Green cheek conures bumps in windows trying to get out

SFJake

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Dec 16, 2010
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I'll make this long story short. She's been in the family for at least 2 years now. Its me, my father and my mom. Me and my mom go along the bird very well, but my father has a ... particular relationship with the bird. Often she'll "aim" at him when he leaves, and whines when he's in the basement with the light open, for example. However, she never stays on him and he never allows it.


The problem: Recently she got close as he was leaving and, like usual, he wanted to push her way, but though "hey, lets hit her with my coat." She fall down on a shoe, and he kicked the shoe. She screamed and rapidly flew over to the other side of the room, hitting a window and falling down.

He left, I took the bird and she looked fine. But she seemed hesitant (more than ever) to get on our fingers and such. And when my mother tried again, she went nuts and flew away, hit a window, then flew away to the other side, hit the front door's window. Then she stopped and I tried to took her before she flew away again. I didn't hurt her but she looked extremely scared and left quite a few sounds until she calmed down slightly.


Now, she's staying on my mother's shoulder (most of the time, she's on her), and she refuses to take anything, to get on anybody's finger, even her favorite occasional food, like cereals, which she always takes, well now.. she doesn't.


I won't dispute the stupidity of my father's action but I'm worried about the bird, obviously. I don't know what else to say, I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to help her or if it'll just come back to normal with time. I don't want her to go crazy again and hurt or kill herself...
 

SharonC

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May 26, 2010
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I would suggest that you keep the bird in a bedroom, where someone who cares about her, can spend time. I wouldn't allow her to be in the same room as your father.
She's scared to death, and with good reason. She may respond positively to a lot of gentle attention, but really...maybe you could find her a good home, elsewhere.
 

Spiritbird

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I totally agree with you Sharon. This bird will have a more enriched life in another home. All of the family is the flock and if one member of the flock is abusing a bird please find another flock for this bird asap!! I appreciate that you brought this up on the forum for suggestions. It says alot about you as a person. Parrots have a long memory.
 

bogo1

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Okay ...you are in a nightmare here and so is your bird. She is clearly terrified. She is in a flight or fight mode but is apparently willing to give your mom the benefit of the doubt. I have 30+ years with conures so I am not going to pull any punches. That said, you are far closer to the situation and will have to choose your path in the end. I recommend :
1) Have the bird vet checked if at all possible. If she is okay, strongly consider having her clipped for her own protection. A vet knows how to do this so she can still fly but can't get serious loft or speed.
2) For now, I would not ever have the bird out when your dad is present. Her reaction will be either fight or flight and neither is in her best interest. If dad is unable to use good judgment around this conure then you need to make absolutely certain that they do not encounter each other. I am not passing judgment, merely stating facts.
3) This one will be especially hard for you as you clearly love this bird but for right now, you need to back off. She has been through a trust destroying experience and she amazingly is willing to still stay close to a human. I am sure it hurts that it is your mom over you, but it is what she wants for now and it is best to support her choice. Just be nearby but don't push her in any way. You will win her trust back with time and understanding if you don't rush her.
4) be patient with her. Coming back from this sort of trauma could take months. Remember she is not to blame here and she needs and deserves your understanding. Let me know if the vet visit is not an option and I will try to explain a safe, no lift clip. But regardless of your opinion in general on clipping, if this bird keeps flying hard into windows she is going to be badly hurt.
 
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SFJake

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I'd be extremely sad if I had to separate with my bird... Understand, this is a rare occurrence. My father doesn't attack her normally. But this time, he did. Don't worry, we all told him loud and clear. He's generally nice and gives her food (but not attention), like the rest of us.

For now he's back and her attitude the bird is a bit more like it was.

I don't want an exception to change everything. She doesn't look scared of him right now, even though she panicked earlier. But when she panicked, he was gone. It makes no sense to me.

Assuming he doesn't do anything like that ever again, is it still bad to keep her here? I'd rather they just ignore each other. Its fine like that. However she does seem quite obsessed with my father at times. In a non-aggressive way, I mean.

If possible, I'd rather have a way to make the relation with my father and the bird more.. stable. And don't worry, me and my other are very defensive with the bird and give her all the love she needs (if not too much!). She's not scared of either of us normally. So you understand me if I want to make this work...

EDIT:

2) For now, I would not ever have the bird out when your dad is present. Her reaction will be either fight or flight and neither is in her best interest. If dad is unable to use good judgment around this conure then you need to make absolutely certain that they do not encounter each other. I am not passing judgment, merely stating facts.

Yet thats not the case right now. She stopped being evasive and isn't aggressive. Though he doesn't get -that- close to her. It doesn't look like she got hurt at all, just scared? Because this isn't exactly fitting with what I'm getting from you guys.

Understand I wrote this just as it happened. I'm getting worst case scenarios, but I'm not noticing what you guys are telling me. Maybe my emotions exaggerated the events, since I wrote my first post right as it happened. But she seems fine right now.. Though I will get her checked.

I'll try to play with her and see if she reacts, (hide & seeks and stuff, if she's joyful I know how she'll react), of course only if she's not hesitant.
 
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bogo1

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I repeat, if she were mine I would avoid putting her in harm's way.I would avoid potential risk by reducing opportunities where she is vulnerable to careless acts or her own panicked flight. I am glad that in retrospect you feel you may have exaggerated what happened, but the bird's behavior, as you described it was indicative of panic, the kind of panic that can get a conure seriously hurt. I am glad for all that your father realizes his act was wrong. But for now I recommend a cautious approach. She is a good natured bird apparently but she was shook by the experience.
 
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SFJake

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I understand, I'll do as you said and I'll take any necessary precautions so it doesn't happen again and she doesn't hurt herself. Thanks for all your inputs.
 

bogo1

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No problem. Good luck!
 

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