A lesson learned

T00tsyd

Well-known member
May 8, 2017
1,256
862
UK
Parrots
Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
Last night I was very late putting Syd to bed. He had gone into 2nd wind and was as high as a kite when I finally covered him. For over half an hour he played peek a boo by diving to the bottom of the cage where he could see out. I made a mental note that he might be evil and tired today.

I was right. He was hyperactive when he wasn't nodding off and attacked me at every opportunity with a new gleam in his eye! So tonight he went to bed just a tad early as he was dropping off anyway. Boy did he complain! For a good 20 mins he screeched and squawked and peek a boo'd for all he was worth. If he had been a naughty child he would have been calling for drinks cuddles and any other ploy possible.Then silence and there hasn't been a peep all evening.

Let's see what kind of mood he is in tomorrow.....
 
Last edited:

itzjbean

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2017
2,572
Media
4
119
Iowa, USA
Parrots
2 cockatiels
He sounds just like a toddler!! Tantrums and all! LOL hope he wakes up on the right side of the bed next time!!
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
8,742
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Yessssssssssssssssss, the bedtime hour is HOLY!!!!!!

Funny story, though. Sorry! :03:
 

keakea

New member
May 9, 2017
39
2
High Desert of California
Parrots
Jenday Conure, Percival,
Goffins Cockatoos, Sunnybelle and Sadieloo, Cockatiel, Alfie
Funny, I love to cuddle with Percival and will sometimes selfishly keep him up too late. He loves to go inside my shirt and cuddle and will usually fall asleep while I'm reading or watching a movie and then I have to wake him up and put him in his sleep cage and I've noticed that no matter how late it is when I finally put him in there he always wakes up around 6:15 - 6:45 AM so I really should be putting him to bed undisturbed much sooner than I am. His demeanor seems fine the next day regardless but nevertheless I don't think it is good for him to miss out on quality sleep. I just love staying up late with him though!
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
OMG, this is sooo Skitty.

Skittles doesn't have a "set in stone" bedtime. He has a bedtime 'range' of 7p-9p. He lets me know when he is tired and wants to go to bed. It often depends on when I wake him up.

He too loves to climb in my shirt and cuddle. He will press his head on my chest and close his eyes. He will do this throughout the day though. I like to nap sometimes in the afternoon and if I nap more than an hour or two he has a hissy fit. He really does require at LEAST 2-4 hrs of 'direct' interaction each day. He may be free flighted all day, but its not enough for him. He wants attention. I actually like that he is so needy. It makes me feel needed and gives me a reason to get up in the morning.

It's also the perfect excuse to avoid going to see family or spending time with those pesky annoying humans that irritate the crap out of us.
 

keakea

New member
May 9, 2017
39
2
High Desert of California
Parrots
Jenday Conure, Percival,
Goffins Cockatoos, Sunnybelle and Sadieloo, Cockatiel, Alfie
OMG, this is sooo Skitty.

Skittles doesn't have a "set in stone" bedtime. He has a bedtime 'range' of 7p-9p. He lets me know when he is tired and wants to go to bed. It often depends on when I wake him up.

He too loves to climb in my shirt and cuddle. He will press his head on my chest and close his eyes. He will do this throughout the day though. I like to nap sometimes in the afternoon and if I nap more than an hour or two he has a hissy fit. He really does require at LEAST 2-4 hrs of 'direct' interaction each day. He may be free flighted all day, but its not enough for him. He wants attention. I actually like that he is so needy. It makes me feel needed and gives me a reason to get up in the morning.

It's also the perfect excuse to avoid going to see family or spending time with those pesky annoying humans that irritate the crap out of us.

LOL! So true! I really think that Conures are just the perfect pets!
 
OP
T00tsyd

T00tsyd

Well-known member
May 8, 2017
1,256
862
UK
Parrots
Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Well lo and behold he is as right as rain today. It's a very dull gloomy day here today so we are all a bit on the quiet side but the evil gleam has gone from his eye and it is more of a twinkle. His play is less manic and he has reduced the nipping from yesterday.

He is very young still only about 15/16 weeks, but he does seem very hormonal. Not that I have any bird experience of these things. He is ducking his head nearly every time he looks at me and I was almost certain he was up to no good perched on top of a ball yesterday. Surely he's too young for that sort of thing? Perhaps I should censor the newspapers at the bottom of the cage!
 

keakea

New member
May 9, 2017
39
2
High Desert of California
Parrots
Jenday Conure, Percival,
Goffins Cockatoos, Sunnybelle and Sadieloo, Cockatiel, Alfie
Well lo and behold he is as right as rain today. It's a very dull gloomy day here today so we are all a bit on the quiet side but the evil gleam has gone from his eye and it is more of a twinkle. His play is less manic and he has reduced the nipping from yesterday.

He is very young still only about 15/16 weeks, but he does seem very hormonal. Not that I have any bird experience of these things. He is ducking his head nearly every time he looks at me and I was almost certain he was up to no good perched on top of a ball yesterday. Surely he's too young for that sort of thing? Perhaps I should censor the newspapers at the bottom of the cage!

I think the head bobbing just means he wants attention. My Percival did that a lot when I brought him home and still does it when he sees me and wants me to come get him and he is very young, hatched in Nov '16.
 

Inger

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
3,395
826
Everett, WA
Parrots
Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
It's also the perfect excuse to avoid going to see family or spending time with those pesky annoying humans that irritate the crap out of us.


RIGHT? Even better with parrotlets, who have a reputation for becoming untamed within a couple of days.

"Oh gosh your two year old's Chucky Cheese birthday party sounds so fun but if I don't spend some time with Bumble every day....."

And related to the OP, I am out of the house at least 11 hours a day during the work week, so I also selfishly keep Bumble up longer than I should, but a couple of times this week I've gone out in the evening and put her to bed earlier, so she gets closer her 12 hours. She's much sweeter the next day.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
Skittles has some pretty understandable gestures which make communication between us excellent.

When he wants pitrubs, he lifts his wing and leans to the other side. When he wants to come out, he leans forward and 'vibrates'. When he wants something, he rapidly bobs his head and makes kissy noises. If he is REALLY excited his whole body will bob up and down.

I mostly had budgies and cockatiels before I got Skittles. While I still love both of those species, they really are a LOT less maintenance. By that I mean I think tiels and budgies have an easier time staying amused and entertaining themselves than conures do. I have just found Skittles is very co-dependent. He prefers to interact with me than any of his toys. With my lifestyle, he is the ideal pet. I actually prefer 'needy birds'. Its just much more healthy for me mentally and emotionally.
 
OP
T00tsyd

T00tsyd

Well-known member
May 8, 2017
1,256
862
UK
Parrots
Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
That's amazing. I haven't got the hang of that yet although he makes a lot of noise when I come into the house even if I have only been in the garden (yard). I guess he is saying hello in his own way. I shall have to study harder and see if there are other behaviours that really mean something.
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
Conures are VERY expressive. lol. It won't take long before you and him have your own brand of communication mastered.

Believe me, conures have absolutely NO problem telling you what they don't like and demanding you do what they command. lol.

They are master manipulators. It's adorable to see- as long as you don't let it get out of hand and give in to demands that'll lead to bad behavior (ie not setting boundaries etc). You can have a happy medium with them. Using their means of communication can often prevent excessive screaming- at least for me it does.

Skittles may make noise when he wants certain things that are okay for him to have/do or doesn't like something. I listen to that and he knows I do. He also knows that screaming incessantly won't get him his way. It'll get him a timeout. (ie screaming when daddy's on the phone). That used to be a MAJOR problem with him, now it isn't. He knows it doesn't work for that.

They are MUCH smarter than we may think.
 
OP
T00tsyd

T00tsyd

Well-known member
May 8, 2017
1,256
862
UK
Parrots
Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
LOL! Thanks for that. I am getting to know that he is pretty manipulative and I 'm no sucker. At the moment he's pretty cute but I do know he will need nurturing into the adult he needs to be. Fingers crossed!
 

Skittys_Daddy

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2014
2,172
63
Lewiston, Maine
Parrots
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
Yeah, setting limits and proper boundaries is important and being consistent with them is paramount.

Believe me, they WILL try to cross them and they'll do it very sneakily.
 
OP
T00tsyd

T00tsyd

Well-known member
May 8, 2017
1,256
862
UK
Parrots
Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #15
So since this, bedtime has been sacrosanct. There's just one problem. He doesn't think mine is. He wakes me up too early. He starts quietly enough but gets progressively louder. This starts the dog off who it seems has a low threshold for noise in the mornings and thus he makes certain that I awake much earlier than I should.

I suspect the dynamics in my household is changed forever, never to return to the calm and peace once enjoyed in boring contentment!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top