New Jenday

[GailC]

I wasn't planning on getting a bird until spring and was leaning towards a CG but this girl just kinda fell in my lap.
She (he) needed a home and I wanted a bird plus I have conure experience sod know what I'm getting into.

She is doing ok so far. A bit stressed out and wanting to bite but that's to be expected. She was very nice when I went to see her.

She is eating well and playing with toys. I know she wants out, she has asked but she doesn't want ME to take her out lol.

Now she needs a new name, some new toys and a new cage relatively soon.

 

[Flboy]

Hi pretty girl!

 

[Flboy]

FYI, nails need a big time trim!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship...

I'm so glad you're sharing!

 

[GailC]

Thanks and yes, I know her nails need trimmed. I tried to do it today but she wasn't letting me. If I can't do it soon, I'll take her in for it. I think her beak is a bit long too.

 

[GailC]

I think this is going to be a bit of a challenge. She eats fruits and veggies but no pellets and the only seed she wants is safflower and sunflower.
Hopefully she won't be too stubborn about switching to a better diet.

She is a bit cranky and giving very mixed signals. She begs to come out or come to me but once I have her on my hand, she starts test nibbling. If I tell her no, she bites harder until I get really stern and loud with NO!

She'll act all sweet in her cage but if I get within biting distance, she will lunge. So far her bites aren't more than a hard chomp, no where near breaking skin but I need to get this stopped before it gets worse.

She also wants on my shoulder which isn't going to happen until I trust her a lot more. Last thing I want is my face or neck bit. At least she knows step up and always complies even if I get a chomp in the process.

 

[MonicaMc]

I'm afraid that if you continue working with her like that, her bites may progressively get worse or even unpredictable.

The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs.


When she's out with you, what could she be doing instead??? Could she... be foraging for food? Playing with foot toys? Learning new behaviors?


Her lunging is her way of trying to communicate with you. It's possible she wants your attention but at the same time she's hesitant about it. You might try changing how you approach her so as to avoid her lunging at you.

 

[LordTriggs]

I would avoid getting loud. For a parrot loud=fun. Try avoiding the triggers that make her bite, so if she bites when you put your hand in the cage, get her slowly acclimatized to your hand going in there, start outside the cage, move in inch by inch until she shows she's displeased with her feathers puffing up, then stop. Once she calms down and goes back to it, then you remove your hand. Much the same as desensitizing to a new toy ETC.

any time she uses her beak in an unacceptable way I'd give the sterm (normal speaking volume) no, then immediately put her on the floor or back of a chair and ignore her for a minute. That way she understands that biting means fun stops and the flock doesn't want to be with her anymore which is not what a parrot wants