Terrified conure

[Jelias93]

Hi guys I have a new conure and I made the mistake of buying one that was maybe mistreated. When I showed up at the breeders home to pick my conure they were packed 6 tight into maybe a 2 foot by 2 foot cage. And she transported them by throwing a towel on them and shoving them into a cage.
My little conure is terrified of hands. I can get my face much closer than I can get my hands. I'm just wondering how long it will take before they start warming up. It's been four days and there has been a little progress but nothing crazy. She just feels like a wild bird at the stage. Won't even try to get food near my hand either.
How should I approach this?

 

[GaleriaGila]

BLESS YOU for rescuing this darling!
For now... time.. space... quiet... quiet love...
Glad you found us. STICK WITH US.
We'll stick with you!
4 days --- that's a second in parrot-time!
It's gonna be good. I have a good feeling about you...

 

[BeatriceC]

Put yourself in the little bird's position. You've been packed into a cage with a whole bunch of your own kind, treated roughly, possibly even mistreated, by the giant featherless thing, and then you're suddenly shoved into a travel cage, picked up by another giant featherless thing, and taken to an entirely new place. Wouldn't you be scared? I sure would be.

Birds require patience. It can take weeks, months, and even years to build the trust required for a bird to bond with you. Four days is not a long time at all. Give him some time to get used to you. Don't just try to get him to step up. Get him to associate human hands with good things. Bring him treats. At first, just drop them into his bowl then slowly try to get him to take them from you. Only after he's no longer afraid of hand should you try to get him to step up.

Once he trusts you that much, then the rest usually goes a bit faster, but gaining that trust could take a very long time. It's worth it though. I can't describe the joy I get when my macaw snuggles with hubby. When we first got her, we had to use protective gear to even get close enough to feed her. Every moment of frustration just melts away when I see it.

 

[Jelias93]

This is exactly what I want to happen lol. I was just making sure that there's nothing else I can be doing as well.

 

[jessphoenix]

Hello!

My sun conure was terrified of me when I first got him. He did not want anything to do with my hands! I let him be for a week but sat talking to him outside the cage. After a week, I began feeding him treats through the cage and then slowly started putting my hand in the cage with a treat. After about 2 weeks, he would come out willingly and started stepping up. Now, he does not want to be away from me!

Just remember, it takes some time and go slow. Do not rush it! I found when i tried to push my bird to come to me, it would only scare him!

He will come around!

good luck!

 

[JBassset]

Like Beatrice said, the love they display makes it worth while.

Your little one is scared to death right now. Everything and everyone is going to kill it! It knows!

Best advice I got: leave it alone. Let him settle into your house in his own room. When you are there, be kind, gentle and soothing. Just talk to him. As time goes in you won't be scary. You can spend more time with him. Then you'll be the food monkey. Then you'll be the gentle hands. Then you'll be the nice monkey. Then you'll be mom or dad.

Then you'll have a bird that won't leave you alone! Just be patient and gentle and it'll happen. And ask these smarty pants people every question you have. They can really save you some serious heartache if you listen!

 

[Jelias93]

Thank you guys for the replies!