New bird. Special needs. Please help.

[Kalel]

Wow! Where did the "original" bird go? That's unbelievable! I can't believe how much a bit of TLC can even heal a foot! Great job! I'm totally blown away and think you did an amazing job with him. He's so luck to have found you I would love to know how you taught him those tricks (sway to oooh, dance to a beat, and kiss with a smooch). How on earth did you teach him to smooch when he kisses! I loved that! Lemon kisses, but only leans in and touches your lips with his beak-no sound effects.

 

[Mariar]

What a huge difference!!!now I miss my sun conure!great job on nacho!!! Very impressed..your little boy just needed the right kind of love...yours.

 

[LaurenB]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! He is such a joy to be around ... except when he's screaming like a banshee to get what he wants lol!

Kalel - I "taught" Nacho his tricks based on behaviors he already exhibited. For the kisses - he already made a kiss/cluck type noise. I started by always repeating after him when he made the noise. After a while, he would make the noise after I did, and I would immediately reward with a treat (piece of walnut - his FAV!) Then we moved on to me putting my lips on his head while I made a kiss noise... after a little bit of that, he would make the kiss noise when I put my lips on him and he would get a reward. Then I moved to kissing his beak while making the kiss noise, and he would do it, too. Always followed by a treat. Then I added the instruction "Gimme a kiss!". He has learned he doesn't get the treat unless his beak touches my lips AND he makes the kiss noise.

It's so funny because sometimes when he knows I have treats in my hand, he will lean in on his own and give me a kiss on the lips and then immediately look for his treat! I'm like you little stinker! I have to ask you first! Also, the one thing he wants in life is to be down my shirt. Sometimes I won't let him go down there until he gives me a kiss. So I suppose there are other rewards besides food haha.

As for the sway - he did this on his own. When he first did it, I said "Ooooooooh! Cool moves!" Every time he would do it, I would go "Oooooooh!" I guess after a while, he associated me going "Ooooooh" with his little sway, and I would reward that behavior.

Same with the dance... he would start to "dance" like that, and I just provided a beat. Then he learned to associate me giving a beat with bobbing - and always a treat!

It sounds like your little guy has most of the kissing trick down. Always make sure you make the kiss noise - the more you make it, the quicker he will be able to pick it up!

Nacho is working on "Pretty wings" now... with the idea being he opens his wing(s) when I ask him too. This one will be difficult because he doesn't like my touching his wings - but he's getting used to it. It's very easy to persuade him to do things/tolerate things if there are treats involved!

 

[Kalel]

LaurenB,

Thanks so much for the tips! I will definitely try out your pointers

 

[faeryphoebe1]

What a beauty! Sun conures are amazing, funny and smart. Thank you for rescuing him.♡♡♡

 

[Kae]

You totally did the right thing! This bird needs your help, those conditions don't sound like the right environment for a parrot. Rescue birdies can be amazing! Please hang in there for him. Kisses and scritches from my guys!

 

[Anansi]

Lauren, I couldn't be happier with how this rescue story has turned out. You've done an amazing job with him, and the love you both share for each other is quite obvious in the last video. (I especially love that one!)

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Please continue with lots of updates.

 

[Scott]

This is one of those success stories that makes me grin from ear to ear! Anybody who rescues a special-needs bird and works tirelessly to establish the closest of bonds deserves the utmost of respect! I hope you and Nacho have decades of love!

 

[Allee]

Lauren, thanks for this wonderful update and the super sweet videos! You and Nacho have made amazing progress. All rescues should be so fortunate.

 

[LaurenB]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I'm so glad I have this forum and all of its wonderful members for advice and support