What happened to our sweet bird?

[FirstBird]

Ever since she got her new cage on Saturday, Kaleeko has been awful! She bites when stepping up and then immediately flies to your shoulder and begins biting neck/ears, etc. Her bites have gotten hard too. Could it be from the new cage? I also read you aren't supposed to let them on yoru shoulder that often, and she has been on our shoulders a lot. So we started doing the step up over and over method. She doesn't bite when you do it, but she just gets bored of it and flies to the top of her cage where she begs for apples (she LOVES apples). She also does not want to get back into her cage. My son is getting frustrated and he's covered in bite marks. Any tips on breaking his nippy phase?

 

[Mudkips]

The first few weeks to a month are when the babies are easy to handle and afraid to bite, which makes for an easier initial bonding experience. Many of the threads on nippiness in these forums are made when a young conure builds his or her willpower and catches the new owner off guard.

About a month ago I wrote a warning about conure biting in one of your previous threads (more info here). It's something that most GCC owners go through.
The new cage probably isn't to blame, but it does appear to have triggered the change.

There are a few things you can do to help the situation. These are:
Clicker training with rewards.
Giving Kaleeko new and exciting things to experience.
Playing games with her to drain her energy
Non-physical punishment such as placing her on the floor and ignoring her.
Wing-clipping.

Not all of the above measures are necessary, but a combination of a few of them can help. It's up to you to decide.
Good Luck!

 

[lene1949]

Maybe she's unsure of what is going to happen next... You got her a few weeks ago, put her in a cage, that you had for her... Now you have put her into yet another cage... and she doesn't know whether she's coming or going...

Let her settle into her new cage.. give her choices and let her make her own decisions...

My little Squirt is still in her baby cage... I have her new large cage set up, but it's just like a fixture in the house... She has been inside it, but I'm not going to move her until she's comfortable... Yeah.. I know... She's very spoilt..

 

[FirstBird]

Hi again! She is behaving much better. We stopped letting her on our shoulders as often, and did step up repeatedly from one hand to the next like I saw on youtube. Now she's doing much better. She has recently started chasing her toys aroung and loves to pick one up and throw it on the floor repeatedly, it is SO funny! We are having so much fun with our little bird. She has started trying to talk too, is very close to saying pretty bird (in a low gravely voice). She also loves to take a bath in my husbands palm with the kitchen sink turned on. She still nips on occasion, but we just tell her no bite and put her down and that seems to work. Thanks!

 

[Agapornis]

Whew, I'm glad Kaleeko is settling down. That makes me feel better about my own little GCC. He hasnt started that naughty behavior yet, but if and when he DOES, i'll be ready for it!

Thats great she is already starting to talk! How old is Kaleeko?

 

[lene1949]

Good stuff... Green Cheeks do so well with something to do... Like border collies - they are so easy to train, and love it....