One on one time, undivided attention

Pilaf

New member
Jun 29, 2017
166
2
Montreal, Canada
Parrots
Pineapple/cinnamon green cheek conure
I have my 3 month old green cheek Echo now for 2 weeks. And it's going great. He's actually out of his cage almost the whole day. He's mostly playing on his play stand. He loves it. I'm an artist working from home and when I'm working on my drawings he plays nicely on his play stand. I also have one on one time with him. Then I sit with him and play with foot toys (I also try to teach him the colours of his toys a bit), he sits on my knee or on my hand playing with foot toys. We also look out of the window together. He sits on my hand and I tell him about the things that are happening outside, like the cars and the people walking by (we live on the third floor), and the trees, and the sky etc. I also knock on the window and explain to him that it is hard and that he can't fly through it. He seems to really enjoy it. I also have a few very short training sessions (about a minute or 2 each time), like stepping up and down, and harness training. And we have some cuddle time as well, I scratch his neck and head, as long as he likes it. I always pay very good attention to his body language. I just hope I'm giving him enough attention. I don't want to rush into anything of course, and force things, so I'm taking it very easy. But I also don't want him to grow up feeling like he only has to entertain himself. So I am wondering how much one on one time you spend with your green cheek. I mean like really giving him undivided attention. Also considering that he's only been with me for 2 weeks so far. Should I start training him other things or wait a bit? I'm also thinking about what to teach him actually. What is important?
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
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Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
biting and stepping up are the major things. Apart from that socializing and playing on their own

As long as he's okay with your sessions it's fine. Just make sure you can keep up this attention. A lot of people give 100% attention when they're a new addition and cute and cuddly, but then they drop the attention to what would be more natural which can upset them. Makes it a good time to teach them to play alone for a while so they don't have to be attached to you 24/7.

I would take a look at your paints, many have fumes we can't smell that can harm your bird. I'm not sure which ones, lead based obviously are bad but I'm not sure of others. hopefully other members will be able to help a bit better.

Good to see you've got him through biting and he's calming a bit
 
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Pilaf

Pilaf

New member
Jun 29, 2017
166
2
Montreal, Canada
Parrots
Pineapple/cinnamon green cheek conure
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  • #3
biting and stepping up are the major things. Apart from that socializing and playing on their own

As long as he's okay with your sessions it's fine. Just make sure you can keep up this attention. A lot of people give 100% attention when they're a new addition and cute and cuddly, but then they drop the attention to what would be more natural which can upset them. Makes it a good time to teach them to play alone for a while so they don't have to be attached to you 24/7.

I would take a look at your paints, many have fumes we can't smell that can harm your bird. I'm not sure which ones, lead based obviously are bad but I'm not sure of others. hopefully other members will be able to help a bit better.

Good to see you've got him through biting and he's calming a bit

I'm giving him exactly the time I can give him long term. Since I'm an artist from home.
About paints: I'm not a painter. I don't use paint. I only make pencil drawings, so there are no fumes. Only pencils (which he doesn't have access too) :)

He gets a lot of alone time on his play stand and he entertains himself a lot. Also when I go outside for groceries or anything else he's in his cage where he has a lot of toys as well. He seems to have fun in his cage as well. And he doesn't;t scream when I'm out. I have been studying in front of my front door a few times to listen if he was quiet when I'm not there. But he's very quiet.

I also give him foraging toys, so he can play to find nice food.
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
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Surrey, UK
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Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
sounds good then!

I did see one simple foraging opportunity is to put some paper over their food bowl, so they can still see the food, have it tucked in so the paper can't easily be moved then they gotta tear the paper to get the food. It looked quite fun and an easy toy to start with. My guy had a foraging wheel in his cage (they have to spin the wheel for seed to fall out) although whilst recommended for a Green Cheek the toy was bigger than him so he couldn't do it so he would just stand on it. It was more an African Grey toy really
 
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Pilaf

Pilaf

New member
Jun 29, 2017
166
2
Montreal, Canada
Parrots
Pineapple/cinnamon green cheek conure
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  • #5
sounds good then!

I did see one simple foraging opportunity is to put some paper over their food bowl, so they can still see the food, have it tucked in so the paper can't easily be moved then they gotta tear the paper to get the food. It looked quite fun and an easy toy to start with. My guy had a foraging wheel in his cage (they have to spin the wheel for seed to fall out) although whilst recommended for a Green Cheek the toy was bigger than him so he couldn't do it so he would just stand on it. It was more an African Grey toy really

Thank you. I was just about to buy the same foraging toy for him, that wheel you are talking about, I think it's the same I saw. But it's quite big indeed. He might be afraid of it. The paper over the food bowl sounds like a good idea!
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
the wheel seems to suddenly become less scary when filled with seed haha!

I might send the company an email asking if they were open to making a smaller version for the less physically strong parrots. I bet a Conure would get it almost instantly if it ws small enough. Mine understood after a few minutes he had to grab the handle but he just wasn't able to move it
 
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Pilaf

Pilaf

New member
Jun 29, 2017
166
2
Montreal, Canada
Parrots
Pineapple/cinnamon green cheek conure
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  • #7
That would be a good idea, to send the company an email. Would be nice to have smaller versions.
 

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