Am I doing something wrong or is that just how he is?

BriansAWildDowner

New member
Jun 17, 2014
36
0
Denton, TX
Parrots
Green Cheek Conure named Raku
My green cheek conure, Raku, doesn't seem to care about anything in the world other than sunflower seeds. Rarely he will let me scratch his head or even really interact with me much while I have him out of his cage, but mostly all he does is stare at the cup of sunflower seeds and say his name until i give him one.

If that's just how he is then I don't want to try and force him to do anything. But if that's the result of me doing something wrong or failing to do something for him I'd like to correct it. Also, when he's out of his cage, he wants to be on me pretty much all the time. Occasionally he'll get down and explore some which i try to encourage but for the most part if i try and get him to step off of me and on to a table he resists. If he does do it he immediately wants back on me.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 

janquito

Member
Aug 10, 2016
139
0
Wisconsin
Parrots
Two green cheek conures, one sun conure, and two quakers.
Maybe don't have the sunflower seeds in his sight. If he still needs them in order to respond to what you want him to do, have one in your hand but I don't think I would use them as an incentive after he's done things. He should, after a time, do things on "command" w/o being "bribed". It's taken me a long while to get my sun to come to me. He's just now starting to go off of me to explore. He's a rescue I got a little over a year ago. I also have a gcc who'd love to wander all over the place if I let him,although he'd stay on or next to me just to get out of the aviary.
I've read that sunflower seeds aren't very good for birds. Too much fat, I think. Maybe use something that's better for him or use the sunflower seeds only on occasion.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 

Flboy

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2014
12,598
4,101
Greater Orlando area, Florida
Parrots
JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
Also remember, not all sunflower seeds are created equal! The oily ones from what I understand are the least healthy. The sunflower seeds I treat JoJo with are approximately a third of the size of a standard sunflower seed with a powdery dull finish.
 

DerTier

New member
Jan 27, 2017
177
3
Pierce cty wa usa
There does exist a class of "too high of value" treats to train with haha, I've heard sunflowers are parrot crack so you may have to phase them out with a lower value treat. Yes he may complain but that should be a phase.
 

Owlet

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2016
2,750
1,886
Colorado
Parrots
Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
Lincoln is kind of like that. 90% of the time I think he just uses me for almonds but then i compare his behaviour when I first got him and now. When I go out of sight even if amother family member is with him he sqwuaks until I come back. Before he'd just sit there and shake. When I come home from school his eyes pin and he rushes to the door and immediately climbs onto my hand, before he'd be grumpy because I woke him up and bite at me. He sometimes leans into the scratches, unsure, sometimes he still bites at me when I try to touch him. Lincoln will still be Lincoln, the bird he isn't big on touches and loves almonds, but he loves me too.
Watch your guys behaviour and compare it to when you first got him, you might be surprised!
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Sunflower seeds are generally not the healthiest* of foods. To Raku it is the equivalent of a burger and fries. Giving 1 or 2 per day is fine, but I wouldn't make it a staple. Almond pieces are a better bet. Some of my birds love Cheerios - one of the least "offensive" cereals from the POV of fat/salt/sugar. I've also given plain wheat/rice Chex as treat.

*There is some debate over the protein/fat potential of certain sunflower seeds. Certain varieties are higher in protein.
 

Chuy62

New member
Mar 7, 2017
34
0
Chuy loves apples, seeds, and yogurt......he is all over his cage! Up and down, hanging upside down, twisting his head around......he loves to beak himself in the mirror. He's starting to let me rub his head more and more....but respect his territory and stay out of his cage...
Lol

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
 

Most Reactions

Top