Conure hates my Wife!

DeusOmnia

New member
Dec 10, 2013
3
0
Hello everyone,

My wife and I fell in love with a Sun Conure the other day. It seemed to instantly bond with me, and didn't seem to feel one way or the other about her in the store.

We got him home and he was super affectionate to me. I went to hand him over to my wife and he clamped down hard on her finger and drew blood. Pretty sure he was laughing. :D

Anyway, I am buying a clicker today and some treats to start clicker training him and I plan on slowly trying to get him to come around to her. He starts freaking out and shaking anytime she enters the room. Can't have that!

So I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences and/or had tips for this kind of behavior. As I said earlier, I will be clicker training him, but the more help the better!

Thanks!
 

Sc0tt

New member
Nov 18, 2012
136
0
Indiana
Parrots
Red Throated Conure - Casper | American Budgie - Zeus (R.I.P)
She is still so new. You have to give her a LOT more time before you can expect her to behave any one way towards anyone really.

Clicker training is a great way to start and was the first thing I did with Casper when he was in his 'fierce' biting stage. Also try to have her always have a treat or toy in the other hand or nearby so she can divert the birds attention when it's going to bite. You will also learn to read it's body language and be able to tell when it's going to bite and doesn't want to be handled, etc.

I just say give her more time and have them slowly introduce to each other. Don't go try to handle it, instead sit by the cage and don't pay a lot of attention to the bird itself. Just read or listen to music or something and I think you'll see it become more comfortable before you know it! Good luck! Casper tore my hands to shreds for 2+ months when I first rescued him, so I promise they're are bandaid-less days ahead for you and your wife!
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
This is an over bonding/socialization issue...

Conures, Amazons and Macaws are all pair bond birds. In fact, conure behaviors are very, very similar to macaw behaviors (just in a much smaller package.)

In the wild they tend to pair up, and mate for life. In captivity, they tend to form these same bonds with "their person." My guess if this is a rehome is that the bird had only interacted with one person. Since you are that person, all others need not apply...

Your wife needs to handle this bird, preferably when you are not around. (She gets bit when he wants to go to you.) Pick up the bird, take the bird to a training perch in another room where he cannot see you, and then leave. Your wife enters the room, and interacts with him. Feeding him treats, etc. Do the basic step up and touching exercises. Reward the bird with praise and treats, and then she leaves, and you enter and take the bird back. Gradually, over time, the bird will learn to accept others handling him.
 

rerebooboobebe19

New member
Sep 25, 2013
8
0
Parrots
Remus: Green Cheek Conure
DOB: 3/22/13
These suggestions help my problem as well. I have a green cheek and he absolutely loves me. However, after a couple months of getting him, he turned on my husband and will bite him very hard. Are there anymore suggestions for someone who has had their bird for about six months now with the same type of problem?
 

SoCalWendy

New member
Jun 29, 2013
1,571
0
Kihei, Hawaii
Parrots
None at the moment
Personally I love when my husband and my daughter both whomever Rio only tolerates, will take her completely out of her comfort zone and interact with her. When Rio (who is still young, 10 months) feels vulnerable, she accepts them. So the advise here is spot on. Have the person whom the bird is not so close with interact with it away from its comfort zone, giving lots of treat, soft talking, and patience. Oh and I want to add, during this process, don't allow the bird on the shoulder where you have way less control. It's probability where it's going to want to go, but don't allow it.
 

rerebooboobebe19

New member
Sep 25, 2013
8
0
Parrots
Remus: Green Cheek Conure
DOB: 3/22/13
Okay great! I will definitely use this technique! And you are right, he always causes the most trouble when he is on his shoulder!
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Okay great! I will definitely use this technique! And you are right, he always causes the most trouble when he is on his shoulder!

Parrots, even the little bitty ones, know full well when they are in a position where someone can't control them and they are likely to get away with it...

If the bird isn't in that position, and right now, the bird shouldn't be with that person, he won't try it.

He's trustworthy with you, so he hasn't lost shoulder privileges with you. Until he demonstrates that he's trustworthy with others, he has just lost them...

For now... until he's re-trained...
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I have said it a million times: BIRDS THAT ARE BITING NEED TO BE HANDLED MORE- NOT LESS...

Birds that are biting strangers need additional socialization around strangers.

One exercise we used to do when a group of people had "one person" birds, was a game of "pass the birdie"... Sitting around in a circle. Stranger offers the bird a treat. Now, you'll get another one if you step up nice...

Next stranger offers a treat. Now, you'll get another one if you step up nice...

And so it goes until he ends up back with his owner after stepping up for strangers...

Step two, after he masters this one, is STRANGER TOUCHING... same deal. One for stepping up. One for allowing a light touch.

Step three, after he masters that one, STRANGER HEAD SCRATCH... By then, strangers are a good thing...

Some birds pick it up right away. Others, not so much...
 

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