New Baby; looking for advice?

[LuzrovRulay]

I just adopted a sweet little Pineapple greencheek conure named Maple from the local Petco. I'd seen here there for a few months, but she was so sweet through the cage, I felt awful no one was adopting here. The employees there told me she was incredibly shy, but she'd hopefully warm up, so I asked if I could see her.

As soon as they opened up the cage, she hobbled over to the edge of her cage and leapt up into my hand. So... long-story short, I had to bring her home.

I found out through her paperwork that she was born 1 April 2017 (so she's a young little lady!)

However... she's the youngest bird I ever remember having, so I was looking for advice on things I *should* do to make sure she grows up happy and healthy (since she's so young now.)

I've never had trouble with birds before, I just wanted to know if there were things I could start now that would help later down the road. I've listed a few things she does frequently below to see if there is anything I should be cautious of, because she's unlike any bird I've ever had.

- She looooves to nibble things (especially my nails specifically.) She never bites very hard, just light little nibbles. I know she can bite hard because she's gotten a good hold of my bracelets a few times, but it's not too hard to get her to let go.

- Usually when I hold her, she loves to press against my stomach or hide under my chin. She seems quite content to just sit there and just press against me. Or, if I rest my hand on my leg, she'll try and push her head under my hand and just leave it there.

- If I ever hold my other bird (Timcanpy, a cockatiel) she makes some noise and will usually do little dances to get my attention. I generally make it a point to say, "Hello, Maple" when she does this, but I don't walk over when holding Timcanpy in the hopes she'll understand it's his turn.

- I've tried teaching her step-up using the standard actions (with the finger sliding down the stomach and pressing against the legs/feet) but she doesn't seem to grasp the concept that I want her on my finger at all. If I try to pick her up gently around the body, she'll grip whatever surface she is on quite tightly. This happens almost anytime I try to move her, but she doesn't usually try to bite when I do this. I've mostly assumed this is just because she's young and still learning, but I'm curious to know if there's another method I could use to teach her.

- She absolutely loves to hang upside down. I know this is common with conures, it just amuses me that she's already at it at such a young age. It's very adorable.

- She'll try to pick up little treats I offer her, but she'll generally end up dropping them immediately, trying to pick them up, then drops them again. I'm not entirely certain she grasps the concept that it's food, given she's never tried to chew it.

- Also my hair. She loves to sit under my ponytail and chew on my hair. I usually try to move her back to my shoulder or lap when she does this, but she'll put up a stubborn fight to try and crawl right back to it.

She's quite the sweet bird and absolutely LOVES being scratched, especially behind the head and on her cheeks (though she seems to like on her sides under the wings too.)

These are the only behaviors I can think of that I've never really seen in my other older birds, so I'm curious what is due to her being only a few months old, and what I should be cautious of. I usually get hand-fed birds (as Maple was) but most of the birds I've had are pretty well-behaved and I've never had to seek out advice.

Wow, I've just realised how long this post got, but I'm hoping someone out there might be able to point me in the right direction to make sure I'm still on the right track.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

It sounds like you two were a perfect match!

Only things I would recommend is making sure she is fed a proper diet. Pellets are a great start. I'd highly recommend avoiding an 'all-seed' diet and reserving seeds solely as a treat, if at all. Feeding her a high quality pellet (I feed Skittles 'Harrisons' pellets but some folks here use Zupreem, though I've never tried that so I can't comment on it). I'd also recommend providing fresh fruits and vegetables (particularly the 'meaty' orange and green fruits/veggies that are high in Vitamin A- ie; papaya, mango, star fruit, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and spinach. These are just a few of the many options.

Of course you probably already know to avoid avocado and onions. Skittles won't eat the fruits I mentioned above so I give him peeled grapes, peeled apples and the inner parts of strawberries. For vegetables, he does like broccoli and sweet potatoes but won't touch carrots.

Aside from that, just make sure she is getting plenty of exercise and gets plenty of undisturbed sleep.

Much of this you probably already know, but really other than what I mentioned, you really only need to make sure she's entertained and properly trained (boundaries and limitations etc).

Make no mistake there is a BIG difference between a cockatiel and a conure. Tiels can be just as affectionate, smart and loyal as a conure but tiels are far less 'bossy'. lol. I had tiels for years and I loved how laid back and low maintenance they were. Conures, are a handful- but totally worth it.

 

[clark_conure]

1) start repeating phrases early and use them in context. I read a lot of stuff about conures not being the best talkers, and in comparison to a macaw or something they probably aren't; but mine has picked up a few phrases and he uses them in context, for instance I love you when it's cuddle time and kissing with a peck noise and "come on" when he wants me to come to him or us both to go somewhere or "come here"

2)tucking his head under my chin is also something clark does,

3) as far as step up try both the whole hand and the finger against his tummy and push back a bit, if he's not at all aggressive she will (basically be forced to) step up and prefer one or the other or both. Also hold a treat/toy out past your hand so she has to step up to get to it.

4) If you look at my avatar picture, if you can hold the bird like that then they basically will let you put them in any position. I call it coning, like an ice cream cone, he'll go sideways upside down, doesn't matter if he feels secure.

5) for treats, eat one....in front of her if she drops it.....birds learn by watching their flock, she may not realize it's food yet.

6) pellet diet of course but don't be afraid to give out treats, and eventually she will probably want to try anything you eat.

7) enjoy scratching her and allopreening (her petting/scratching you)

8) if you want to change the petco name, do it now, don't wait till later.

9) Conures will do anything for attention, including looking like they are in great distress, don't feel you have to give into it if you have to go to work or sleep. But feel free to give into it if it's just too cute.

10) Spend time on the floor, make her walk, get some exercise, see if she will chase you or play tag....even fetch....conures are pretty adept.


Well that's my long post to match yours, hope it helps.

 

[LordTriggs]

biting and screaming will be your big ones which I'm sure you know with your Tiel.

For the biting I like to have it that when they pinch to a point just before it hurts is when you calmly remove them, tell them "no" then put them on the floor pointing away from you. They'll learn that's your limit and that's when the fun ends.

Screaming, essentially if you leave the room and she begins contact calling don't re-enter until she makes a more preferable noise, if you're in the room and she does it only react when an acceptable noise is made

The other things I would try to teach would be self-entertaining, socialising with other people and if you want to take them outside, harness training

 

[LuzrovRulay]

The fortunate thing about Maple is that she's generally a very quiet and well-behaved bird. She has her moments of making noise, but it's never been ridiculously loud. I generally encourage her softer noises, so I hope this helps.

I've also noticed she really loves having the underside of her wings scratched. Usually if I start scratching one side, she immediately raises the other wing and wants the other one rubbed too.

So far, the advice has helped and I've taken measures to sway the harder nibbling and it's all working out well thusfar. So thank you, everyone!

Admittedly, I have tried the eating a treat myself to show her it's food yet, but I'll give that a shot. Didn't think to do it.

All in all though, she's a total sweetheart and just loves to cuddle. Which I'm more than happy to give her since Timcanpy doesn't seem to be much for cuddling, alas (but he is a friendly bird, he just prefers to sit on shoulders and do his own thing rather than have attention on him.)

But really, thank you all~

 

[LordTriggs]

I just noticed you press against her stomach to step-up. IMO this isn't the best way to do it as it forces the action. Try holding a treat just out of her reach where she has to really stretch for it. Hold your finger or perch in front of her like an inch or so and she should step-up willingly. It's much better to get them wanting to do the action instead of forcing it as she'll be more willing later on and less prone to start biting

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just to say welcome to you, Timcanpy and Maple.

You have had good replies to your questions which is pleasing. I am concerned that you described her hobbling, is this still happening or a one off? You don't say how long you have had Maple and also if you have done a precautionary quarantine?

 

[wrench13]

I would just scratch on head and cheeks. As Maple gets older and hits puberty, touching in areas other then head and cheeks and maybe neck, could be taken for mating signals and you do not want to be seen as a mate.

 

[LuzrovRulay]

I mostly just used "hobbling" as a word...? She doesn't limp or anything, and I'm sorry if the wording seemed off. When birds tend to walk on a flatter surface (as she was on the bottom of her cage when we met) and they do that sorta "patta-patta" walk it makes them wiggle a bit? I just described it as hobbling because it sort of reminds me of that. She doesn't walk any differently than the other birds in the house though, I'm sorry for the concern. Though when I received her (at four months old, I've had her since two days before the post) she'd already been examined by the vet and tested negative for any illness. She seems very happy though.

As for the mating issue, I've seen lots of people scratch their birds under the wings (usually larger birds though, parakeets seem a little small for the action.) It seems especially popular with anyone I've seen with a Macaw or parrot of some form. Should I stop this too?

(Would my gender play any part in how she sees me? Right now, she reminds me a lot of a baby bird seeking attention from her mother, but I'll admit, I've never really looked into how bird and human pheromones/hormones interact.)

 

[clark_conure]

1) we all know the walk.....it's not completely coordinated, yeah it's normal.

2) don't worry about scratching him/her anywhere unless you see him/her arch up, tail up and...."present" to you. that's and indication it's sexual...if he/she is just all fuzzy puffed out looking then it's just scratchy.....

if maple does rear his/her tail up; then stop or go back to their head, it means they got excited.

 

[Flboy]

I am a firm believer of high-quality seed as part of a well rounded diet! Sprouted!
I like Abba Seed Soak, Tops Napolian and all in one. Tops also makes an excellent pellet!

 

[LuzrovRulay]

Right now her diet is a mix of seeds and pellets. It was mostly pellets in the petstore, but since the food I had for Timcanpy is seed based (try as I might, he would not touch pellets) I tried mixing the two together and that seemed to work like a charm for both of them. (Though seeing as I don't have the bags anymore since I mixed them together in an air-tight container, I don't remember the brands off the top of my head.

Still, she's a very well-behaved little girl, and I really hope that continues for her. I've never had such a cuddly bird before and she's a delight to hang out with. Timcanpy is a nice companion for when I just want to write a story though; he's very content sleeping on my shoulder or watching the screen.

However, she does chew my hair quite a bit. Seeing as she doesn't pull it out or tug, I don't really mind. It just seems like she's trying to groom me, but should I stop this behavior ahead of time? Or is she just trying to offer me grooming?

Also, when I do pet her, she doesn't expose her tail or anything to me, but she does roll over onto her back. Is this a behavior I should look out for? Or is it akin to my cat who rolls over when she wants her stomach to be rubbed? (When she does roll over, her tail isn't usually toward me, she just rolls over wherever she happens to be sitting.)

I should point out she fluffs the same way she does when I scratch her head when she does this.

 

[LordTriggs]

Right now her diet is a mix of seeds and pellets. It was mostly pellets in the petstore, but since the food I had for Timcanpy is seed based (try as I might, he would not touch pellets) I tried mixing the two together and that seemed to work like a charm for both of them. (Though seeing as I don't have the bags anymore since I mixed them together in an air-tight container, I don't remember the brands off the top of my head.

Still, she's a very well-behaved little girl, and I really hope that continues for her. I've never had such a cuddly bird before and she's a delight to hang out with. Timcanpy is a nice companion for when I just want to write a story though; he's very content sleeping on my shoulder or watching the screen.

However, she does chew my hair quite a bit. Seeing as she doesn't pull it out or tug, I don't really mind. It just seems like she's trying to groom me, but should I stop this behavior ahead of time? Or is she just trying to offer me grooming?

Also, when I do pet her, she doesn't expose her tail or anything to me, but she does roll over onto her back. Is this a behavior I should look out for? Or is it akin to my cat who rolls over when she wants her stomach to be rubbed? (When she does roll over, her tail isn't usually toward me, she just rolls over wherever she happens to be sitting.)

I should point out she fluffs the same way she does when I scratch her head when she does this.

She is 100% grooming them (called preening) it's an amazing sign! You are now officially part of her flock and are her friend.

Touching under the wings can be good or bad. If they get "excited" over it, then it's bad but she seems to like it so I'd say let her pits get a tickle, it's also really good practice if you want to harness train her and bring her outside!

Rolling over is another good sign, it's the ultimate showing of feeling secure and comfortable effectively removing her ability to escape a situation so yes it's good! Be prepared to find her sleeping on the floor of her cage like it, has caused some parronts a real fright.

Fluffing up as always is good, there is an aggressive fluffing up but I found it easy to tell the difference, you can normally feel their intent through their body language

honestly it sounds like you may have hit the holy grail of parrots! A friendly, quiet non-bitey bird. You have any idea how many would kill for a parrot like that!?

 

[LuzrovRulay]

I realised I have failed most horrifically in posting pictures of my adorable little friend.

I had uploaded a few pictures to share her with friends, so I hope it's alright that I shared them here on my photobucket. My apologies for any fuzzy photos; some were taken with the front camera of my phone.

The pink blanket one is a bit of a funny story. I use the blanket at night to cover the two sides of the cage that face my window. The sun comes up early in the summer and it encourages them to sleep past 6am. Or at the very least, to be quiet past 6am. Which is an hour I like to sleep past.

(When it's off, I usually shove it to the back top and outer portion of the cage, as it also discourages any birds from chewing my posters.)

Anyway, the door of the cage was open and I glanced over... to see no Maple. Worried, I called out her name twice and out popped her little head.

So I guess she knows her name well enough.

But really, everyone, thanks for all the wisdom and advice.