Biting and Flight on newly adopted Conure

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

Today I adopted a Red Throated Conure. He's 1 and 2 months years old, and absolutely gorgeous. I already love him to death.

I just have some general questions involving biting and his flight.

He bites at everything. I know he's knew and needs to settle in and all but he literally runs for my fingers to try and bite them. Is there anything I can do to help this, or is it just a waiting game?

Also, once I first got him home and out of the car, he took off flying away passed the neighbors house. I literally was almost in tears because I thought he had gotten away until I heard a squeak from the bushes by me. I want to teach him free flight with recall training, but should I clip his wings now and allow him to become dependent on me and wait to start that training until after his next molt?

Thanks for any advice in advance, looking forward to getting some insight into this!

Brodie · Nov 20, 2012

I had similar problems with my eclectus, I was just patient and she finally came around, now she's fine.
She was lunging at me, trying to bite me, and growling at me.
I fed her treats through the cage, it took a while for her to take them but after a whole she did, then one day I put my hand in there, and said step up, and she did!
I clipped her wings because when I got her out she would fly into the wall, or land behind the tv. I found this pretty dangerous for her, and it also made it easier for training. Although they say you shouldn't clip a birds wings before they learn to fly, and their first malt.
But this is completely up to you!
Worked for me anyway

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

He already knows how to fly, and he has molted before of course being over a year old. I am leaning towards getting them clipped once to work with him a lot while he is 100% dependent on me.

Hopefully he warms up to me and quits it with the biting, I'm sure he is just new, scared and nervous being at a new home with all new people. He's been tossed around as well over the last year to two other owners, so I'm sure that may make him slightly apprehensive towards people.

MonicaMc · Nov 20, 2012

I would suggest waiting at least a couple weeks or so before clipping him... in this way, it will give him some time to settle in and you can learn his behavior. If you go to open the cage and he always comes out to attack, then yes, I agree a trim may be in order.

However, I can't recommend it now, being in a new environment with new people! His world has just been turned upside down!

I will say that I once tried trimming my mitred conures flights and it didn't change his behavior one bit! He's usually better behaved anyway when he gets a lot of flight vs getting none or very little.

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

Right on. I will wait a month or so then, and think about doing it regardless.

Do you have any tips/advice about the biting?

MonicaMc · Nov 20, 2012

Be prepared with a lot of toys, maybe treats and other things! If you can, distract him before he gets a chance to bite! He sounds like he might be an easy to piss off bird, so it would help to try and keep something between your flesh and his beak! My conure isn't a big fan of most foot toys, but he loves bottle caps for some reason!

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

I'm really hoping he just needs to settle in, his previous owner said he was so cuddly and sweet, and that's not what I've gotten out of him today lol.

Also, I know conures are 'loud' birds, but is there any secrets to suppressing his screams? Even if not his actual screams, what about soundproofing the room that he's in so it doesn't travel as far to the rest of the house? lol.

Bobioden · Nov 20, 2012

Did you have his loose in the car? He should have been in a carrier. So glad he didn't fly away.

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

Thanks for the great response!

I am praying that his aggresiveness does die down as the time goes on, which I'm sure it will. I've thought it was just a transition thing.

As far as the screaming goes, I'll try to learn a whistle with him. It's not ear-piercing most of the time, but he has gotten there, and although he bites me everytime I get my hand close, he still seems to cry a lot more once I've left the room. Hopefully all gets better!

Sc0tt · Nov 20, 2012

Absolutely! Thanks again for the tips. Blueberries are safe, right? I didn't know because the seeds and all.

lene1949 · Nov 21, 2012

Many years ago I took in a GCC, named Duke... He was very aggressive.. After he bit me hard, I chose to leave him in his cage, and clicker train him from there... We were just targeting, he loved it.. and 3 months later, he was doing all sort of tricks and not biting... He was the parrot that made me falling in love with conures... He was never clipped, because I couldn't get near him, and by the time we had an understanding, he didn't need to be clipped...

Sc0tt · Nov 21, 2012

Thank you all for the positive replies. I'm determined and won't be giving up on the little guy. I already love him, and I will be getting all my treats I'm trying, as well as my clicker today so we can start working on that.

Sc0tt · Nov 21, 2012

Bobioden said:
Did you have his loose in the car? He should have been in a carrier. So glad he didn't fly away.

He was in a small carrying cage in the car. If he was loose it would have been a disaster!

Sc0tt · Nov 21, 2012

His biting is really setting us back. I've tried to ignore it but he is BITING now nipping, like aggressively and trying to hurt me. I really hope this goes away in time :/

BoomBoom · Nov 21, 2012

Hi Scott! Congratulations on your new bird! He looks really cute from what I saw in your other thread.

My advice with the biting, give it time

I think its only been a few days since you brought him home with you? Imagine how he might be feeling. New human, new cage, new toys, new sleeping area. His old life is gone and everything and everyone he was used to. It will take him some time to get used to his new life and to get to know you as his new flock mate.

Lessen his trauma by giving him his space, not being too personal or intimate just yet. The fewer negative incidents between you during this period of transition, the better in the long run. Don't take his bites personally, he is just scared, testing or confused. You will form a bond with him soon enough.

Best of luck to you and your bird!

Sc0tt · Nov 21, 2012

BoomBoom said:
Hi Scott! Congratulations on your new bird! He looks really cute from what I saw in your other thread.

My advice with the biting, give it time I think its only been a few days since you brought him home with you? Imagine how he might be feeling. New human, new cage, new toys, new sleeping area. His old life is gone and everything and everyone he was used to. It will take him some time to get used to his new life and to get to know you as his new flock mate.

Lessen his trauma by giving him his space, not being too personal or intimate just yet. The fewer negative incidents between you during this period of transition, the better in the long run. Don't take his bites personally, he is just scared, testing or confused. You will form a bond with him soon enough.

Best of luck to you and your bird!

Thanks for the reinforcement! I really hope so, I think I've been trying to be to personal and all even by just giving him the option to come on my finger. He's hard to read though since he'll bite me hard if I get close, but scream his head off once I leave the room.

Anyways, tonight is our 2nd night together and he is going to sleep like an angel once I turn the light off and put his curtain on. Other than the biting and the excessive yelling, he's been extremely awesome to have so far haha. I'm looking forward to our companionship going as I get so envious reading about peoples relationships with them...especially yours and Boomers! (He is beautiful by the way!)

Sc0tt · Nov 23, 2012

UPDATE: He has been getting a little better. However, now I will be holding and gently rubbing him and all will be fine, and in a second he will latch down on me and start biting me all over. I'm confused as to what this means and everything.

Biting and Flight on newly adopted Conure

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