Young Sun Conure PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Juliana

New member
Apr 3, 2012
3
0
Hi I got a sun conure from a breeder about 4 months ago and the sun was 14 weeks old and supposedly hand fed. The breeder told me that after a few days/weeks the conure would be more friendly. I work at a pet store so I understand how long it takes and how much patience you need with conures. So my issue is that even though I give my conure love, attention and plenty of time outside of its cage, it is still afraid of me and aggressive. I give him at least 10 hours of sleep every night, he's on a pelleted diet, he's got plenty of toys, and he wont even take food from me after this long. He just doesn't seem like a normal sun because he doesn't try to be playful, he will just sit on this rock perch all day and when he's hungry he will go eat, then go right back to the rock. He won't let me take him out of the cage unless I grab him in a towel because that's how the breeder told me to get him out. When he's out of the cage on the couch, he will be on the farthest corner. And that's with everything, wherever he is, he tries to be the farthest away from me. When I need to put him away he lunges off my finger to go in the cage, and I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself one of these days doing that. I know it takes a lot of time to train a conure and I was understanding with his behavior when I first got him, but 4 months is a long time and I feel like there has been no progress made and I'm afraid that when school starts I won't be able to give him anymore training time. Please someone help me
 

AFP520

Banned
Banned
Jun 7, 2012
202
0
NJ
Parrots
Lucy, Sun Capped Conure
Well, first thing is that you need to stop what the breeder told you. Going after him with a towel to get him out, how would that make you feel if your parents took you out of your room the same way when you were a kid?

You need to spend some time just talking to him and feeding him yummy treats so he will start to trust you more. But forcing him to do things he doesn't want is going to cause you a lot more trouble getting him to do anything.
 

dishgal1

New member
May 1, 2012
718
0
Texas
Parrots
Forrest -Yellow sided Green Cheek Conure, Nacho- Sun Conure
Good advice and when he likes to sit on the other end of the couch just let him. Just be near him and talk to him and eventually he will want to join in.
He probably dreads being caught with a towel and anticipates that with you everytime you are near. Let him make the moves and let him come out on his own. Don't reach inside. That is his turf and they don't like intruders.
That would be a good start to a great relationship.
 

Seabass

New member
Jun 23, 2012
19
0
I'm not a bird trainer by anymeans but since I rescued Charlie I read up on various forms of parrot taming. I learned basically to relax and take your time, sit by his cage daily and talk to him, move slowly while cleaning his cage and talk soft. Let him adjust to his new surroundings and gain his trust. Routine for birds is very important so make sure you form a schedule and stick to it so he can expect what is coming. Work slow at his pace and try to find out what is his favorite treat. I gave Charlie yogurt covered sun flowers and he would do anything for it. What AFP520 said offer treats in his cage and slowly work your way closer to the cage door and see if he comes.
 

friedsoup

New member
May 5, 2012
503
1
North Carolina
Parrots
Senegal Male Bogart
True toweling shouldn't take more than a couple of days (sounds like the petting the bird while in the towel part was left out) but water under the bridge now. Let him sit at the other end of the couch while you eat popcorn out of a low bowl sitting on the cushion nearest him. Curiosity will get the better of him he won't eat much but he will make a great mess with it, when he does make a big (good) fuss over how much u like his mess. if he is too scared to come close to you after a while leave the bowl and move to a chair across the room but leave the bowl for him to explore. You said he will ride your finger to get back to his cage, try slowly to cover a toe with your thumb not tightly because you don't want him to feel trapped but just lightly pet his toe while walking toward his cage and increase the pressure as you get closer to the cage so you can control his jumping also place a hand between him and the cage so he won't jump until your very close to the cage. Try these and see if progress doesn't happen for you and your fid.
 

dishgal1

New member
May 1, 2012
718
0
Texas
Parrots
Forrest -Yellow sided Green Cheek Conure, Nacho- Sun Conure
Also try cupping your hand around his back and have him facing you on the way to his cage. Then when you get near the cage turn your hand around and let him go in. That works well for Forrest. He hates fingers coming at him.
 

DebsFlock

Banned
Banned
Jul 19, 2012
633
2
Los Angeles County, near Palmdale
Parrots
Scooter -- male Green Cheek Conure "Normal" but that's a matter of opinion! Hatched in March 2010

Scotty -- Male Cape Parrot hatched somewhere between 2007-2009 we think

Caballo Blanco -- male C
I agree that "forcing" him to come out may be a big part of the problem. OTOH, if he's that passive all the time, I wonder if he's completely healthy? If he didn't see an avian vet when you first got him, you might want to get a well-bird workup, even if that means toweling him one more time. Especially if he tends to sit fluffed up, is very inactive, sleeps all the time, has any discharge from his nares or poop that looks abnormal.
 

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