Green cheeked conure - Chewing

AioniosOneirus

New member
Feb 5, 2011
2
0
:green2:
I have a two year old green cheeked conure. His name is Charlie. He's been chewing on everything. The leather couch, the doors, the mirrors, the desk chairs, my computer's mouse, everything. I have absolutely no clue what to do with him. My dad is determined to get rid of him and has prohibited him from leaving his cage. I can't constantly monitor him since he flies around, even if you clip his wings, and he attacks my mouse and he can't do that since I'm in college and I'm either at the university or on my computer doing homework. I do agree that he should go to a home where someone will pay attention to him, especially since now my kitten is trying to eat him.

What I'm asking is how to get him to stop chewing on the furniture. He's started doing this after we moved to a new house and I want him to be able to be out of his cage without me having to chase him off the furniture. I'd also like him to stop attacking me when I touch pots and pans and especially not to attack my computer mouse.
 
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linzlee143

New member
Jan 28, 2011
13
0
Poconos Pa
Parrots
Dusky headed conure
He is probably still adjusting to the new house. If you have a fully flighted conure you need to be very careful with what they get into. Having his flight feathers clipped may be a way to control the situation better.

Does he have enough toys that he likes to play with in his cage? Maybe a playgym can keep him occupied and he will forget about the furniture.

Is there anything that he really doesn't like in the house? Maybe you can use the pots and pans as a way of keeping him away from the furniture. If he really hates the cookware you could try putting it on the furniture and see if he learns to stay away from it. Also make sure that your cookware is not made of any teflon. Teflon is very dangerous to birds if you are cooking food on it and the bird is near the kitchen and especially if they eat food made in it. Make sure your pots and pans are safe for your bird.

But when he bites i just say in a stern somewhat loud tone, NO, or STOP. and in a firm way i tap on his beak and say bad bird. and if the bite is severe or for no apparent reason, i give him a "time out" and put him in his cage for about 5 minutes, then he seems to know that he's done wrong and gets better.

Whatever method you take it needs to be done consistently every time so he learns his behavior is unwanted.

I hope your predicament gets better and Charlie learns that a computer mouse is not a real mouse. He would be much happier if he wasn't so stressed over the cookware and chewing up the furniture. Definitely try consistent disciplinary action to see if his behavior will improve.

Remember he is chewing the furniture because he thinks it's fun. You have to make something else more fun. Positive reinforcement works a lot better then negative reinforcement. Never yell, hit, scream, or throw things at your birds. This would only make the situation worse.

Hope CHarlie learns to be a good bird. Good luck!
 

linzlee143

New member
Jan 28, 2011
13
0
Poconos Pa
Parrots
Dusky headed conure
By the way, birds also go through the terrible twos stage. The green cheek conures especially go through this nippy stage so since Charlie is two he might be acting up like a little two yr old would. Also, owners that become nervous or shy of their birds because they're afraid of being bit are a lot more likely to be bitten!
 

Kokihi

New member
Aug 11, 2010
205
0
Santa Barbara county, California
Parrots
One Green Cheek Conure: Tori
Does he have a "temper toy"? This is something that he is allowed to shred to bits that you would give to him when he is chewing on things. When ever my GCC Tori starts to chew or bite on things he shouldn't I give him a preening toy with a bell on it. He is absolutely in love with bells, and if I hold it up about where his head is, he will run over to it, stick his head in it like its a hat and make cute little cooing noises. After that, he stops biting and chewing completely.

I don't think keeping him in the cage is the best solution...He won't get anywhere near the amount of exercise he needs, and if you shy away from him, he will know that he is in charge, and the bad behavior you are trying to prevent will be reinforced. I agree with linzlee143. If having him fully flighted is becoming a problem because you are having a hard time controlling him, I would get his wings clipped. He will still be able to flap around and get a little distance or lift, but he will be MUCH easier to control. (Just make sure that your cat is NO WHERE NEAR HIM when he is out of the cage. Even if the kitty doesn't manage to kill him right away, there is a very small chance that he will survive if bitten) I made sure to keep Tori clipped till he knew "Step up" and "Gentle" very well. Now he is starting to be able to fly and I'm teaching him "Come here."
 
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