SHE'S FINALLY HOME!! But pacing?

[LoveMyConlan]

I finally got to bring my Sun Conure baby, Mouse, home. She's fully weaned and so sweet. She's my shadow at the breeders and loves to snuggle into my chest, prop up a foot and relax. However, I brought her home, placed her in her cage and have been ignoring her as she settles in. She follows me around in the cage. If I walk left in the room she goes left in the cage. She's having a grand old time chewing on her toys, but she also will go down to the bottom of the cage and pace back and forth looking for me for a few moments before going back up top. She did drink and eat a bit and is preening, but her following me and calling me with the pacing is something I'm not used to.

What should I do? Comfort her or leave her be?

 

[ToMang07]

I say figure out what your "schedule" is going to be and get set up in that routine.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Her pacing just means she wants out of her cage. Give her some time to adjust, inside and outside. She may even spend more time outside then inside like my bird, especially when we are home.

 

[BoomBoom]

Awe she's just disoriented and unsure of her new surroundings. It's all so new and scary to her, being away from her first home. Give her some time and lots so calm, soothing talking and movement will ease her mind.

Consider a more secure placement of her cage too (ie. 2 corners against a wall).

 

[Notdumasilook]

Sun Conures for sure have one hell flocking instinct. They want to be with you chewing your shirt or plucking your nosehairs (ouch) or getting sugar or playing tickle my belly. Let that baby out as often a possible. My wife and I cant go "potty" without him on our shoulder or head. We just enjoy being appreciated ).. No don't leave that bird be. Give it lots of quality time with you. Suns like to cuddle up against something also when sleepin at night. Since its not safe for him to sleep on my pillow I hung a washcloth from the top of his cage, draped over the top perch and my Booger manipulates it at nite nite time just right so it drapes across his back and snuggles up prior to being covered for the nite
That flocking instinct is part of of the charm of these lil creatures. Enjoy it!
.

 

[LoveMyConlan]

Thank you everyone for your help! She's settling in well still pacing a bit here and there but not as bad. thank you all again for the advice!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I'd love to see some pictures of your little "Mouse".

If I could just add this - invest in a bunch of white, cotton t-shirts. Get used to wearing them. Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of bullet holes to show off to your friends.

PS, one more thing. A good training technique I use with Skittles is a 'safe sound'. I tap my tongue against the roof of my mouth and it makes a sort of 'tstststststs' sound that Skittles associates with 'safety'. I make that noise whenever I put my hand near him or touch/pet him. He knows by that sound, he won't be hurt. He's just going to get a petting or a preening. Now, when I approach him with my hand, he'll either bow his head down (to get head scratches) or lift his wing and lean to the opposite side (to get wingpit scratches). Just a tip.

 

[Nakiska]

Congratulations! I know how exciting it is to get a new baby!

It never seems to get old either, just Saturday I brought home an Amazon Parrot who's owner passed and she plucked herself pretty badly. Having her puts me back up to 6 birds and I felt like I had just brought home a newborn for the first time! I don't think I slept a wink that night, just listening for every sound coming from the office...where DeRita is settling in.

I know many people will advise you to spend as much time as possible with your new little Mouse, but I agree with the one poster who mentioned to get her on your schedule, what ever that may be.

It's super hard to resist, I know...believe me...I know! BUT I also have a Sun Conure and the flock call screaming is enough to make you crazy if he/she get's so spoiled and doesn't learn to self entertain.

Enrich Mouse's cage with lots of foraging and toys to destroy as well as toys that are indestructible and encourage self play and try to keep your time out and about with Mouse as close to your work/school/social schedule as possible and you will be thankful in the long run when you have a well adjusted little Sun.

And don't be tooo terrible strict with your schedule either, say if every day at 4 p.m. you get Mouse out for exactly 2 hours...yes Mouse will learn that schedule, but what happens if one day something comes up and you can't be home by 4, or you don't have the full 2 hours?

So although I advise to get on a schedule...don't make it so rigid either. The only time that is set for me is my work hours, everything else is very hit or miss in our home.

Sun Conures are AWESOME pets, just don't over spoil and be consistent with your rules and boundaries and you will have a life time of rewards.

Can't wait to see pic's!

Toni

 

[MikeyTN]

What needs to be said is already said. But one of the comments of hanging wash cloth I wouldn't do. Birds have the tendency to chew and shred. I used to keep a towel on one of my bird's cage in the back due to him shooting poo, he's a lory, he shredded the cloth and threads was wrapped around his toes. I had to cut them off his feet. Those threads can easily cut off circulation to his toes and cause the toes to die off which is not a good thing. Needless to say there's no more thread of any kind in or on his cage. Same with those rope toys, I don't use them period.

 

[Notdumasilook]

What needs to be said is already said. But one of the comments of hanging wash cloth I wouldn't do. Birds have the tendency to chew and shred. I used to keep a towel on one of my bird's cage in the back due to him shooting poo, he's a lory, he shredded the cloth and threads was wrapped around his toes. I had to cut them off his feet. Those threads can easily cut off circulation to his toes and cause the toes to die off which is not a good thing. Needless to say there's no more thread of any kind in or on his cage. Same with those rope toys, I don't use them period.

No worries there. My sun "came" with a rope toy he loved.. no chewing. This cloth is a cheap version of one of those cuddle huts, which they could
also chew up. He just snuggles with it at nite time only. For his chewing pleasure I cut some cardboard tubes up and hung them on a leather shoestring... which he really has a ball with when he isn't chewing my shirt ). I guess some birds are different. Trust me when I put this in there I watched how he reacted to it. He treats it like a surrogate mommy, not a chewtoy, and as will all toys, when/if they get frayed by all means take them out of the cage for safety.

 

[LoveMyConlan]

Mouse is a compulsive chewer :/ she had this link toy in her cage she sits there noms on all the time lol. She's not destructive though thank heaven.

 

[Notdumasilook]

lol well be sure and give her plenty to chew AND destroy.. I despise all those toys you buy they cant tear up.