Hi, I'm new here and I'm new to birds.

I just took over 3 Jenday Conures from my coworker's friend last week, and I haven't let them out of the cage yet. I know they need a lot of time out of the cage, but I don't want to rush it. I'm trying to let them get used to the new environment and me first. I'm talking to them in a soft voice, feed them their favourite treats their previous owner fed them. They do take treats from me, but one of them tried to bite me when I removed the cover this morning. They also scream sometimes (I know it is normal and luckily they don't scream early in the morning haha).

How should I approach them so that they won't bite my finger hard? I don't think they learned step up previously because my friend tried to make one of them step up, and she bit hard. They were free outside their cages in their own room in their previous home, and they liked to fly to their owners' shoulders. How do I get them to like me?

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Red-headed Amazon - Melon (hatched on 4/12/14)
Jenday Conure - Halo (hatched on 3/13/12)
Budgies - Mickey and Pluto (hatched in around 1/14)
Red-headed Amazon - Kiwi (R.I.P)
Doggies - Mika (Shih Tzu born on 07/08/03) and Rocco (American Bulldog & pit bull mix born in 04/11)

I answered your other post, but you're new to them & they're in a new environment, so if you keep doing what you have been, you should be on the right path, but if you keep the three of them together, it might take longer to hand tame them, because birds that are still on the untamed side often take longer as they sometimes support/feed off of each other.....

One thing that might be a good idea is to just open the cage door and let them out on their own for a little while. Part of the problem MIGHT be and over abundance of energy. I'm not saying thats all it is but if they are used to flying around everyday and are now being kept inside the cage the entire time their gonna build up energy. Your not going to be able to control how hard they bite but once they trust you and you have bonded better you will be able to teach them an acceptable bite pressure. You will be bitten no matter what it's part of owning a bird. Don't react when they bite I know it's hard and can be painful but the more you react the more likely they are to do it again. Let the bond build up before you start the step up training. I found the best way to train them to step up is to put your hand under the stomach above the perch so it's just automatic reaction for them to step up (you may be bitten a few times at first). I have never used the step up command but the bird will learn what is expect of it and eventually will comply.

I keep the parents in the bigger cage, the child in a slightly smaller cage. The mom is sweet..she let me pet her head and stomach.. the dad is aggressive.. he tries to bite me all the time lol the child is scared but curious...

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Red-headed Amazon - Melon (hatched on 4/12/14)
Jenday Conure - Halo (hatched on 3/13/12)
Budgies - Mickey and Pluto (hatched in around 1/14)
Red-headed Amazon - Kiwi (R.I.P)
Doggies - Mika (Shih Tzu born on 07/08/03) and Rocco (American Bulldog & pit bull mix born in 04/11)

I want to let them out too, but how to get them back in? and, the dad is kinda aggressive. I believe he will attack me when he is out..

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Red-headed Amazon - Melon (hatched on 4/12/14)
Jenday Conure - Halo (hatched on 3/13/12)
Budgies - Mickey and Pluto (hatched in around 1/14)
Red-headed Amazon - Kiwi (R.I.P)
Doggies - Mika (Shih Tzu born on 07/08/03) and Rocco (American Bulldog & pit bull mix born in 04/11)

Let them go back in on their own or get their favorite treat and entice them to go back in with it. I dont think he will seek out and attack you but he will probably need the most time to adjust. Also DO NOT pet the birds stomach it can stimulate their desire to mate as it is viewed by the birds as sexual rather than just petting. Try to stick to the head and sometimes the wings depending on the bird.

Ninjette, you have a beautiful trio. I think you are right to give them time to adjust to their new environment. It's perfectly normal for new birds, especially the older ones, to be nippy and defensive in a new home. It sounds like the male may be defending his bonded mate. Sometimes with new birds it's good to just sit near them and talk or read to them until they realize you mean them no harm. If you let them out to fly, please take precautions, cover mirrors and windows, watch out for doors and curious canines, kitchens should be off limits...

What are your birds' names? Do you know their ages?

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"She is not refined. She is not unrefined. She keeps a parrot." Mark Twain

Thanks! I will just talk and read to them instead of trying to touch them for now unless they come to me haha

The parents are 5, the child is 2. Their names are Razzel, the alpha male; Tweety, the sweet lady; and Halo, the shy little guy lol

My budgies' names are Mickey and Pluto, both are boys, around 6-7 months old

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Red-headed Amazon - Melon (hatched on 4/12/14)
Jenday Conure - Halo (hatched on 3/13/12)
Budgies - Mickey and Pluto (hatched in around 1/14)
Red-headed Amazon - Kiwi (R.I.P)
Doggies - Mika (Shih Tzu born on 07/08/03) and Rocco (American Bulldog & pit bull mix born in 04/11)