Was my sun conure hand raised properly?

[paperdoll0809]

Hey guys, I finally got a feathery friend of my own but I have some concerns over how he was raised. I hope someone will be able to tell me it was alright. ):

According to the breeder I got him from, he was only taken away from his parents at the 3rd week and apart from the hand feeding with a syringe, he only had 20 mins of outside time each night and spends the rest of his day with his brother. He does appear to be more bird bonded than human bonded at the moment. He is only 12 weeks though so I'm not sure if it could be a problem. (I only found out about the way he was raised when I went to pick him up AFTER I paid, it was fine when I went to visit him, all friendly and playing. But when I went to pick him up, he was screaming and flapping a lot so I asked. But it was storming that day and my boyfriend and friend came with me so there were a lot of new faces. Could be those factors as well.)

Anyway, I've had him out most of today after a good night's sleep last night (preceded by beak grinding <3 ), I managed to hand feed him half a passionfruit and he let me pat him on the neck a couple of times, other times he nipped me or decided he would rather climb up the finger. After 4 hours he started biting harder and I didn't know what to do cuz he looked like he enjoyed being left in the cage! Or maybe he wanted to go back to the cage thats why he bit me. SO MANY FACTORS, I AM SO CONFUSED.

Its all normal right? This is my first bird so I am exceedingly anxious about everything. Especially bonding.

 

[lene1949]

Congratulations on your new bird...

Such a young bird should only be out for 15-20 minutes, and then have a couple of hours rest in his cage...

You're simply over doing it... Small steps..

If he was spending 20 minutes after each feed being handled, he should be fine... Let him settle in, and please let him rest in between handlings..

 

[Mayden]

He's probably biting you because he's getting cranky and needs a nap! Think of him as like a toddler, they get all moody and grouchy if they're hungry, tired or bored. Treat your baby the same way, play with him for half an hour and let him go back to his cage for a bit of rest, he might play in there but he has the option of rest.

As exciting as it is to have a new bird, leave the poor fella alone You've got plenty of time to bond with him, and as for hand raising, it sounds like it was fine.

It was very frustrating when I first got Merlin (8 weeks) as I just wanted to play and snuggle all the time, but he was tired and wanted his own space. Now I have this cuddly bird who always wants to be with someone and is only really nippy when he's over excited, hungry or bored. All are easily remedied so we get over bites pretty fast!

 

[roxynoodle]

I agree with lene and Mayden. Small amounts of play time with you, with rest in between. Not only does it keep baby from getting cranky, but it leaves him/her wanting more of you.

 

[erik7181]

I have to sun conures one of which i just bought a week ago and i was told 20 mins outside the cage for three weeks.

 

[paperdoll0809]

Right, noted. 20 mins play time followed by cage time. Does these 20 min handlings occur once a day or a couple of times? I'm only taking him out all day cuz a friend claimed that it wasn't socialized properly and will need more out time. But she raises lories and they are rather different.

 

[roxynoodle]

I would do it 2-3 times a day. If you work, you could take him out in the morning while you are doing your grooming routine, and then when you get home and once again later in the evening.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have to disagree with the breeder! I have bred as well, the baby should be ready to come out to play at anytime and many times per day. They need to be socialized!!! You can tell he is not socialized well by the nipping factor! Yes they need extra rest when they're young but when they reach toddler stage, they should be quite playful. With less socializing by the breeder to begin with, the baby learn to bond with its sibling. So right now you need to have him out as often as possible, don't push with the head scratch, let him get used to the idea of being on you first. You need to have him out on you at least 4 times per day, more if you want to. Have him just sit on you while your on the computer, watching tv or whatever. Talk to him, let him get used to you. I do it for around 45min or so each individual time. He will eventually come around.

 

[MikeyTN]

With the biting right now, he is telling you to stop scratching me. I don't know you that well yet. It'll take time and patience!

 

[paperdoll0809]

Ok so lay off on the scratching too. Also what does it mean when he runs his beak over my face while opening and closing the beak? It's like biting except not really cuz it seems he can't get a good grip. I'm not sure if that needs to stop (mostly cuz its kinda cute and does not seem to be out of fear or aggression.)

 

[MikeyTN]

Is he cocking his head back and fourth while he's doing that?

 

[paperdoll0809]

I'm not sure, he was on my shoulder (which he INSISTS on being) so I couldn't really see. But I would have to say he pushes against my cheek with the top of his beak while doing that sometimes. Other times it just feels like he is trying to eat something off my face.

 

[roxynoodle]

That sounds to me like he's just tasting and exploring. My birds do that, too, especially my conure.

 

[paperdoll0809]

Or tasting my face. Avian tongue was involved.

 

[MikeyTN]

He's still very young. Has he been eating well? If he was doing what I was talking about, its a baby thing. Begging to be fed. They're super curious while young, if he is doing something he's not supposed to, make him stop! If he can't behave on your shoulders, block him from going up there. Use your hand to block, if he climbs, put him down infront of you. Practice step ups when your holding him. Do it over and over!!!

 

[paperdoll0809]

i feed him veta farm pellets, apples, passionfruit, tomatoes and some millet spray. Gonna try some spinach and oranges soon. Carrots too. Right now i'm just introducing fruits and veg one by one. I have been doing the step up routine over and over but he only does it if there is some apple around. I do think the face tasting might be a wanting food thing cuz he tries to get his beak at my mouth after a while.

 

[erik7181]

3 times a day max. You have to remember the birds young and tires easy, Im hand feeding mine, every day at 8am-4pm I feed her then i put her in for an hour because she takes a nap then I take her out, my schedule is 9am 1pm and 5pm no more then 20 mins and i time it, and i talk to her throughout the day from the outside of the cage, that way she's getting attention. Its all about patience. I would be careful with tomatoes as the acaid could hurt the birds stomach.

 

[MikeyTN]

When they're that young yes. But hers is at a toddler age! I take my babies out without restrictions! IF the baby is tired, then you put them back in the cage. I never had any issue with my babies.

 

[paperdoll0809]

Yeah I noticed his droppings were a tad bubbly after the tomato, it was only a quarter of a cherry tomato, and I haven't given him any since. Droppings back to normal. I've been letting him in and out on his terms, he is more eager to go in than come out, he sometimes nip me when I try to get him to step up (may have to get a handheld perch) or go to the furthest perch from the door.

Once he is out though, he is quite happy to get into my hair to tangle it or taste the skin in my head area. I've also laid off the head scratching, now i'm just letting him hang out on my shoulder with a crumpled ball of kitchen towel, some apple and a shiny spoon for entertainment. Not really interacting much physically, maybe some talking and some praise +apple when he steps up when I offer my hand.