GCC behavioral problems

Hi,

I have a GCC that is just under 2 years old. We've been through various minor behavioral/nipping issues that are common to these birds, but overall he's been very well behaved. He came from a reputable breeder and was hand-fed/raised, and is very social and friendly.

Recently he went through a traumatic event. He has been used to having 2 budgies around to interact and play with. Unfortunately, the budgies passed on a little over a week ago (they had their own health issues, non-contagious, and the GCC has already been checked out by the vet recently to make sure).

My parrot's behavior has radically changed, and he's obviously grieving, but I'm not sure what to do. He does not like going in his cage at all anymore, and tries to climb up behind my neck where I can't reach, or bite, when it's time to go to sleep at night. He's always been kind of a clingy bird, but now, he screams and carries on if he doesn't have sight of me at all times. When awake, he wants to be out of his cage and attached to me. He's never been much of a toy player, but the only thing he wants to chew on now is me.

I've been trying to talk so he can hear me when I go into another room, I've moved his cage so that he has complete sight of me when I"m sitting on the couch. He gets a lot of out-of-cage time, treats, and attention. I'm worried though because of how upset he gets now when I'm gone even for a second, and how torn up my hands are getting from the bites when trying to put him back in his cage.

If anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated. I have been debating getting another conure for awhile, maybe having a companion again would help calm him down, or it could cause more problems, I'm not sure what to do.

I'm sorry about your loss and your conure must be missing the companionship. Give him time and hopefully he'll come round. Do you leave a radio on when you leave him? My GCC loves singing along! Budgies chatter all the time so he'll be feeling very lonely I'd imagine. There is no guarantee that another conure would get on and you would need a separate cage. Let us know how you get on

I leave music on for him when I'm gone. I've been trying to limit my away time this week so that I'm only gone when I have classes, and I run my errands in the evening after he's gone to bed. He definitely seems lonelier. When he's out of the cage, he wants to climb on me and be close the whole time instead of flying around and surveying his territory and doing his normal activities. I'm just concerned because it's never been at the point where he refused to go into his cage at night, or screamed even when I get up to go to the bathroom or answer the phone. I'm hoping this is just something he'll work through given enough time.

It sounds as though he is bonding with you. Jasmine is a little Velcro bird and snuggles up all the time she is out. I have taught her recall where I put her down and she flies back to my arm for a treat, otherwise she'd never fly! She doesn't like going back in her cage either and will bite so I withdraw my hands inside a jumper and she stands on my covered arm - she can chew my jumper if she likes

When she's in her cage she immediately gets a pine nut.

Also when I leave the room I talk to her constantly and she shouts hello back. It keeps her anxiety separation down and when she shouts I start saying hello and she switches to talking rather than screaming. I also tell her I'm popping to the loo and she knows I'll won't be long. But when I go out I say see you later and she seems to know the difference.

Hope this helps