Two Green Cheeked Conures, need advice

[kristlynne]

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome. I’ve been visiting this forum for a couple years now but never actually posted/joined. I have a situation now with my birds and I could really use some sound advice. First I got Pickle (male 3 yr old GCC), and about a year later I got Enid (turned out to be male 1.5 yr GCC). Basically it is worst case scenario with a second bird—they can’t be out together because they try to seriously injure each other, they have separate cages, and they both think I’m their mate and are possessive of me and my attention. Making the situation worse, where I could take Pickle out of his cage multiple times a day while I was working, I don’t have time to take them both out individually. After work, they both get out, but not for the hours they deserve since I’m dividing up the time. I've tried tons of bonding exercises - taking turns doing tricks/getting treats, proximity training, positive reinforcement. What's weird is that they are totally in sync in their individual cages --talking and responding to each other all day, but when they can reach each other it's aggressive.

They each have their own behavioral issues too. Enid is not an easy bird to work with, I still say "she" but Enid's DNA test said "she" is male. She had a severe infection when I got her, she's healthy now, but has balance issues that make her particularly mouthy and some of the training tips I've learned from Barbara Heidenreich that worked for Pickle (hard chewing, take away hands), really freak her out because she has all of that memory of falling over and over. When I try to remove my hands she holds on for dear life. I try to distract her with other things, toys, have her do a trick etc; but she pretty much snaps back into the super hard chewing on fingers every 5 seconds or so. She has this kind of distracted frenetic energy and sort of jolts around, so I do wonder if there are some minor nervous system/cognitive things too from having the infection so young. She is an absolute sweetheart, but it's difficult. She also just really wants to be on my hands or up on my shoulder by my face the entire time she's out. I try to keep her away from my face and shoulders because it doesn't feel safe, and then she gets back on my hands. So it kind of just goes on and on in a circle.

Pickle is super jealous. He always gets to come out, eat, etc; first, but he's possessive and switches between wanting head scratches/love and biting me unpredictably. He attacks me when my partner is nearby, and stalks him too. They used to have a good relationship, but one time when I was away Pickle bit him hard on the face, and he's afraid of the bird now. I understand how hard it can be to trust a bird again after that, but it does mean I'm on my own with handling them.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but the experience of having them out has been so difficult lately that even though I make sure I do it, I'm not looking forward to it. I've considered rehoming Enid, but I can't bear the idea of someone finding her difficult to work with and neglecting her.

Anyway, I'm not an experienced bird owner. I think I got lucky with Pickle and thought I could handle two birds, but I'm really struggling. I feel like I'm failing as a bird mom. Please help.

 

[wrench13]

Hoo boy, text book case of what can happen when you add an additional bird to a flock. I wish we could compile all stories like this into one thread, illustrating what can happen. Yes, sometimes things go all rosey and peachy. every one loves everyone. A lot of times they don't. None of which helps you now though.

My take: Parrots that have not learned NO BITE especially on faces have no business on shoulders. Period. They lose that privilege. And THE method for teaching no biting is shunning, which is how parrots in the wild chastise unruly members. See below. If they are flighted, and just fly off or back to you when this method is used, consider light clipping until the lesson is learned. Feathers grow back. Conurs, esp the green cheek family, are nippy by nature, but will learn if shunning is applied rigorously and EVERY TIME.

Biting, whether intentional or not, just over preening your skin or actually taking chunks of meat out - all are PAINFULL! In the wild that sort of behavior is not tolerated by the flock. They ostracize flock members who continue to act like that. We call it 'Shunning'. This WILL work, but needs to be done correctly to get the message across and it needs to be done IMMEDIATELY so the parrot can associate the bite with the shunning action. And it needs to happen every time and with anyone involved with the parrot.

When the bite or over preening occurs:

• Say in a forceful but not shouting voice "No Bite" or other endearments.
• Immediately place the parrot on a nearby, handy chairback. NOT the cage (that would only teach the parrot to bite when he wants to go back to his cage).
• Turn your back to him and ignore him for 1 minute. No peeking, no talking about or too him, NADA. NO eye contact. No less or the message is lost, no more or the bird will not associate the action with the bite.
• After a minute you can try to re-establish contact.

Rinse, repeat as needed. Most parrots get the message after a few times, some may need more. Also very important - make sure the bite is not your fault. Annoying your parrot, asking him to step up when he is otherwise preoccupied with eating or playing, bothering him during known moody times like mating season, or ignoring the warnings and body language of your parrot - these are bites that you deserve! Learn, and be a better parront !!