Took in a lost conure

[YTisRW]

A month or so ago a sun conure flew by our backyard and was friendly enough to let us be with him.
My family doesn't know if it was trained or not but we took it in and got it a cage, food tray and water, and some toys, but for some reason he never uses anything in his cage. Instead, whenever he is in his cage he stays on the walls.
If someone passes by him he climbs the walls to the direction of that person and shakes his wings.
We do let him out but everytime he just flies to our shoulders or somewhere and bites if we touch him. It becomes a hassle just to get him back in the cage.
What does this behavior mean.
Was he mistreated in any way or is this normal for a parrot?
How do I get him to like his cage and use his stuff?

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forum family!

Okay, before we can address any of the questions you have here, I actually have a very important one for you. I think it's wonderful that you took this little lost sun conure in and have provided him with a good home, but I don't see anything in your account to indicate that you tried to find his prior home. If he's tame enough to fly to your shoulders and such, it means he came from a home where he was used to being handled to some degree and where they took the time to properly socialize him.

This being the case, there is potentially a person or family to whom/which he was bonded and from where he has been missing for at least a month, now. They might be frantically looking for him even now. Have you checked with any veterinary facilities, bird sanctuaries, rescues, police departments, or even local supermarkets for any fliers or anything? Or for any word that anyone is looking for a missing bird? Or have you checked on Facebook or any of the missing pet websites to see if there is anything there about a lost sun conure?

If not, please do so. There are quite a few members on this site who have lost their birds. Some have been fortunate enough to get them back thanks to people who, like you, found their birds and took the necessary steps to reunite the bird with his/her family. Others have never been reunited with their birds and remain heartbroken to this day. So please do all in your power to reunite this little guy with his prior home.

Failing that, then and only then should you look to take him on as your own. Again, I think it's wonderful that you've done all that you have for him. I just hope you can find it in your heart to do a bit more yet.

 

[Scott]

I cannot think of anything to add to Anansi's superb post! if you are curious for the view from the other side - a parront's loss - please read a bit from our Lost and Found Forum: Lost and Found - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

 

[YTisRW]

No I haven't. My family actually wants to keep it and not return it but if finding the original owner means the bird can be happier somewhere else, i would do it. I will try to get them to help me find his owner. Thank you for your wonderful advice!

 

[Anansi]

And thank you for listening. I know doing so will be hard, but you're doing the right thing.

 

[Scott]

The sight of a beloved lost parrot being welcomed into the arms of someone desperately searching is more heartening than a million thanks!

 

[T00tsyd]

It may be that although this little one is happy to be safe out of the way of predators and inside doesn't mean he is happy. He may have been with 'his human flock' some years and is in fact very unhappy and mystified as to where his humans are. Parrots bond with their owners and it may have been very traumatic for him to suddenly realise that he was on the unknown outside. You would actually be doing the best thing possible getting him back with those he loves.

Try to find it your heart to see this from his point of view - he is lost and possibly heart broken. Please do everything possible to find his true bonded owners. They will be looking for him too. Bonding takes time and effort. It can take months before he truly trusts you and everything is strange for him now. Be his best friend - find his flock please if you can.

 

[Carl_Power]

Yeah ive got to agree with everyone and you will be doing a good thing and making someone very happy if you find the birds owner x

 

[GaleriaGila]

YT... you are wonderful! Thank you for saving and helping this bird! And for being so receptive to our pleas.

If you can't find the original owner and wind up keeping the bird, we'll help you learn what you need to know to keep the parrot healthy and happy.

 

[Flboy]

Hi and welcome!

 

[YTisRW]

Thats really touching. I am doing everything I can to find his owner.

 

[Scott]

Thanks for your efforts! While this link lists resources to help find a lost bird, it can be used in reverse to advertise one found! http://www.parrotforums.com/lost-found/49129-bring-them-home-tips-locating-lost-bird.html

 

[Inger]

And when you do find his human, find a local rescue and fill that cage with another bird who is in need of a wonderful home!


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[WakaWaka]

And when you do find his human, find a local rescue and fill that cage with another bird who is in need of a wonderful home!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You beat me to it
Please research the needs of any kinds of birds here on the forums. Each one has unique needs, diet, and personalities.
It sounds like you would love to give another a loving home if you find the current baby's owners.
Good luck to you.

Thanks
Kelly, Karl, and Arika

 

[gracebowen]

I also want to thank you for trying to find his/her original home.

I lost my baby a year ago and I still hoped this might be mine. But alas mines a GCC lost in San Antonio Texas

 

[Sunnyclover]

If I lost Ollie my sun conure or Finley for that matter I would die. I would be a shell of a person who just goes through life as a zombie until I either died myself or I found them. If someone saved one of my babies and helped return them to me I would feel like I had won the lottery, I would feel like someone gave me a kidney or a heart transplant. I would be so grateful I would give you all i had to give, whatever money I had to pay for the cage you bought ect, I would give you my purse a long with it and I would send you a christmas card every year and go on about how much your act of kindness meant to me and my family. I think you get the idea. Also, I know Ollie would bite anyone who tried to handle him and there is no way if he was flighted you would get him to do anything you wanted and he would scream his face off and your house to the ground. The reason he might be flying to peoples shoulders is because he is looking for it's owner. Ollie looks for me when I am not at the house, he always thinks I am in my bedroom hiding from him like I am playing a cruel joke on him or something. My bird/babysitter always takes him through the entire house to look for me after I leave so he knows I am actually gone. My guess is your sun conure had a close bond with it's owners and that is why it's acting this way.