Help... I think my new conure is very young.

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

I got him yesterday and he is SO cute... but... I think he is still a baby... he is very ratty and dirty, his tail is very roughed up and missing some sections, he is covered with some white stuff in some places and looks very scruffy - I think he may of been in a cage with tiny bars that messed up his tail etc. He also isn't very good at stepping up, I have to kind of put my hand under neath him and "hold" him like a baby... he has been making baby noises the whole time he is out and is bobbing and wing flicking. I made him some warm mash and he ate a little bit.

What should I do? I think he weaned or at least somewhat weaned because he was picking and eating at his seed, fruit and nut mix. He is very clumsy in his cage and has trouble perching, but he is snuggling up to his happy hut.

How do I teach a bird to step up? He is VERY tame and VERY sweet, no bites, I think he is very young. I was told by the breeder that he was born early October, but he doesn't know the official date...

How long will it be before he grows new tail feathers? These ones look like I have not cared for him lol and he can't fly very well.

I am not sure what to do, I am worried about him.

:orange:

andrea.faerie · Nov 30, 2011

Can you post a picture of him for us? he sounds QUITE young, but I think a picture would seal the deal on it

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

Yes, let me try to get one now.

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

These pics make it seems like I've exaggerated about his condition lol but he looks much worse in real life. It also has not capture the white stuff, I think it might just be poop?

in the last pic he is doing the thing where he holds my finger and tries to feed off it... (flaps up and down and shakes his head) - he also did this on my nose... he is making a noise when I pick him up that sounds like someone blowing a whistle.

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

he also doesn't seem to know how to use his beak very well, has trouble biting things like apple, and is not interested in the rest of the fruit I put; banana, mango and some carrot. I haven't seem him go down to his bowls on the side of his cage for water, seed mix or pellets since bringing him home.

andrea.faerie · Nov 30, 2011

OOh a little nanday! SO cuuute! ...sorry got distracted by the cute factor! lol

If he's still trying to "chug" your finger... then maybe he's not fully weaned.... he does look young to me.... the puffy feathers up top... Lucy is 7 months old and has grey tufts of feathers poking out between hers... but if your baby was born in early october... he's almost 2 months old... I didn't get Lucy until she was 3 months old... perhaps this is better suited for someone with more experience than me, I'm sure one of the bigger members will help you out soon!

DISCLAIMER:
And for you guys reading thinking "what's she mean by bigger?!" i mean that you guys have more experience than me lol I'm a little birdie owner! haha lower on the totem pole! <3 <3

andrea.faerie · Nov 30, 2011

also, the tail feathers look a little ragged but that looks like it's from cage bars. He'll clean them up when he preens himself and birds generally molt twice a year. Once in the Spring and once in the Fall, some birds only molt once a year and it's a big one. During a molt, birds shed their feathers and grow new ones in. Molts can last several weeks and are hinted at by little downy tufts all over the place and a few feathers scattered in the cage. Plucking and molting can be mistaken for each other I think... but plucking is a serious stress or medical issue, molting is normal and the behaviors for each are very different. I don't think your baby is ready to molt if he's only 2 months old by any means, but I sure bet he's got some new feathers coming in!! and the whole thing about plucking and molting is for, ya know, future reference

....I panicked when bleu started molting... i thought it was plucking lol

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

thank you for the help.

yes... chug is the perfect word lol! he is trying to do that on my finger! I asked the breeder if he ate pellets/what brand and he just said "oh he's been eating pellets with some seed mixed sprinkled on top". he is also very snuggly, he is snuggling into his happy hut again now (just the side of it) and when he is out he just wants to be close to you. he is very cute... I want him to be raised well and learn to step up and eat his food so he grows up nice and healthy!

Remy · Nov 30, 2011

It sounds like he may not be fully weaned yet... It would have been nice of the breeder to let you know!!

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

hm what should I do? my mom brought some 100% pumpkin, corn and apple baby food and he has been eating that. I have never weaned a baby bird before and my previous bird came to me when he was about 4 months old... and fully weaned. I am just glad I have now until christmas off work... plenty of time to be with him and make sure he is ok.

how can I teach him step up and to get along with my previous bird? my other bird is trying to hard to get close to him, having to constantly keep doors closed.

andrea.faerie · Nov 30, 2011

I'm not sure as far as weaning him? That's why I suggest one of the other members (I'm fairly certain they'll respond once they get online).
As far as stepping up and socializing, if your new baby is out of quarantine time, then introduce them SLOWLY. I don't let Lucy and Bleu play... they don't play nicely yet. Putting their cages close is a good start

lene1949 · Nov 30, 2011

Pim said:
I got him yesterday and he is SO cute... but... I think he is still a baby... he is very ratty and dirty, his tail is very roughed up and missing some sections, he is covered with some white stuff in some places and looks very scruffy - I think he may of been in a cage with tiny bars that messed up his tail etc. He also isn't very good at stepping up, I have to kind of put my hand under neath him and "hold" him like a baby... he has been making baby noises the whole time he is out and is bobbing and wing flicking. I made him some warm mash and he ate a little bit.

What should I do? I think he weaned or at least somewhat weaned because he was picking and eating at his seed, fruit and nut mix. He is very clumsy in his cage and has trouble perching, but he is snuggling up to his happy hut.

How do I teach a bird to step up? He is VERY tame and VERY sweet, no bites, I think he is very young. I was told by the breeder that he was born early October, but he doesn't know the official date...

How long will it be before he grows new tail feathers? These ones look like I have not cared for him lol and he can't fly very well.

I am not sure what to do, I am worried about him.

He does look very young... He could have just recently been weaned, and has taken a step back, since you got him... Try offer him some heated (handwarm) babyfood on a teaspoon... Also grate fruit and vegies, so they are easier for him to eat...

When you take him into your hand, just say 'step up' as soon as it's happening...

If he's not good at perching, keep the perches low in the cage as well as his happy hut, and of course his dishes... When Max was very young I used a stainless steel coffee lid and stovetop covers for his food..

Good luck with him... He's gorgeous... His tail feathers are not a problem, except for maybe your eyes... lol

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

He is making nosies constantly every 30 or so seconds that sound like someone blowing a whistle in short bursts as well as head bobbing, is this normal of an unweaned baby?

Pim · Nov 30, 2011

Sorry my internet did not update to show your replies. Thanks for the info.

I will work on step up with him.

I have put his perches lower also.

Pim · Dec 1, 2011

He also does not use his foot to eat... how can I teach him that???

SunMommy · Dec 1, 2011

Pim said:
He also does not use his foot to eat... how can I teach him that???

I have a very young sun conure. He hatched on sept. 6th and is still taking formula 3-4 times a day even though the breeder told me he was down to 1 hand feeding a day. I think he regressed a little because of the huge change in his environment. Sounds like your bird is younger than mine and that maybe he wasnt ready to wean. Have you taken him to the vet? You should also call the breeder and ask what type of formula your bird was on. If you buy some and take it with you to the vet, your vet should be able to show you how to hand feed. It sounds like that's what he wants.

As far as not using his foot to hold food, I think he is still too young to do this. My conure is still a little unsteady on his feet and cant manage to eat from his foot. He has tried, but he looses his balance and then gives up and just drops the food. I buy the smallest size pellet for him and break everything up that I give him into tiny bite size pieces to make it easier for him to eat. Sometimes I will put food in my hand and he will sit on a finger and eat like that. When he does this sometimes he will press his beak against my skin and I think its for balance or leverage.

Good luck with your new conure!

Pedro · Dec 1, 2011

Pim, looking at the pics of your bird i would estimate him/her to be around 12 weeks old. Flight & tail feathers are grown out to almost adult length. The behavior your describing is normal for a young conure, that is what makes them so adorable.

When offering food put it on the floor of the cage until he can cope with eating from the dishes that hang on the side of the cage. If you are worried whether or not he is weaned & is not eating the foods on offer in the cage, then you would have to offer a warm hand rearing formula once a day. You will know if he is hungry because he will be very vocal until he has a full crop. I am worried that the weakness you mention is because he isn't eating enough.

He has to learn how to stand on one foot & hold food in the other to eat but that will come in time. Usually around 6 months of age.

I hope you have taken the advice of the members that have suggested to give him warm mushy foods from a spoon or he may even eat it out of the dish himself.

You can also check yourself by gently feeling his crop for any food he may have eaten. It's a good way to be sure your bird is eating the foods on offer in the cage. Usually by nightfall the crop is noticable full.

ann · Dec 1, 2011

just be sure you dont take him out the same time every day, so that he gets into a strict routine that he expects to continue every day, because right now your home all the time and he gets all your attention, when you go back to work he wont like the change so just be sure he learns to entertain himself and that you decide when he comes out of his cage not vise versa. also as he matures the happy hut can cause behavioral problems in some birds because it simmulates a nest. good luck with your bird ps i love nandays there just sooo cute i know exactly what andrea means

Bengara · Dec 1, 2011

Sounds like the breeder is in it for the money, or maybe someone backyard breeding with lack of information. Your nanday is just a baby yet still learning
Need to be on soft food yet, 12 weeks of age. Then move onto more harder stuff, like soft fruits.

Pim · Dec 1, 2011

ok so I am offering him warm baby food and he is eating it, but not much, still very vocal. making lots of whistle noises and beeping, also bobbing and wing flapping pretty much 25/7. he is on my shoulder now doing it... he is not great at flying but can fly.

I am going to ask my parents to take me to the vet with him.

I have seen him eating some seed mix and some pellets.

Help... I think my new conure is very young.

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What's that head bobbing action?

Is eating a group activity?

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