Conure conundrum!

I need advice -- I am torn about what to do. I was given a dusky conure (for free) by an older gentleman whose health is declining. He had he sexed in 2011, so I'm not even sure how old she is. He said if she didn't work out he would take her back until he found a good home.

She is a little nippy (sometimes a little hard), but I attributed that to the stress of moving homes and missing her previous owner. He clipped her wings and so she is out of her cage (on top) all day unless I am not home. I spend as much time as I can with her. She likes to cuddle and burrow under a towel in my lap. I really like her, but I was told she wouldn't be as loud as some of the other conures, but she is. I had a tiel before and so that is what I compare her to. Her scream is so high-pitched it hurts my ears.

I called him to discuss my situation and that I really am attached to her, but I really want whats best for her. I asked him how much he let her out of her cage/played with her and he said "she doesn't get out of her cage". That broke my heart, I just don't want to send her back there. He gave me the cage with her and it's 22 w X 26 h. Now I don't feel like I can send her back, but I'm not sure what to do do keep her. Bigger cage? I do have toys but she hasn't shown any interest in any of them. Did I mention she loves sitting on my shoulder and I have to keep a few old t-shirts to put on, because she will chew holes in them in minutes. I also have 2 older dachsunds, who I don't trust so if I am not in the office where I keep her, I have to close the glass door.

I thought about looking for another home for her, but this gentleman is the father of a friend of mind and he would find out.

Any ideas?

Sounds more like an problematic dilemma than a conundrum. I absolutely understand why you wouldn't return the bird back to this man, if he didn't even let her out of the cage. But then again he sadly might not have had the energy to take proper care of the bird because of his health decline. But on the other side he must have had a strong bond to the bird, since he at least gave you the opporitunity to return her if she was too much trouble for you, so he must also know that she has developed problematic behaviours such as execssive screaming, although he told you she was not as loud as other conures. I think it pretty common for most people in a desperate bird-owning situation like he is, would try to sell you the idea that she is oh so delightful. But it actually sounds like this bird really likes you, and that maybe the attention you're giving her now, is what she has craved for god knows how long. So maybe the screaming will decrease, if you really take the time to keep her busy and active. Maybe she has sitten in a cage so long that she has forgotten how to forage and play with toys. If you decide to keep her, i hope you will! Then it's your most noble job to slowly getting her used to a better live with you, she will love you for that, the bird is probably more desperate for help than the man who used to own her. Learn her how to forage, wrap some treats/nuts in paper and let her find out shred the paper until she finds the treat. But maybe you should wait a bit with that, and slowly let her settle with you to begin with. She will be stressed out the first couple of weeks, let her settle in, and give her something to do, show her how wonderful life can be with you. Fill a bowl with clean water, and let her bathe, conures loves to bathe. Introduce her to new foods every day, tasteful fruits and funny veggies, hasselnuts, walnuts, hemp seeds, anything you can think of will help better her situation and recover from the lousy life she's been living with her previous owner. Just make sure that anything you introduce to her is bird safe, ask google. And if you think you can give her a better cage than the one that came with her, do it! This will also represent a new start for her, it will maybe even solve the execssive screaming, because she will be introduced to a new trauma-free environment, maybe the old cage keeps inforcing the same old behaviour.

How long have you had her now?

Im just guessing here... the screaming (contact call) you get when you leave the room?? That's typical but CAN be worked with. Holes in the t shirts?? Welcome to Conure World! Closet full myself. My conure loves to burrow too.. part gopher methinks.
Hate for you to give the bird up. He sounds adorable for a bird that's never been out of cage much. Birds finally got a lil freedom and someone to interact with!! I'll be glad to help you with the contact calls if you think u can keep that lil darling. I have my birds contact calls down to almost none. First thing you do is call back when they call to you...do that for starters. And using short phrases let the bird know your intent. (are you gonna be out of site for a while or just stepping out of the room). They learn the dif...hence don't get excited when ya gotta go potty or something.
As for toys... Booger doesn't care much for birdie toys... give him a paper towel to attack... a toilet paper roll to chew.. hes a happy lil camper. And he will wear lips out givin sugar.

welcome. Yes bit of a conundrum.

She most likely is quiet for a conure. But remember the bigger conures like Suns are stupidly loud (I've been stood next to one going toe to toe in a shouting match with an Umbrella Cockatoo) and they're all high-pitched screeches which isn't pleasant, meanwhile Cockatiels are some of the quietest parrots going and they prefer to whistle or chirrup which is more pleasant.

I think health is the reason she wasn't able to come out, he knew he couldn't keep up. It's why he entrusted her to you. Now I don't think giving her away is right, it's not fair on anyone involved and I don't think giving her back is right either unless there's good reason. Now the questions are, are your neighbours bothered by her? Is she actively at risk? Is she happy? Do you enjoy her? Now for the last 2 clearly you like her and she does at least appear happy she just needs to learn how to play which you can teach her easily by very simply, playing yourself!

Safety, does she crash constantly? You keep the dogs out which is good I don't entirely trust predator animals around birds having know my parent's pets. She's clipped so it may be best to keep that going as she may have been clipped for many years so IMO that's a time when clips should be upheld to keep her safe and not stress her out.

Neighbours. what kind of home are you in? Try going round the neighbours and preemptively apologize to them, explain that you have been given a bird and you're working on teaching her to be quiet. Offer some cake, it's hard to be angry with cake in your mouth and they will know you're aware and doing what you can to avoid bothering them. You may even get some interest in your bird, I had a neighbour ask if they could come see my conure when I spoke to them and everyone in my apartment block always stops for a chat if they see me now. All over a tiny extension of the olive branch so to speak.

I think you clearly like her and whilst yes she does have flaws it's not her fault. Try and stick with it and only give her away if it becomes impossible to care for her. You get used to the calls after a while and even relish hearing them want to know where you've gone.

Oh and as for the chewing of your shirt, a soft wood toy should help her stop that pretty quick!

Welcome and be welcomed. Keep her and work on the contact calls. You have gotten some good information above, and there is lots more in the conure subforum. The calls can definately be reduced, but not 100% eliminated. Read, read, read - that will save this little girl from the trash heap of unwanted birds, all she wants is to be part of a flock that loves her. Hang in there, be patient and proceed at the parrots pace not yours. Good luck.

Thank you to those that have already given me good advice. I have had her almost 2 weeks now. I consider myself a pretty responsible person which is why I am struggling so much with the decision. My dogs are older, I definitely don't trust them, but am keeping the office door closed when I'm not in it. I tried to "introduce" them, my mail is a little more interested in her, so I held him and let her see him and she promptly gave him a little peck on the nose. He keeps his distance pretty well since then.

I have decided to keep her and am going to read up on trying to calm down the calls. I also have my work cut out for me with her food as she mostly only ate cockatiel food, so she eats sunflowers and not much else. She will eat a little apple. But so far doesn't like corn, dried papaya, banana, or peas. I will keep trying. Will probably also get a bigger cage so I won't feel so guilty when she has to be in it, although she pretty much stays in one spot when she is in it.

Thanks again to everyone.

I'm glad you rescued this darling, and I love that you are reaching out and willing to work on issues.

I have the largest conure... a Patagonian... and his noise has been always been a huge challenge. I have never had much success with modifying it. I think it is just part of his hard wiring. Granted, also, that the Rb has me wrapped around his little talon.

Triggs, you got that right! It *IS* hard to be mad with cake in your mouth.... or doughnuts or burgers or milkshakes. I once had a new neighbor move into the condo next to me. I helped them move in, apologizing for the conure they could already hear, and left them with a gift certificate to a nearby doughnut place. About once a week, I would leave another certificate to a local fast food, ice cream, or doughnut joint. I'm pretty sure the bird disturbed them, probably a lot, but they couldn't bring themselves to complain.

I guess I'll sink as low as I have to for my little monster.

I am still trying to make it work with this little girl, I'm not trying to be unfair and confuse her with moving again. I also don't want to be selfish, I really want what's best for her, maybe being with the other lady who has a dusky already would make her happy.

Would a bigger cage make any difference? Hers seems a little on the small side to me (22w x 24 h).

depedean said:

I am still trying to make it work with this little girl, I'm not trying to be unfair and confuse her with moving again. I also don't want to be selfish, I really want what's best for her, maybe being with the other lady who has a dusky already would make her happy.

Would a bigger cage make any difference? Hers seems a little on the small side to me (22w x 24 h).

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You never know really. Those birds could hate each other. Take a breathe and calm down, it sounds like she's adjusting to you and clearly likes you. Try just rolling with it for now it's not like you can't find her a new home further down the line if it's needed.

That cage sounds like it may be a bit snug. Simple rule is they need to be able to stretch their wings out all the way

I have come to the conclusion with my little fellow that human time scales or plans of any kind are kind of irrelevant to these little birds. Any preconceived ideas you might have about how this will pan out are a waste of time. Your little one is not your pet - you are her's, and she will be laying down the rules certainly in the early days until she decides that you are her flock and then you will get some say.

Certainly at first the only considerations are food - plentiful and good? Do you taste feel good? Are you good to be around, and are you learning what I need? Are you bothering to understand my body language and back off when I am not interested/frightened/tired etc?
I think once you have shown that you can pass those tests for some time then they start to trust you enough to let you lay down some rules without being too scared.
Get her a bigger cage if she needs it. Don't make the swap too quickly, leave it where she can look at it and decide it isn't a threat. The same with toys, vary things a bit to keep her interested. Mine loves to be challenged by the cage interior design changes. Keep the existing cage as a sleep cage maybe. Since making that change with Syd he is much more settled and rested, and totally understands the movement from one to the other and what it means.
The degrees of settling down are small and almost un-noticed but suddenly one day you will recognise how far you have both come. Just be determined to give her time and don't worry about the occasional backward step.

Did you keep or re-home?
I would have advised that being alone in a room while everything else is going on outside the room would be upsetting to a social parrot. They want to part of everything and see what's going on. They are flock animals and being isolated was leading to the contact calls.