Green Cheek Relationship problems

crackerjack

New member
Feb 24, 2013
23
0
usa
Parrots
green cheek conure
Any help is deeply appreciated

Hi,
So about a year and a half ago my older brother got a green cheek. I think s/he was about a month old.

she was all nice to everybody but eventually sort of bonded with me because I was the only one who actually took care of her and spent quality time with her.

There was a point of time where she would bite my whole family except for me.

So.... This past month s/he has been progressively hating me.
It started from nicest sweetest creature on earth :) to sometimes lightly biting me when I annoy her :( to possessive biting, like when im near her cage or when I touch her cage to :mad: worst enemies!!

I mean we used to be best pals!!!

Now we are the worst enemies in the whole wide world. She hates me with a real passion
(lunge biting, screaming at me, LOVING to BITE ME!! )
I feel like she is even showing excessive kindness to other people in my family whom she normally doesnt even like.

This is my list of possible reasons

-About a little more than a month ago we got a puppy (jealousy)??

-Shes going through adulthood??

-SHes been out of her cage alot less, (because I dont want the dog (rambunctious german sheperd) to accidentally on purpose eat her )

Well,
In general since the dog I have been spending much less time with her because I was acting as the puppies caretaker... but now the dog in the garage and :green1: is living in the kitchen area, so if it is dog jealousy the dog isnt even around me as much and now that I finally have the time to spend time with her
she hates me..... a lot

Any help is deeply appreciated
Thanks
 

SpotsandSally

New member
Sep 30, 2013
486
0
Alaska, USA
Parrots
Kiwi : Indian Ringneck Parrot RIP, taken far too young, Mango : Lovebird, 5 years old 2014, Sprite : Pineapple green cheek, <1 2014
Birds go through puberty... Where they act like butts...
Birds get jealous
Birds change who they are bonded to
Birds are... Birds.

Take her out more (somewhere where the bird is safe), don't react to her bites (I know it can be hard, but wear gloves if needed), and if it comes down to it, she may just decide she loves someone else, and have them begin taking her out and such. If they're not willing to do that, don't work with her while they're around. Can you put her cage in your room?
 

legal_eagle

Banned
Banned
Feb 28, 2013
305
0
Parrots
Green Cheek Conure Pee-Wee
Lovingly work with her. Avoid situations that provoke biting. Stop saying that she hates you ... birds don't hate, but instead respond instinctively. Your labeling and apparent frustration may be getting in the way of working with her.
 
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crackerjack

New member
Feb 24, 2013
23
0
usa
Parrots
green cheek conure
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  • #4
I have used gloves sometimes and I will continue to.

I cant put her cage in my room because its too big, but I do have a small parakeet cage that I used to keep in my room when we would have late night chats. etc.......

Im not sure if its too small for her. maybe I could just put her there to sleep in my room??


The one thing Im a little confused about is

if I use only positive reinforcement will she become spoiled and even more mean?
If I act extra nice will she take it for granted and use it against me.??

Example: when I offer her a real treat she will go for the treat instead of my finger , but as soon as the treat is gone she makes the puffy bitey face.

I know I sound like I'm seeking therapy for my girlfriend....

Thanks in advance
 

SpotsandSally

New member
Sep 30, 2013
486
0
Alaska, USA
Parrots
Kiwi : Indian Ringneck Parrot RIP, taken far too young, Mango : Lovebird, 5 years old 2014, Sprite : Pineapple green cheek, <1 2014
You can have a sleeping cage, just make sure there's water and a few toys in case she gets bored. BUT no noisy toys. Some soft yucca wood would be quiet and entertaining.
Just curious - have you ever rearranged your room? Often times just a bit of organizing *magically* creates bird space.. Haha. But of course, if you'd just like to use a sleeping cage that's still perfectly fine.

Yep, she can, but that's why you use positive reinforcement sparingly. When she steps up and doesn't bite, a small treat. If she puffs up, ignore her. If she bites, back into the cage. Repeat.
She has to learn whining wont work, and biting ends her back up in the cage. And if she ever bites lightly, then DONT make a reaction.
You can always bite pressure her, but I have no idea how to do that... So don't ask me.
 
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crackerjack

New member
Feb 24, 2013
23
0
usa
Parrots
green cheek conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
My room has plenty of empty space. A mattress and an armoire.

But the "bird area" is downstairs (wood floors empty flying space) and my room is upstairs( carpeted, quiet, no food allowed, no shoes upstairs, etc....)

thus bringing a big cage on wheels up a flight of stairs plus seedshells, poop, water splashings, plus my parrot is wood chewer (my ^wooden^ window panes.)

I live in a rented house and the owner said no pets so Im trying to keep the parrot on the down-low....
 

SpotsandSally

New member
Sep 30, 2013
486
0
Alaska, USA
Parrots
Kiwi : Indian Ringneck Parrot RIP, taken far too young, Mango : Lovebird, 5 years old 2014, Sprite : Pineapple green cheek, <1 2014
Ah! I see. That makes sense.


You can always act like you're interested in a parrot and ask the landlord.. Or did you do that already? Most landlords don't understand that parrots are the equivalent of a dog pretty much, so they will make exceptions. And it depends on your relationship with the landlord.

Anyways, best of luck with your birdy
 

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