What should I make of this?

[Skittys_Daddy]

So, Skittles has had his new cage for several weeks now and has gotten pretty used to it. He still won't come out on his own but waits for me to put my hand in for him to climb on - which is fine.

But here's the thing - maybe it's a coincidence, I don't know. But Skittles has gotten supercuddly since I got him his cage. I don't know if it's cause he doesn't quite feel safe in it or if he's thanking me or if it's nesting.

He loves to cuddle, BUT, I have never been able to get him to stay with me and cuddle while I'm in my armchair. He'll sit on the chair, but he won't cuddle for a long period. Just a few minutes.

But that has all changed in the past few weeks. He keeps crawling down my shirt with nothing but the bottom of his wings and his tail sticking out. He stays there. If I lift the shirt to 'peak' he will just stare back at me and not move.

I don't know quite what to make of it. I'm in no way complaining! LOL. I'm just curious as to why he is doing it. I know sunnies are smart, but how could he possibly associate his new 'mansion' with me? Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

 

[Captsteve]

Conures and hiding in shirts!

Conures naturally nest in nice tight cozy places. So a nice warm spot down your shirt is a great place for a nap, so is under a pillow on the couch. Be careful where you sit! lol

 

[Aquila]

Sometimes a change of environment triggers a change of behaviors, his cage was familiar to him and now it's not there, he was comfortable there. Now, with the new cage, you're the most familiar thing to him, so he's more comfortable with you.

 

[PickleMeDickles]

I would theorize that he feels "safer" with you than his "new" home. If this is a behavior you would like to continue I would use a ton of positive reinforcement so he doesn't revert to the "previous" Skittle once he settles.

(on a side not, literally as I was writing the last sentence my male Sun (Winston) took his first flight. I let his wings grow out but it has taken two molts to really "get there". Anyhow, he circled the room and landed on me! Yea!)

Good luck!
-Jen

 

[Birdman666]

He's discovered the conure spot, but he has got it backward?!

Mine used to go in there when he got tired, and fall asleep in there...

SLEPT INSIDE MY SHIRT FOR 12 YEARS... I used to have to fish him out of my shirt at night, and stick him in his happy hut.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Thanks all. Skittles loves to cuddle when I'm at my desk, laying down in my bed but the only time he has really every 'hung around' while I was relaxing in my armchair was to destroy my tshirts.

I do think that it is likely the change. That's what I thought. He's not "afraid" of his cage, I know he likes it - BUT he won't go in or come out on his own but rather relies on me for both. Given that I rarely have him caged it might be why it's taking him so long to adapt. With his old cage, he would come out and go in all on his own. But his old cage was less than half the size of his new one.

I do want to encourage his cuddling though. It's easier for me to keep an eye on him while I'm watching tv in the late afternoon or evening if he is with me.