New GCC

[allenBIRDGANG]

Just got my first bird and im having some issues that are confusing me and I dont wanna mess up or mess him up...so for the most part hes very social, loves to be held and loves to play.

Problem - when i let him out of his cage i usually let him sit on top of his cage and ill put some toys and food up there and sometimes something to bathe in. Well he wants me to let him ride my shoulders and by letting me know he dances and makes noises, So i'll go get him by extending my finger out and he will crawl on and make his way up my arm to my shoulder. Once there he for some reason loves to bite my ears, well it hurts and i dont love him biting my ears so ill put my finger back up to get him to step off and he goes absolutely nuts and just starts shredding my fingers up.

any tips would be greatly appreciated on how to address this problem

also any tips on gaining his trust more would be great becuase he wont let me pet him at all.

 

[weco]

The ear lobe nibbling is something conures like to do. The temper tantrum is him pushing the envelope...I always just pick a bird up & take it back to its cage when it does something its not supposed to, beginning with a stern NO.....

Any new bird & especially young birds, will test the limits they are allowed, so need limits established & reinforced.....

 

[Grenage]

That's really common; if a bird wants to be on your shoulder (and Conures love to be on your shoulder), he'll see the hand as something that will take him away from you. You know what happens to such evil things? They get murdered!

You can try reinforcing the step up/step down commands with training, but you can't expect a completely obedient creature - Conures take no crap, and they've got attitude (generalisation alert). Regarding the ears, they are always an attractive target for nibbling; I normally tilt my head away, and he gets the message.

He's new, so take it very slowly.

 

[allenBIRDGANG]

so with the stern no and taking him back to his cage should i close him in or just put him on top on his little perch?

the ear nibbling hurts he crunches down. and i would just pick him up but i dont wanna crush him or pull his little legs off cus he just latches on to my shirt when i try the just pick him up method..

 

[allenBIRDGANG]

That's really common; if a bird wants to be on your shoulder (and Conures love to be on your shoulder), he'll see the hand as something that will take him away from you. You know what happens to such evil things? They get murdered!

You can try reinforcing the step up/step down commands with training, but you can't expect a completely obedient creature - Conures take no crap, and they've got attitude (generalisation alert). Regarding the ears, they are always an attractive target for nibbling; I normally tilt my head away, and he gets the message.

He's new, so take it very slowly.

i understand seeing my hand as the enemy, makes sense. def researching and learning as much as i can. thanks for the wisdom.

 

[tokensmom]

I have to do the same when my little guy bites at the ears then my fingers. He gets so mad when i grab him and squeals. But tough luck...they have to know you are in charge so it eventually makes for a better relationship. Sometimes i lock him in his cage...sometimes i just put him on a perch. He always gives me a look too.

 

[allenBIRDGANG]

thanks you all, all of this is a biiiiiiiiig help.

wish me luck guys

 

[weco]

Close him in.....it's a timeout.....

Being flock animals, birds & conures especially, tend to learn from being removed from their flock.....

 

[allenBIRDGANG]

one last question, about how long should i use the timeout/ignore method after bad behavior, and how should I re-approach afterwords?

 

[weco]

5 minutes or so to start & vary as you learn the effects it has.....the key is to correct him or put him in timeout right away, with a stern look & voice.....birds are very body language attuned & pick up on your signs of displeasure.....

 

[allenBIRDGANG]

been working with him for a couple hours now with some of these techniques and i really think he is getting it

thanks you all