New Pinneaple Green Cheek Conure...not very nice

[lizardboy7101]

Hi everyone I'm new to this forum so before I get started I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Alex and I'm usualy a big reptile person, but before I even started getting into reptiles I impulsively bought a green cheek conure and she's been my baby(and favorite) for 5 years now.

Now the problem. A few days ago I adopted a Pinneaple Green Cheek Conure, but she's not tame at all. I was just wondering if I could get any pointers as to how to tame her down? She's actualy going to be a gift for my gf (don't worry she knows what's coming and I'm making sure she does all her research. lol) and I'm hoping to calm her down at least a little before I give her to her as a present

Thanks
Alex

 

[DustyDusky]

Welcome to the forum.

My best advice to you is "Be Patient". Although it may not seem like it now, your bird will eventually come around. If you can just sit around its cage and talk to him. Let him know that you mean him no harm. Try opening the cage and put your arm in the cage. You dont have to get the bird out, just place your arm there and speak softly. Then try to put your fingure before the bird with the command "step up". Again through out all of this be patient. It will take quite some time but eventually your bird will realize that you wont harm it and will eventually step up. Just work daily with him for a little bit at a time. (maybe at the same time each day?)

 

[Spiritbird]

Dusty gives you good advice. Birds do not usually become comfortable and trusting as quickly as we may want them to.
Try to find out what the bird's fav. treats are and have them in you hand to give the bird. I use very small bits of cheese.

It sounds like you are planning on giving the bird as a gift. This will be another change that will cause stress. Birds have flock mates for life. If the new bird gets used to you I suggest you keep the bird. Not to sound sarcastic but it will be very hard on the new bird to go through 3 changes.

 

[DustyDusky]

I am with SB. If you can try to have your girlfriend come and work with the bird with you. It may make the stress of changing owners a bit easier. and it helps bond the bird with your girlfriend. You should also work with him.

 

[lizardboy7101]

I definately planned on having her come over and help out so the bird would bond more so to her I just wanted to get some advice to give to her and just watch and see how she does with her. Thanks for all the great advice

Thanks
Alex

 

[lizardboy7101]

Ok so I went and picked her up yesterday and she's not bad at all. A lil nippy when you grab her and slightly knows the command step up, but she screams a lot for like a good 10 minuts when you walk out of the room. How do I stop her from doing this, I mean after 10 mins she stops and is usualy pretty quiet, but I'd like to stop it altogether? My gf doesnt mind some noise, but she's being altogether too noisy. Also she "dances" a lot...like bobs her head up and down. What does this mean? And one more questions...when she does bite me what exactly should I do. With Baby I usualy just stuck her in her cage and walked away, but idk if this is what I should be doing with this bird or not.

Thanks everyone,
Alex

 

[Winston1Smith2]

I have a Green Cheek Conure (named Cracker), also, that had a very nasty biting problem. The most effective thing I did to stop the biting problem was not to allow Cracker on my shoulder. For parrots being on the shoulder could be considered a position of dominance. Also, when your parrot bites you, she expects you to pull away. That is a natural reaction to pain and being bitten. Next time she bites you try pushing back against her (gently please). Believe me, your parrot will be shocked by such a reaction, plus you will not be rewarding her biting behavior by pulling away that annoying finger. As to screaming, Cracker never had a screaming problem. He is generally a very quiet bird. I would say the most important thing to do is not to reward behaviors you do not like. If your parrot is screaming and you run and give her attention you have just rewarded her for her screaming behavior. Parrots love attention whether negative or positive. What I would try doing if Cracker started screaming is wait till he stopped screaming and then reward with him with some attention or one of his favorite treats.