Blue Crown Help

I just recently rescued a Blue Crown in October, and I have quite a few questions. She is extremely moody, and definitely does not like to be touched. I just had a breakthrough and am able to pick her up without wrapping something around my finger...sometimes. She can be affectionate in her own little way, but never cuddly. How can I make the bond with her and I stronger? Any advice would be great!

Thank you!

Courtney

My conure doesn't like to be touched either. She has some moments here and there, but really doesn't want to be petted. She does like to give kisses though, and to snuggle against my face, or climb down my shirt!

Just keep being patient. I would also try singing to her. All my birds like that, and I used to have a Blue Crown who loved it, too. Does she talk or do any imitations? If so repeat them back to her every time she makes/says them. If it doesn't scare her yet, you might also try dancing while you sing.

Talk to her a lot, and explain what you are doing. Use the same words and phrases for your routines so she comes to understand them.

She says peek-a-boo clear as day, it is the cutest thing ever. I am teaching her hello, night-night, and I love you. When I got her, I was surprised she didn't say more due to her age. She dances very well and on command. I love to dance and sing to her, as she follows right along with me. She whispers really well too! Thank you so much for the advice!

Courtney

Ok, good! Keep talking and singing/dancing with her. Blue Crowns can be really good talkers. Mine was the loudest talking bird I've ever had.

You might play peek a boo with her as well. Hide under a blanket and peek and say it. Or behind the couch. Birds seem to love that game, and if often gets a shy bird interested.

My BC was pretty shy. She loved me, but she wasn't big on letting strangers handle her. Going to the vet was awful! She would scream the entire time. Then we would finally get back out to the car and she would go to the back of the carrier and say sadly, "Good night." If I sang to her though, she would come back to the front and be back to her normal self by the time we got home.

My Blue Crown loves to play peek-a-boo! After I pop out of my hiding place, she gets really tall then scrunches her neck up while her eyes are pinning. Its really funny! Thank you for all your advice!

Courtney

awww, my blue crown says "peek-a-bird." lincoln does not like cuddles either and never has- it's just not his style and that's ok. some birds are just not cuddly, but they love your attention nonetheless. lincoln loves to sit on the top of my treadmill and chat nonstop, but when i pick him up and try to snuggle him he turns into Rain Man. his eccentricity is charming. he does tell me "beak touch" and allow me to touch his beak. i wouldn't want him to be any other way.

My two blue crowns are completely different personalities. Rosa is a rescue I got about the middle of last year. She is very standoffish and puffs her head feathers at me when I come near or play with Tootsie. She would bite when I first got her but I've been working to eliminate that behavior and have been quite successful I'm happy to say. Rosa is not friendly but she accepts me as part of her world and will usually step up with little fuss though a lot of wing batting.

Tootsie, who is about 25 years old and has been with me for 13 years, liked to snuggle. She would lay against my arm or leg happily preening my hairs and she loved getting scritches in return. But now that Rosa has arrived, I've been kicked to the curb. She has decided that Rosa is her companion and wants little to do with me. Except to yell at me when she wants her morning or evening treat. Miss her closeness but she is happier with one of her kind even if Rosa can be pushy and nippy with her. I don't house them together because I'm afraid of old Tootsie being harmed by much younger Rosa when I'm not there but when I'm home they are out together and do a lot of mutual preening.

I don't think that Rosa will ever warm up to me as long as Tootsie is still with us (and hopefully will be for many years to come). I make sure that I handle her every day and give her a little treat when she behaves in a positive manner. She seems to be an intelligent bird and is learning what is acceptable and what is not. Except for her noise. She sure is a vocal one! She literally drowned out the fire alarm here when it was being tested and the technician had to ask me if the alarm had gone off.

It sounds like you are making good progress with your bird. The Peek-a-boo game is very positive and her reaction seems to indicate she wants to interact. Another thing to watch for is a slow bowing motion. Both of my birds will bow slowly down, rapidly come up straight then bow again. Usually with their eyes pinning and sometimes with a nasal sounding CHIRP! when standing up. Tootsie really responds to me repeating the motion back to her. Rosa a little less so. I believe it is a recognition gesture. I put my hands behind my back and keep bowing as long as they are interested.

Your Blue Crowns seem very similar to mine. Alex(Blue Crown) bows and pops up with eyes pinning and that nasal exhale is really funny! She does it every time we play the Peek a Boo game. She could literally be a personal car alarm, the scream sounds just like it. I haven't really been able to tell why she does it. My best guess would be that I didn't keep her out long enough and she's having a tantrum. My only worry is when I move to an apartment, if she will be able to be heard by my neighbors. Which could pose an issue.
Thanks for your insights!

Courtney

I'm in an apartment and I do worry about the noise they make. At least for the downstairs neighbors. The upstairs ones tend to play their music and make a racket at all hours of the night and if they are trying to sleep when my girls go off I almost consider that sweet revenge.

The good thing is that though loud the Blue Crowns don't seem to have a tone/pitch that travels through walls as well. I can hear my Senegal out on the street when he is flock calling. It is not until I get up to the door that I can hear the girls sounding off. Though they are not going full voice until they hear the key in the lock. Then it is "wack-WACK!-waaack" over and over until I let them out.

Good to know! Thanks for your input!

Yes, my BC's screech didn't carry anything like my Nanday's does. You can hear my Nanday 1/4 mile down the road if you are outside. Admittedly, sound does carry out in the country. Sometimes I can be working quietly in my yard and hear my neighbors talking 1/4 mile away as well if they are outside, lol! Of course my bird is inside and we can hear her!