New GCC owner. Have some questions

Antmf · Feb 14, 2011

Hey guys I am a brand new owner of an 8 week old GCC, and he is beautiful. He was hand fed and was out with all his brother and sisters. When i got him he did not bite at all when he was around his family and other gccs out in open but now once I got him home he has bitten me several times and man does it hurt lol. Let me describe his behavior:
While I have him out he nestles in my arm and chest area and loves it but when i grab him and while holeding him he sometimes bites me but it does not seem to be out of aggression but he bites hard. While he is in his cage he wont come to me or approach the open door or steup up. When i put my hand in cage he climbs up the cage to like get away from me so i have to grab him and he has bitten me a few times in the process but once outside he seems to calm down with the occassional nip. Now once i put him on top of his cage I have been practicing step up and he seems to have gotten better and when he does it i give him a sunflower seed as a reward but sometimes he walks away from me and seems to not want to bother. I actually have to hold up the seed so he can see it and then he comes and steps up. Mind you I have only had him since yesterday. Is his biting gonna diminish as time and handling go on? What should I be doing and not doing? Also sometime when he is on my finger or hand he trioe to climb up my arm to my shoulder and I prevent that. I keep him lower and for no apparent reason he bites occasionally not often but when he does it hurts. lol. Also Can i just feed him pellets and should I mix the seed and pellets together and if I should click train where can I get a clicker? Please let me know if I am doing it right so far and if I am doing anything wrong as far as grabbing him to come out of the cage because as of right now he refuses to come to me. He only is tempted to come to my hand when he is out of his cage and I am holding a treat. Thanks for all the help and insight.
P.S. What a little character this bird is. He loves to snuggle under my arm but the biting is tearing up my hands lol. Thanks... P.S. he even lets me pet his beak a lot of the times. Thanks. Sorry for such a long post...

Kokihi · Feb 14, 2011

Try grabbing one of his favorite toys, and when you see him going to bite, put his toy in front of him.

My GCC Tori is notorious for being beaky when hes grumpy, but when we offer him a bell to play with rather than chomping our fingers, it tends to help.

When I first got my Tori Bird I posted here for advice. There are some great methods explained in detail on this thread:http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/5610-my-new-green-cheek-tori.html#post42762.

You should check it out! Its been super helpful to me!

jew1187 · Feb 14, 2011

I don't mean to sound like a jerk... But was this a spur of the moment buy? It doesn't sound like you have done any research prior to getting this bird. If that is the case, you are definitely in the right place. There are a lot of people here that can help you with all your problems.

For starters, when you say grab, you are not actually grabbing him and taking him out of his cage are you? You want to build a strong friendship with him, never force him to do anything. And grabbing him is a big problem. That may be one of the reasons he is biting you.

You've had him for one day... You need to give him a lot more time to adjust to you and to get used to his surroundings. With any bird, hand raised or not, new to you, you need to give him time. Sit by his cage and talk to him, giving him treats through the bars/door, keeping the door open to give him the ability to leave; letting him know he is free to rome, that it's his home. Mostly, never force him to go on your hand or grab him. Not a good start to a friendship.

As far as the pellets and seeds go... Whatever bird you have, be it a conure, parakeet, to a Macaw, pellets and seeds should not be the birds only diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a must. Everyone has their own opinion as to how many fruits and veggies they need, so talk to everyone including your vet and get a good idea as to what that is for your specific type of bird. Seeds, generally, as most will tell you, are a treat; not something to be given on a regular daily basis.

I employ you!!! Read as much as you can on here and other websites!!! Talk to your vet and local pet shops and breeders. Your new conure is a 30 plus year commitment. Make it a good 30 years in making his life as good as possible.

mtdoramike · Feb 15, 2011

Antmf said:
Hey guys I am a brand new owner of an 8 week old GCC, and he is beautiful. He was hand fed and was out with all his brother and sisters. When i got him he did not bite at all when he was around his family and other gccs out in open but now once I got him home he has bitten me several times and man does it hurt lol. Let me describe his behavior:
While I have him out he nestles in my arm and chest area and loves it but when i grab him and while holeding him he sometimes bites me but it does not seem to be out of aggression but he bites hard. While he is in his cage he wont come to me or approach the open door or steup up. When i put my hand in cage he climbs up the cage to like get away from me so i have to grab him and he has bitten me a few times in the process but once outside he seems to calm down with the occassional nip. Now once i put him on top of his cage I have been practicing step up and he seems to have gotten better and when he does it i give him a sunflower seed as a reward but sometimes he walks away from me and seems to not want to bother. I actually have to hold up the seed so he can see it and then he comes and steps up. Mind you I have only had him since yesterday. Is his biting gonna diminish as time and handling go on? What should I be doing and not doing? Also sometime when he is on my finger or hand he trioe to climb up my arm to my shoulder and I prevent that. I keep him lower and for no apparent reason he bites occasionally not often but when he does it hurts. lol. Also Can i just feed him pellets and should I mix the seed and pellets together and if I should click train where can I get a clicker? Please let me know if I am doing it right so far and if I am doing anything wrong as far as grabbing him to come out of the cage because as of right now he refuses to come to me. He only is tempted to come to my hand when he is out of his cage and I am holding a treat. Thanks for all the help and insight.
P.S. What a little character this bird is. He loves to snuggle under my arm but the biting is tearing up my hands lol. Thanks... P.S. he even lets me pet his beak a lot of the times. Thanks. Sorry for such a long post...

Oooooooooh man, wrong, wrong, wrong. Parrots are notoriously cage aggressive and it sounds like your Conure is no different. Please DO NOT FORCE HIM TO COME OUT OF HIS CAGE and STOP GRABBING HIM! I don't blame the bird, if it were me your where grabbing, I'd bite you too. hahahahaha. I never reach into my Senegals cage to get him out. I wait for him to come out. If he doesn't, either he's moody or he's pouting. When I first got him, he was nervous so I put some little corn nibblets near the door to his cage and after a few times, he started coming out on his own once I opened up his cage.

Right now, your bird is at a very impressionable age so if you want him to trust you and bond with you, MOVE SLOWLY and don't rush things or you will be sorry in the end. Rmember, slower is better when it comes to birds. :rainbow1:

Mike

Antmf · Feb 15, 2011

Thank you all for your help. I bought a clicker and started touch training with a touch stick. It works great. He now comes out on his own to touch the stick and when he hears the click he knows he is gonna get a treat

Any way I am taking it slow now and he is really starting to bond, he still nips but not as bad as before, I dont think he is biting out of aggession I think sometimes more then not he is beaking and doesnt know his power yet and yes sometimes it probably out of fear but havent seen a fear bit since 2 days agao I dont think. Can anyone tell me how to react when he does bite to hard? It seems he steps up and down and doesnt bite me to step up but when he his on my hand he will get the side of one of my fingers and man it hurts sometimes lol. Thanks for all the help. Keep it coming

P.S. I dont trust him on my shoulder but when he steps up he makes a beeline up my arm toward my shoulder how do I stop this? Thanks...

jew1187 · Feb 15, 2011

Stopping him form going up your arm is pretty easy. Put your other arm in front of him forcing him to step up if he wants to continue to walk and you then have him on your other arm. lol.

mtdoramike · Feb 15, 2011

I know what you mean about not trusting him on your shoulder. When I got Tiki, I didn't trust him on my shoulder either, but a month later and he spends more time on my shoulder than anywhere else. He hasn't bitten my ear yet, but he will nibble on my ear every so often. But when he does this, I take my hand and brush my ear and say NO.

birdiemomma · Feb 15, 2011

Here is a website that has a lot of helpful information.

OMAR'S Exotic Birds :: Parrots and Bird Supplies, Orange County, CA

There is great debate over whether seed should be included in your feathered kids diet or not but I provide my bird with about a tablespoon of seed a day and she is very happy & healthy.

In regards to getting the bird to warm up to you please make sure that you take it slow. It takes time to build trust and it is not instantly given.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Adz · Feb 16, 2011

Yep, best advice is take it sloooow. Your birdie will warm up to you slowly and grow to love you. Before you know it ever time it hears you or see's you it will do this cute wing lifty flappy thing (yes that's a technical term) and chirp wanting to get out and play

My GCC is a real nippy little guy, it's not always hard though. GCC are notoriously beaky birds I believe. Later in the afternoon, say 6-8 he can get quite grumpy but then after that say 8-10 he's super snuggley and nibbles very softly before it's bed time.

Read lots and learn learn. Good luck!

Antmf · Feb 16, 2011

Update on my new GCC

I would like to thank you for all your advice. I also would like to update you on whats going on with my new GCC Ringo.

I started touch traing with a clicker and he now comes out of his cage on his own all the time when I have the stick and about 50% on his own when I just open the cage but either way I always give him a sunflower seed, he loves them things...

And now he still nibbles but I have not been bit hard in a while, I think he understands no in a calm low voice lol. I also got very tired of playing merry go round with him. Ex: he goes from my hand up my right arm to get to my shoulder I then take my left hand and make hin step up so he can not reach the shoulder in fear of him biting my ear. Well we were going back and forth left to right right to left etc. Now I decided to see what happens if I let him on my shoulder ( was feeling brave). Well he sits there for for some time until I have to put him away or down and he just sits there and preens me and gives me kisses on my ear and neck and has been very gentle. I love this little guy. So thanks again for all you help and adivice it has been panning out better then expected

P.S. Ringo is only about 8 weeks old and he is great and is really staring to trust/bond with me. Will keep updating

New GCC owner. Have some questions

Antmf

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Kokihi

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jew1187

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mtdoramike

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Antmf

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jew1187

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mtdoramike

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birdiemomma

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Adz

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Antmf

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