New Parrot Owner

[SnipersMom]

Glad to have found this forum.
I am a new Parrot owner having just purchased a Sun Conure. He is a year old and his name is Sniper. I have no idea how to train him and have read a lot of stuff on the internet and just need to know where to start. He is terrified if you put your hand in the cage but is ok for you to sit close to the cage and talk to him. I have tried the "stepping up" and he just flies everywhere and is very hard to calm down. I was told and have read this is the first thing that they need to learn. But when they do things then they are to be rewarded, he won't take anything out of my hand. I really need some advice on how to start the training that he needs I would really like to become his friend. Any help anyone can give me is very welcome.

Thank you,
Sniper's Mom

 

[Robin]

Our new conure took 4 days to step up. There cage is their domain. We left the door open and he'd go on the roof. We'd put our shoulder close and he'd step up, use commands. We had Papaya treats and we introduced in the jar. When you shake the jar and teach them it's 'cookies' they get excited. Brax stepped up yesterday and today it is natural. He just flew over to me so he's come a long way in 4 days. Good luck.

 

[Dopey]

Welcome to the forum.
Patience is what is needed. Let the bird tell you when he is ready and he will.

 

[66corvair]

It can be frustrating when you first get a bird. All you want to do is play with them and cuddle and take pictures! But birds need time to decompress. They can be very nervous and react poorly to changes.

I met my GCC in the pet store and he was able to step up and hang out with me and the employee. Once we got him home it was four days before he would step up again and about a week after that before he really calmed down. You just need to let your sun chill out for awhile. Talk to him, give him treats and let him relax and understand he's home.

 

[SnipersMom]

Did you guys use the clicker? Do they have to be out of the cage before they will learn to eat a treat out of you hand and if/when he does get out will he fly off or stay on the perch on top of his cage?

 

[Dopey]

Mine took treats from me through the cage bars first.

 

[Ann333]

First things first, youre scaring the bird. I know you dont mean to, but thats whats happening when they go into a flapping frenzy like that.

Start by slowly place your hand inside the cage door. Do not move toward your bird just stay still, calm, and away from Sniper. Once he is comfortable with your hand being inside his "safe zone" (this could take a few days, maybe a week) then try to get a few inches closer to him and stop.

Hold you hand there (just a tad closer) for about 30 minutes at a time every day for a few days until hes comfortable with that. Slowly(days and days) work your way closer and closer to him.

When he finally allows you close to him, dont try to touch him, instead hold out a favorite treat ( this treat should be something he already knows and LOVES and not be offered freely in the cage, it is special because the only way he gets his favorite treat is by taking it from your hand. Hold it a few inches away and wait about 30 minutes. Do this a few times per day for however many days it takes for him to COME TO YOU and taste what youre offering.

Once he does come to you and eat from your hand reliably and fearlessly, then you can hold the treat a little further from the perch so he needs to step onto your hand to reach his treat. Again, continue this until hes comfortable with it. Each time he steps up say "step up" so he begins to form an association between the action and the phrase.

Soon enough he will be stepping up no problem inside the cage and then you can slowly start moving your hand, with him on it, outside the cage. He will fly off at first, this is normal, but with patience and persistance and positive reinforcement, you will soon have a hand tame bird who thinks of your hand as a source of happiness.

Hope this helps. More experienced members, please correct me if anything i said was a bad idea. This is what worked for me and my moms budgie.

 

[SnipersMom]

Ok, Anna333, I will try that. But if he flies off how will I ever get him back? Without chasing him around the house? That should really scare him.

 

[Ann333]

Well thats a good question. Thats why i found it easier to earn the birds trust while inside the cage and get him reliably stepping up inside the cage before ever bringing him out of it. But just because a bird is stepping up does not mean it completely trusts you yet and there is of course always a chance he will get spooked and fly off and that means your best bet is to probably wait until hes hungry and either goes back on his own, or calms down enough to step onto your hand to get the food treat.

EDIT: You dont want to chase him and just grab him, this is not a positive interaction and can damage the small amount of trust you will have been working so hard for. The only reason to do this is if your bird lands somewhere that put him in danger, like next to a dog that can not be trusted, or on a stove top of something....


My birds wings are clipped so i dont have this problem, he can glide to the floor and only makes it about 10 feet or so. Its been really helpful to me being a new bird mom that his wings are clipped, but thats a controversial topic and will get alot of conflicting opinions. You will have to make up your own mind on whats best for you and your birds.

 

[SnipersMom]

So I have ordered a clicker will that help? Sorry to bombard you with so many questions but I am really ready to get this moving. Thank you so much Ann333.

 

[Ann333]

No problem at all, thats why we are here, we love birds and want to help other people be able to enjoy their fids as much as we enjoy ours! Unfortunately though i have never used a clicker, i have heard of wonderful results if you want to research it. I just tend to find its awkward for me to try to hold the treat and a clicker and the bird, im just not super coordinated, but thats just me. I use verbal praise when he does something right and then give him a treat. That has been working for me and Pumpkin.

 

[Sheeji]

We are just beginning to clicker train our African grey. I keep the clicker and treats in a little box near by during the session if that helps.
I'm new to all this myself so a lot of it is trial and error.

 

[JamJar]

i found just sitting net to the cage and talking to the parrot or reading a book out loud will chill the parrot out and will help him adjust to you faster

 

[Ronnie517]

Hi! I'm new to this site but not new to birds. I've found to leave them alone the first week, let them find their space & get comfy. Of course, talk gently, move slowly around the cage, do your food & water needs, but, don't interfere to fast with your new bird. Let them find their comfort. THEN, gently, ever so gently, offer a treat, see how close you can get with your hand....back off if you upset your baby. Let your baby get comfortable having you moving around in the cage, gently move, but, have lots of patience & take time for him/her to trust you. It may take days, weeks, months, you are the "stranger"......take the time to become friends. Time n' patience. You'll have a good bird. Never scare your bird! Like a baby, be gentle, always. WELCOME!!!

 

[LeaKP]

Parrots, even the little guys like your sun and my gcc, are extremely intelligent. Your sun is adjusting to a big change in his housing and home. They can be quick or slow to adjust. Your bird will let you know what pace to set. It took a full three months for my gcc to really settle even though he would step up. Now, after nearly a year, he is totally at home. I took him yesterday to get a pedicure (ha nail trim) and he was SO HAPPY when I rescued him from the big bad nail trimming lady. Be patient, your sun will come around andbe a friend for many years.