Better understanding my GGC

Slash

New member
Jan 18, 2016
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Parrots
Green cheek conure
I recently got a new green cheek and all is well except when I have him out he squaks then tries to fly away even though his wings are clipped. When I go to pick him up he hoops right back on my finger before I can give the command then not ten minutes later he tries to fly away again any ideas on why he does this and how I can get him to stop would be great thanks.
 

Piasa

Member
Jan 12, 2016
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USA Nomad
Parrots
Beau 20 year old male Green Cheek || Jimmy Bullet 17 year old female white cap pionus parrot
Where does he seem to be going when he flies off?

Are you picking him back up from the floor? He might want to play on his own or get to something specific and is just using you for a ride. Or, something could be scaring him (the squawk could be a danger call).

Watch him and see if you can see a pattern. Not always easy to figure out, but when you do it is priceless info.
 
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Slash

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Jan 18, 2016
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Green cheek conure
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When he flies off he usually lands on the floor and just walks around as far as danger its just us and its quiet so I'm not sure what the danger is and he is constantly squawking while he walks around
 
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Piasa

Member
Jan 12, 2016
569
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USA Nomad
Parrots
Beau 20 year old male Green Cheek || Jimmy Bullet 17 year old female white cap pionus parrot
Danger doesn't have to be noise. Dogs or flying birds out the window, or moving shadows, wearing a baseball cap - all these things scare my green cheek. Their senses are much more acute than ours and they are built to always be vigilant.

If he's not scared by something, he probably just wants to play/explore on the floor or get to something interesting.

How to fix? Well.. it depends why he is doing it. If he has a play stand, having it be high enough to make him feel like the big boss, having things on it that interest him - he can play here while he gets used to you. He'll want to play with you too, but sometimes you have to give them space. They are like us. They love attention and being social, but they need private time too. Play stand gives him a private place to be that isn't dangerous like the floor. Find out what makes him want to go to the floor and then make the play stand BETTER. Or make sitting with you BETTER! You have to replace the floor as the interesting place to be.

Adjusting behavior takes time. Just keep positively reinforcing the things that you like, and those will be the things he will want to do.
 

Grraarrgghh

New member
Jan 5, 2015
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Calgary, Alberta
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"Albert" - Female Red Bellied Parrot - 1y3m (Oct 8th, 2014), "Martha" - Unknown Yellow-Sided GCC - 11m (Feb 13th 2015)
Yeah GCCs are giant wussbags who get freaked out at anything.
 

rosembers

New member
Nov 15, 2015
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My GCC is not a "giant wussbag" at all. I'm not sure what that even means, is that a serious statement? GCC's are too confident for their own good lol.

It sort of sounds like he might be wanting to fly and stretch and exercise, and is maybe confused about why he's not able to (since his wings are clipped). It would be like lining up for a race, and they blow the "go" whistle (such as when you let him out) and you try to run and your legs don't work right...you'd be like WHAT!? What's going on?! I want to run but I can't! Just in my humble opinion, he probably wants to fly and is confused about why he can't. My GCC LOVES to fly around when I first let her out. She gets a few good laps around the house in and then she's glued to me.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Does your green cheek willingly step up on your hand? Or do you have to force him out?

When he's with you, have you tried teaching him any behaviors or interacting with him and some toys at all?



It might help if you can get it on video?
 

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