New Green Cheek Conure

[ailourn]

Hello! I recently got a new Green Cheek Conure named Fish about a week ago, and everything has been going pretty well? Its personally my first bird, and i'm a bit scared on how to begin training him to step up or getting used to my hands and such. Do any of you have any advice on stuff that could help me?

 

[Laurasea]

Welcomed to the forum! Congratulations! So exciting! Oh boy do we have advice! We will swamp you with it!!!

I'll get some links, and I hope you click on them and read the articles.

You want your new bird to think all good things happen when you around. This starts with lots of bribes!! For green cheecks those white safflower seeds are a big hit!! You can put a little treat only dish in the cage that is easy for you to drop a seed in. And out one on top of the cage next to all the rope perche's and other stuff you set up there as a play and hang out area for your bird. Go and say hi( name) and out a treat in the dish, repeat lots and lots of times in a day. Or if he will already take them by hand , then give them that way.
Darn I have to run I'll help more later, or everyone else will!!
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

 

[Laurasea]

I'm still getting links for you. I just don't have time to write a bunch of stuff right now. As more people see you are new and see your thread you will get more replies, don't worry! Also when you log in check the active topics threads, you can learn a lot of good stuff, even if it's a different kind of parrot most if the stuff is the same for everyone. Also post in the new members thread and mention your new GCC thread. That way everyone welcomes you and know you are new
This is a great article!! I don't like ckicker training, I still like shaping behavior I just say good Birdie instead if clicking
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

https://www.windycityparrot.com/blog/2010/04/13/flight-important-parrots/#ixzz62HloSvKV

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-to-make-friends-with-parrot.html?m=1

https://www.2ndchance.info/tameparrot.htm

 

[Laurasea]

Giving your thread a bump

 

[noodles123]

Work on building trust--start small but don't push.
Read in the room, narrate your daily routine, etc.
See if he will take food from your hand without hesitating--if not just associate yourself w/ low-stress activities/positive activities (let him see you put it in his bowl).

Question before I say more: Is he getting out of his cage daily?

 

[ailourn]

Yes, he is getting out of his cage daily. There really isn't a time where he is in it except for when i'm at school.

 

[T00tsyd]

You don't say how old he is or if he was hand reared. When I got mine at 14 weeks he was hand reared and had been handled a lot. He had little fear of me fortunately but I still went very gently as he was my first bird in adulthood.

I just chatted to him all the time and gave treats to gain his trust and once I felt he was relaxed about my hands just gave him my hand to step up on saying it as he did. There are times now when I know a piece of perch is better, and there are times he downright refuses - but then he's a tinker at times. I guess the buzz word is SLOW. Not too many things at once and give him time to be really relaxed about something new before you are tempted to move on. It's a long term project after all. Read and read, and ask questions as much as you like. You've made a really good start by the sound of it and this place is an absolute treasure trove of experience and advice. It's the only way my Syd has survived!

 

[SassiBird]

All good info above.
I'm personally a big fan of clicker training. Search YouTube for "Manda and Rio" for some introductory videos. She may call it "touch point training".

** Edit: found some links [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT_9WFWWInk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT_9WFWWInk[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOvzbRGypU&t=340s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOvzbRGypU&t=340s[/ame]

 

[ailourn]

Thank you all so much for the help and advice. Sorry for not specifying but he's about 6 months old, and is hand raised, but not trained.