him back in, place a treat inside the cage, making sure it's visible.

Step by step, one day at a time

 

[MonicaMc]

Get a treat cup. Put the treat cup either at the front of the cage or on the side. Every time you walk by the cup, put Schin's favorite treat inside the cup (after you figure out what that is - sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, millet, or?).

After a few days of this, try giving Schin the treat by hand through the cage bars.

If he readily accepts this, then move on to giving the treat through the cage door. Once he becomes comfortable taking treats from you, you can then ask him to come to the door of the cage to receive his treat.

Once he's comfortable with this step, you can then put your hand at the cage door (or perhaps just resting on/against it, with it open) and offer a treat with your other hand above the one you want him to step on. Allow him to reach over the 'step' hand to receive the treat. If he's fine with this, have him reach further for the treat. Then reach far enough that he has to put one foot on your hand. Then reach further that he has to put both feet on your hand.


If at any point in time he becomes uncomfortable or backs away, go back a step.



I used the hand at door method with an already tame but biting green cheek, although instead of having her taking the treats from my hands, I actually had her take the treats off the back of my hand and I strategically placed the treats further back onto my arm, so if she wanted the next treat, she had come further out of her cage for it. Her owner couldn't get her out of the cage without biting and couldn't handle her without her biting. In one session/day (first time meeting this bird), I was able to get this green cheek out of the cage without biting and even had her up on my shoulder and got her to step down without biting. I worked with her in a manner that she was willing, if hesitant about.