HELP!!! New handtamed baby conure biting

Ava.rg

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Jun 27, 2020
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California
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Pineapple Greencheek Conure: Hilo (hee-loh) 8 weeks :)
Help!! I recently bought a new baby pineapple gcc three days ago. Its 8 weeks old. It was handtamed and let’s me pet it and doesn’t act scared at all. It lets me grab it. The breeder did not teach it to step up he would grab them. However, I want to teach it to step up. I try to get him to step up but it bites my hand so hard and hangs on until I tap it with the millet and scream. It really like apples and I finally got it to step up for the apple a couple times. But I don’t want to constantly waste apples. I try millet and it wants it but not that much so it bites my hand instead and gets frustrated. When it bites it breaks skin. This makes me really sad because of how bad I wanted this bird and how much I put into it. I feel like it has more fun in its cage. How should I get it to step up without biting? I heard you shouldn’t yell or tap it’s beak but it won’t let go otherwise. Please help!?
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Welcome!

You aren't paying attention to its signals so it is biting you as a last resort to communicate. This isn't like a dog. Birds take a really long time and you have to earn their trust slowly...it's on their terms-- when you push, you get bitten.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Remember to be patient and remember that any attention can be perceived as good, even if you are mad when you give it...so catch him being good and pair yourself with as many positives as possible *IF HE EVEN WANTS YOUR ATTENTION---THAT IS KEY--- it must be positive to him---just like one kid may LOVE Power Rangers, another kid might like Barbie , another kid might like cupcakes, another kid might like getting out of chores and another kid might like praise......same goes for birds--- your "positive" isn't theirs unless it motivates them.

Once you build that trust, he will want your praise/interaction, but right now, you are new and scary and he doesn't know you..Plus, these birds have the cognitive capacity of 3-year-olds at the very least....so imagine bringing a traumatized kid home and trying to make it like you without time...

You ABSOLUTELY should NOT be pushing step-ups or ANY physical contact unless your bird shows that it is willing...Imagine if someone tried to kiss you and you didn't want it...what would you do?? Just because a bird likes a person, doesn't mean it likes ALL people...

and NEVER EVER EVER physically punish a bird...You need to avoid being bitten by learning your bird's language-- if you do get bitten, the truth is, it is never the bird's fault....they don't do that in the wild, so either you totally ignored what was obvious, or you trained them to bite by reacting when they did...Not saying that applies now, but it can unless you get a better hold on bird behavior...
 
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Ava.rg

Ava.rg

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Jun 27, 2020
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California
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Pineapple Greencheek Conure: Hilo (hee-loh) 8 weeks :)
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Thank you so much. I will was probably to eager to start taking it out and hang out with it. I think I need to go slower. I just really want him to like me. :)
 

T00tsyd

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May 8, 2017
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Green cheek conure - Sydney (Syd) Hatched 2/2017
All of the above plus your bird is scared. You are new to it and it is not sure yet if you are going to eat it. The trick is never push your presence into the bird's face. Always let it come to you. I have known Syd now for 3 years and even now I wait until he asks for something. I never ever ever rush into things with him and there is no way he is scared of me now. You could be months before your little one is confident enough both of you and his surroundings to do anything. Let him watch you , chat quietly, don't change your clothes all the time. Every time you wear a different colour he won't recognise you. Every time you change you hair or put glasses on, or wear a ring that he doesn't know sets him back again. Build his confidence and with it will come yours. Overcome your impatience and you will thrive and so will your parrot.
 

Stitchthestitch

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Feb 9, 2020
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Albie - Pineapple Green Cheek Conure - Hatch date 14 Dec 2019 - Gotcha date - 4 March 2020
You need to slow right down!

Look at it from your babys point of view. He has just lost everything he knew to be safe and familiar. He's just lost his home, his flock and is with these brand new creatures who have eyes on the front of its head looking like preditors. He doesn't know if he's going to be eaten or not. He has to learn that you are now his flock, that you are now his safe place, that you are not going to eat him. He doesn't know you.

Start off by sitting near him and read softly out loud to him, but don't give him direct eye contact. reward him with some sunflower seed in a bowl when he looks at you or comes over to investigate you. Curiosity will win out. When he's comfortable move from dropping a treat in his bowl to hand feeding. But go at his pace. If he seems uncomfortable, go back to what he's comfortable with and build it up again. He needs to learn only good things come from you. Eventually you'll be able to get him to be comfortable with you and to not be afraid.

It is well worth the time and patience and effort to win their friendship, because ethats a relationship with a bird is, a friendship. Its not like a dog where you go and pick one and it loves you right away. Parrots make the choice to be your friend or not. Sometimes they need winning over but once you do, it's the best thing ever.
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Also, he should be in the main hub of your home (excluding the kitchen), so as you are doing things, talk about what you are doing (not in his face), but if you are sweeping the floor, say, "sweeping the floor", or "taking out the trash" or " watching TV" or whatever it is that you are doing or about to do. You can say it from where you are--- don't run over and tell him, but just sort of talk to yourself almost about what you are doing.

1. This will help get him used to your voice.
2. It will expose him to new words.
3. He will start to associate certain words with activities, and that can help them feel less stressed in the long run if they can anticipate routines etc.

Try not to get discouraged because it can take a long time, but if you are patient, it will pay off.

Is he allowed to come out of his cage on his own? That is something that can be a good stepping stone for bonding...if he can do it safely (but he has to be the one who chooses to go back in, come out etc). IF HE CAN BE OUT WITHOUT GOING CRAZY, you basically just open the door and let him chill (he can come out or stay in). If he comes back and goes back in, don't shut him in on that first time, or he will think "if I get out, I need to stay out, or I get locked up the second I return". Let him make the choice, assuming it can be done safely...after he goes back in a few times, you can lock the door, but like I said, you want to make sure he doesn't associate going in with getting locked up.

IF YOU DO THIS THOUGH, you HAVE to be safe about it and you have to make sure you have the time to wait it out because chasing him, toweling him etc should not be part of the plan...If you think he will freak out and slam into walls etc...wait on this...but if he has been out and perched fine etc, he might do okay..I know you said the breeder grabbed him and then he would hang out, right?
That makes me think you could possibly try it safely, but again, he may be super freaked out (I am not sure)

You can block off parts of the room if you need to using tension rods etc, but I would do it ahead of time or that alone could scare the bird...if you can avoid major changes to the room, while keeping it safe, I would do that.
DO make sure windows aren't open and close blinds on large glass ones (ceiling fans off..etc).
Consider covering mirrors and blocking off any ledges that he might try to hide on...
Make sure everyone knows what you are doing so someone doesn't tromp in and open the door (either scaring, squashing or letting him out my mistake).
Do not leave him unattended, but kind of park yourself away from him so that you can see what he is doing, but not so close that you will startle him and cause him to fly etc.

Again-- don't commit to this unless you are willing to spend the day on it. Also, if he doesn't go back in a few hours, you will have to make sure he has food and water, as they can get hypoglycemic easily if they don't eat and drink often.

You don't want to put yourself in the situation where you have to force him into anything..and you don't want to stress him out further by having to catch him etc (normally, a bird will go back to eat etc if they know their cage is a safe-space, but it isn't always a sure bet that it will happen right away, so there is some risk/stress for YOU, if you are committed to doing this safely but also, without force.

It kind of all depends on how comfortable you think he is at your house....hard to say without being there.
 
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Ava.rg

Ava.rg

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Pineapple Greencheek Conure: Hilo (hee-loh) 8 weeks :)
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Thank you everyone for replying. He really isn’t super scared. I think he just doesn’t really know what I want of him. He is getting better. And he does come out of his cage and hangs out on top of it. He also is very keen on taking treats out of my hand. But still he doesn’t like to really sit with me unless he is very hungry for treats. We had a little bonding session last night and I got him to sleep on my hand while I was petting him. So he was very eager to come out this morning. Hopefully if I keep going at a slower more gentle pace he’ll come around. I’m also getting better at determining when he’s uncomfortable and going to bite so I just leave him alone.
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Thank you everyone for replying. He really isn’t super scared. I think he just doesn’t really know what I want of him. He is getting better. And he does come out of his cage and hangs out on top of it. He also is very keen on taking treats out of my hand. But still he doesn’t like to really sit with me unless he is very hungry for treats. We had a little bonding session last night and I got him to sleep on my hand while I was petting him. So he was very eager to come out this morning. Hopefully if I keep going at a slower more gentle pace he’ll come around. I’m also getting better at determining when he’s uncomfortable and going to bite so I just leave him alone.

THAT IS GREAT progress! If you are there, you can go anywhere. Just keep making yourself non-pushy and let him lead from there while associating yourself with the low-stress stuff he loves and you will see changes within a month or sooner (i bet). It's OKAY to feel like a food machine lol (just don't give TOO much food or he will satiate and he will temporarily lose motivation until hungry again)! Think about it--- if his connection/positive association with you is food for now, it won't always be that way, but it's totally fine to start there...

I work with kids with extreme behavior issues and you have to meet them where they are. I could lay on a railroad for some and they would still spit in my eye, but most (given enough time, will decide I am "Okay", even if they don't like me lol--because I love them dearly- even if they drive my INSANE!) . It all takes time and knowing your "kid". Sounds like you are doing fine as long as you don't keep over-stepping and getting bitten.
 
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fiddlejen

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Mar 28, 2019
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Sunny the Sun Conure (sept '18, gotcha 3/'19). Mr Jefferson Budgie & Mrs Calliope Budgie (albino) (nov'18 & jan'19). Summer 2021 Baby Budgies: Riker (Green); Patchouli, Keye, & Tiny (blue greywings).
You may want to read up on "Target Training" to help with learning to Step-Up. Mine would not step-up either when I got her, and it was not due to fear, just inability. I would have to scoop-her-up. I paid attention, though, and made sure she was willing. ("Do you Want to be scooped-up now?") I have not progressed any further with the target training, but, I was able to use it to teach her Step-Up.

(It turned out, my Sun Conure has one claw that doesn't work. It sits there and Looks okay, but after much observation it becomes clear that it doesn't actually function. So, Step-Up was actually a more difficult task for her than for most.)

If your bird is happily taking treats from you then he is a very good candidate for target training and you will probably get further than I have.

Also, although I don't really continue with Target-Training, nonetheless reading about it gives you some principles & knowledge, so you can communicate better with your bird in general.
 

Caitnah

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Mar 24, 2018
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Upstate New York
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GCC Pineapple
You’ve been given great advice here so will refrain from repeating it. But just wanted to wish you luck and hang in there. I understand how frustrating you must be feeling but it WILL get better.
Having a loved pet “turn” on you is hurtful but don’t take it to personal. He’s scared but will come around. Just be patient.
 

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