New Conure...Biting

Mm6393

New member
Jun 25, 2017
46
0
Ann Arbor, MI
Parrots
Sun Conure
GCC
4 beautiful budgies
So I just adopted my two year old sun conure named Merri from a friend. There she was given fresh food and water but was given lots of human interaction time.. She has picked up a few words here and there and seems very friendly. She would step up and give kisses. My friends had to move so I adopted Merri yesterday thinking she would be like how she was back home. But I tried to pick her up once and she bit me. Not hard but it was enough to show me that she wanted me to back off. She's very friendly when In the cage tho. She talks to me and interacts fine. She's eating and drinking. But she just doesn't want to step out of the cage at all. I own four budgies and another conure. They were all very friendly when I first adopted them. Now I know I need to give her space and I've backed off since then and I am just waiting for her to get used to her new home. But my question is, when do I start working with her and will she just be a conure that doesn't want to be interacted with? Where do I go from here. I really do love and care for her and am willing to give her the best life possible.
 

Puck

New member
Mar 8, 2015
802
4
Don't worry that she will never be a sweetie. One day is no time to adjust to a new environment--you shouldn't expect her to be just like she was right away. Her whole life has just been turned upside down. Think of it as a small child who lost the place and the people they new well suddenly. It takes time to adjust. She will need to get used to her new environment and learn to trust you. Leave her alone to adjust to her settings, lowering your interactions to sitting next to her cage and talking to her or reading to her. Give her time to feel secure again before you start trying to handle her. Don't worry; if she was a sweetheart then that personality hasn't disappeared! She just needs time to adjust. :)
 

janquito

Member
Aug 10, 2016
139
0
Wisconsin
Parrots
Two green cheek conures, one sun conure, and two quakers.
Also, remember that they will check to be sure that whatever they're stepping up on is sturdy. They will "bite" to make sure it is. I'd had that happen in the beginning and thought it was a bite but after I found that out, I realize that most of the time that's what they're doing. I hope this isn't rambling; I'm tired.

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Mm6393

New member
Jun 25, 2017
46
0
Ann Arbor, MI
Parrots
Sun Conure
GCC
4 beautiful budgies
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Yes! Thank you so much! It's so funny! Right after I typed out this post she was dancing and bobbing her head. Every time we made eye contact she would lower her head to me. So I decided to give her a head scratch and she loved it! She doesn't like to step up yet but she seems so comfortable being handled in the cage. I'll buy some treats for her tomorrow and will begin step up training in the next week or so
 

Notdumasilook

New member
Jul 28, 2015
539
6
Charlotte, NC
Parrots
Blue Fronted Amazon, Cookie..Sun Conure..lil Booger (RIP) Have owned Parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, pocket parrot, and quakers.
I call what you got a "protest bite". Well shy of a bloodthirsty offensive bite they can do. She was saying no in the nicest birdie way she knows how. Some birds can be a lil defensive inside their cages but once out become totally laid back. My lil Booger will attack with gusto if you get near his food, treats, or toys. Otherwise hes totally oozing sweetness. I do not bother trying to train out that particular biting behavior cuz its obvious its instinctive. Lil birds come from a rough environment and gotta make up for the small size when it comes to eating. I just respect his instincts and don't trigger the bite... problem solved.
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
I guess you were given the cage along with her which would explain why she's quite happy there. Currently that place is safe to her, the rest of the place is scary an unknown. Try sitting with the door open and a couple of her favorite treats in sight for her to go ravage. I hope she's being quarantined from the other birds
 

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