Sun conure agression

[CarolineRose]

My husband and I just adopted a sun conurr from a loving home that wasn't able to keep him due to another pet showing aggression. When we went to meet him he was great- climbing and cuddling and being handled just fine. Now that he's in our home he is lunging at the cage bars and he's bitten my husband enough to draw blood. We have a green cheek that was perfectly fine with us the first day home, so we've never dealt with this kind of behavior and I'm worried about him getting hurt. Offering treats through the cage works, but he bites them hard, like an attack, and looks like he wishes it was a hand. Has anyone dealt with this?

 

[Flboy]

Afraid an upset over loosing his bond! Track down everything from MonicaMC!
http://www.parrotforums.com/search.php?searchid=951223

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

It is not uncommon for a bird to be uneasy when placed in a new environment. Their natural defenses come into play.

That being said, suns are rather territorial and that territorial aggression is heightened during mating season as well as re-homing. He may have been more gentle in his previous environment because he was used to it and felt secure.

Try reassuring him that he is safe and secure. It could also be that he feels the need to 'mark his territory' given their is another bird in your house that your sun is not familiar with.

My question is, is your sun attacking you or biting hard when he is out of the cage with you or your husband? That would be more of a concern. Cage aggression shouldn't be encouraged but it is also 'their home' so I keep that in mind.

I certainly wouldn't leave a sun conure unsupervised alone, much less with another bird species so IF you do decide to let them 'hang out', be sure they are supervised.

I know I can't let Skittles out with Peaches as he will attack her and she won't defend herself. She's a cockatiel and tiels aren't known for being aggressive. Rather, the opposite.

 

[CarolineRose]

Thanks! He's doing a little better now. We've had him a little over a week and he's coming out of the cage right away when I open the door and flying right to me. The problem is that when he gets to me the first thing he does is duck inside my shirt and refuses to come out! I know he was raised a cuddler , but I thought it would take some time to get to this point. The other issue I'm having is that he's deathly afraid of any human holding a new perch or anything that looks like a stick. His previous family said he was abused by the breeder so I'm wondering if they hit the cages or something, but I've tried just letting theperch sit next next to us on the table or couch to get him used to it and as soon as I pick it up he's sqwaking like crazy. I'm not comfortable trying to teach him to step up on my finger without a perch aid!

 

[Birdman666]

Hmmmm... Something like this?

THAT'S THE CONURE SPOT! Yeah. It's the "preferred place" in the entire household.



Mine went straight from the shoulder to inside the shirt. Every time.