Please help. Green cheek conure very mean

[djdancer]

Hi All.
I have a Sunday, Sun and Green cheeck conures. The green cheek is very mean now. She used to be nippy but now just attacks everyone and the other birds. I do target training and she's very good at it among other training that we do with her. She talks, whistles, and just seems like she'd be a good bird until you hold her or she sees one of the other birds. I ordered many training videos from goodbird.com but they didn't show me anything that I haven't trained him. I don't want to get rid of her but if this keeps up she really has to go. It's not fair that I have to rotate birds out all day so that all birds get attention. I take her out and all she does is attack now. He sleeps 12 hours and is on a veggie and pellet diet. I don't know what else I can do with him except leave her in her cage much of the time and that's not how I want her to live. I am devastated because I spend my whole day with them and for a while it's been getting worse and worse and now it's just intolerable.

 

[LeaKP]

How old is your gcc? It may be adolescence in addition to normal hormonal behavior. If the gcc was your first bird, always take him out first and put him away last. You may consider a light clip if he is not clipped to help subdue him and give you a bit more control over the situation.

 

[veimar]

Could she be just hormonal? My sweet gcc also turned very mean in spring as he/she is hitting adolescence. Parry used to be completely cage free, and now I have to cage him because he would fight with my lovebird and try to attack me. He stopped stepping up and just tries to bite my hand instead. He clearly trying to establish the dominance. But he is still getting much better already, so I hope he is gonna be fine by fall.
Maybe you could wait until the end of summer and see if her behavior changes?

 

[Kyoto]

Green cheeks seem to be very moody little birds. I'm sure you are doing everything you can, and the only advice I can give is to have patience and really really reinforce positive behaviours. Best of luck! I know how rough it is, my GCC has been cranky frequently too, and we just have to work on our communication. I found she was using biting to try to tell me things. In your case it could be very well jealousy over your other birds. Hopefully someone else will have better advice for you. Hang in there! It does get better (Kyo has made HUGE progress since her biting started).

 

[djdancer]

I'm not sure without looking at the paperwork but I know she's two maybe going on three. What is adolescence in a bird?
My Jenday passed in January so we adopted the Sunday from a rescue because he's older and we didn't want to see him spend the last few years in a rescue but the green cheek was mean before that and yes, she does hate the Sunday. She hated the Sun before that too though and would always attack her too. The Sun and Green Cheek are both females and the Sunday is a male. I'll try to hang in there but it's so hard watching him sitting in a cage.

BTW, how long do you let your birds out of the cage each day? They all like to be on me and I sooo love all of them but almost feel like I don't have a life anymore. Even when I leave for a time I feel the rubber band pulling me back because I feel bad that they're in the cages.

 

[djdancer]

Hi All, She's going to be 3 this month. If any of you have any suggestions on my last post I am definitely open to them.

 

[kimn818]

BTW, how long do you let your birds out of the cage each day? They all like to be on me and I sooo love all of them but almost feel like I don't have a life anymore. Even when I leave for a time I feel the rubber band pulling me back because I feel bad that they're in the cages.

Loco (my yellow sided conure) is out whenever I'm home. Weekends hes out I would say 12+ hours..... weekdays hes out before I leave for work (about an hour or so) and then 4-5 hours when I get home. Even if I'm not holding him or near him he plays and enjoys the freedom. He is clipped so it makes it easier. I'm actually letting his wings grow since the last groomer he went to did a HORRIBLE job..:11: poor guy hasnt been clipped since NOVEMBER and just recently started to fly/coast over to the parakeet cage.

Anyway, I taught Loco from a very young age (he was 3 months old when I got him) how to play by himself so he wouldn't have attachment issues. Don't get me wrong, he gets a TON of attention, but he is also content to be left alone.

 

[proudbirdmum]

I taught Loco from a very young age (he was 3 months old when I got him) how to play by himself so he wouldn't have attachment issues.

Thats awesome!! How did you teach him that? My other birds have all been pretty self sufficient except for this little one and I'd love to show him how to amuse himself, especially since he's got so many fun bird toys to amuse him.

 

[kimn818]

I taught Loco from a very young age (he was 3 months old when I got him) how to play by himself so he wouldn't have attachment issues.

Thats awesome!! How did you teach him that? My other birds have all been pretty self sufficient except for this little one and I'd love to show him how to amuse himself, especially since he's got so many fun bird toys to amuse him.

He never seemed interested in his toys, so first I taught him how to play. I played with his toys in front of him making a really big deal out of how fun and exciting they were. His curiosity got the best of him.. his favorite toys are these hard plastic cat balls..I strung them on strings and they also make great foot toys. His cage has a top that opens, so if hes not with me in the living room, he just sits on his cage and plays with the toys. Goes down for food, plays some more... then Lord forbid is feathers get out of place with all the playing, he will then look in his mirror and make himself pretty again. lol.