Why is my new baby gc conure still afraid of me?

[Sabo]

I bought a baby gc conure two days ago; he is supposed to be hand fed. There seems to be partial truth to this, because he wasn't fully mature when I got him, and I still have to spoon feed him once or twice per day. (he readily accepts it) What I don't understand is his fear of me, and his obsession with my budgies.

I spent the extra dollars, because I thought hand/spoon feeding is the process that makes birds recognize themselves as humans. Mine is just one step away from screaming and running from me. He freezes or shies away when I reach for him, and does his best to fly over to my budgies, and pretty much walks around every surface of their cage desperately trying to get in.

Is this what a "hand fed parrot" is? Because I thought they're supposed to be a lot friendlier by nature of how they were raised.

 

[Jayyj]

Although a hand reared bird will be easier to bond with than one that was left for its parents to raise in an aviary, I don't think there's anything in the idea that you hand feeding your bird rather than letting the breeder do it has any bearing on your later relationship with the bird. It makes more sense to me to let the expert get the bird through the weaning stage.

Depending on the bird, it will likely take a little while for your new arrival to settle in and be comfortable around you. If he acts fearful when you reach for him then encourage him to come to you instead - let him make the decisions and set the pace.

I don't know what to suggest about the budgies!

 

[EAI]

Hand fed isn't the same as hand reared/tamed. Hand fed is a breeder just giving food to the chicks and selling them. A parrot that is reared or tamed is one that was able to get socialization from the breeder and was worked with to associate people as "good".

I agree with Jayyj, hand feeding should be left to the breeder. So many things can go wrong with someone with no experience or guidance.

Two days is an extremely short period of time, he still needs to be able to settle in and get used to his new home. Just give it time.

About the budgies...I would separate them immediately and keep your new guy in quarantine to stop the possible spread of disease from both species of birds. While he's in quarantine, it would be a good time to start bonding with him because you'll have his full attention in that time with no distractions.

 

[Sabo]

About the budgies...I would separate them immediately and keep your new guy in quarantine to stop the possible spread of disease from both species of birds. While he's in quarantine, it would be a good time to start bonding with him because you'll have his full attention in that time with no distractions.

They are in separate cages, but even when he's in his own cage, my conure is desperately trying to get to the budgies. I can't leave the door open, cause he keeps flying to the budgie cage and tries to get in there.

 

[EAI]

About the budgies...I would separate them immediately and keep your new guy in quarantine to stop the possible spread of disease from both species of birds. While he's in quarantine, it would be a good time to start bonding with him because you'll have his full attention in that time with no distractions.

They are in separate cages, but even when he's in his own cage, my conure is desperately trying to get to the budgies. I can't leave the door open, cause he keeps flying to the budgie cage and tries to get in there.

Sorry, should have specified. By separating, I meant to isolate him in another room if possible.
His attraction towards them is probably because he considers them as part of his flock so he's trying to associate with them.
After quarantine and checking that he has no illnesses/time bonding, I don't see why you can't introduce them !

 

[Kyoto]

Always supervise their interaction. I had budgies with lovebirds before, and I had to always give each species separate times out of the cage because the lovebirds would try to bite the little budgies' toes . I had one poor budgie land on my lovebird cage and lose a toe. I felt so horrible.

My GCC had about the same level of agression as my loves had, so just be aware of this and be safe.