New Dusky Conure owner

Quark · Jul 31, 2016

Hello!
I just adopted a 2 year old ( two years old the day I got him says hatch certificate) Dusky Conure, gender unknown. I need to hear that this is a complicated little bird, highly intelligent and not to judge after three days that he is an insane maniac who clearly hates me! Well, sometimes he seems to love me, or at last my hair, which if I allow him to play with, or in, prompts severe punishment when I try to make him get off my head! He has only had one owner, and is not flighted, doesnt really bite hard, but is clearly very bossy and very very vocally demanding. I am learning that the screams come when I leave him alone even for a second in one of the many new cages/playgyms I have installed throughout my house. So we are keeping him mainly in his 'old cage' with some new toys he seems to have taken right to. So I get a few hours break here and there the past few days now that I have figured that out.
I decided to try the OWWW and leave him routine when he bites me hard. Is that generally accepted here? Anyway, I could use lots of guidance obviously. I have had other birds but never a conure like this. His name is now QUARK.

Tsali · Jul 31, 2016

Welcome to you and Quark. He is absolutely adorable. My CAG, Tsali, preens my hair for hours on end. Love the attention, don't love the pain.

CherylCali · Jul 31, 2016

Quark is ADORABLE! He honestly looks bossy in the picture, I actually laughed. He is complicated, highly intelligent, and probably just trying to establish that he IS the boss 😆

CherylCali

Flboy · Jul 31, 2016

Welcome to the zoo! Yes, Very intelligent and opinionated little buggers!

For sure, the little guy is confused and going through adjustment.

Some very helpful threads.
MonicaMC and Birdman666 have somewhat differing approaches to the same end- happy, well adjusted, family!
In my case, Monica's methods worked best to turn Bongo the Barbarian around! Bongo's problem was me! I was trying to prove I was more stubborn! Can't be done with a conure! Redirect that trait and you have a bundle of love and dedication!

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/48616-types-biting-behavior-mods.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/48649-screaming-behavior-mods.html

Scott · Jul 31, 2016

Welcome to you and Quark! That's a unique and cool name!

The first few days are a period of transition during which your bright conure will test every limit! Some aspects can last for weeks and beyond! Keeping him in the same cage is helpful as that is his only security until he learns to trust you. Give the techniques posted by Flboy a chance; you will find a technique that works best. Thankfully there is a limit to how hard and deep a conure can bite! Positive reinforcement with food and handling is helpful.

I personally have little experience with conures, so others can provide more targeted information!

Flboy · Jul 31, 2016

Scott said:
Welcome to you and Quark! That's a unique and cool name!
Thankfully there is a limit to how hard and deep a conure can bite!

Sure doesn't seem that way when you have an angry Bongo hanging on to the soft tip of your nose!

greytness · Jul 31, 2016

I have 2 of them. One is more nippy than the other. It's more of a pinch than an actual bite. I've learned how to avoid the nips over time.
They're actually very funny little birds. Very full of personality! Give him time and have patience. He'll come around.
Both of mine are flighted and love to visit my other parrots and me whenever they'd like.

GaleriaGila · Jul 31, 2016

Greetings, and welcome, you two.

You'll find great advice here, as you're already seeing.

I've had my bird over 30 years, and I haven't been seriously bitten in several years. Know what my magic is?
It has had little to do with the bird's behavior changes, and mostly all to do with mine. I have learned what ticks him off, and I simply don't do it.
Examples...
*He bites if I stick my hand in the cage for a step-up. I use a perch, he jumps on, I take him out and THEN offer my hand.
*He bites my ear if he can get to it, unpredictably. So I wear my hair down, or at least enough to cover my ears.
*He bites any part of me he can grab while flapping up and down my body when another person or animal comes near me. So every living thing knows to stay away.
You get the idea.

All knowledge of dogs and cats was of no use to me in living with the Rickeybird. I had to give up a certain amount of pride, too, and accept him for what he is... one generation out of Patagonia. They're so alien in some ways, but still magical companions.

MAN, that bird DOES look bossy! In an attractive way. Sort of like Ace in the movie "Stand By Me".

GaleriaGila · Jul 31, 2016

Just want to add... the Rickeybrd is a Patagonian, the largest conure, about the size of a mini-macaw. During the early years (before I had learned how to behave), he bit a triangular bloody crater on the knuckle of my left thumb... three stitches and it took forever to heal. That was when I finally accepted that my hand didn't belong in the cage when he was in there! My feelings were more hurt than my hand, though. But that's just how it is. I had to give up the idea that a good, loving pet doesn't bite you no matter what you do. Birds are... just... different!

Quark · Jul 31, 2016

Thanks new friends for all the thoughts and support! In Quark's defense with that photo I must admit it was day 1, and I had put him somewhere very weird, (my tea table) and he was very tense at the moment I got that shot. We are actually having a great day today, he is letting me put my hands on and around him as he plays on my shoulder without freaking out and biting everytime( just sometimes) we are making funny little noises into one anothers faces as he grooms my hair and asks me to rub his head, its getting rather amazing, to tel you the truth, the past few hours! even when i left him because i wanted a break, he didnt freak out, a few wolf whistles and fancy calls to see if he might lure me back in, but then he stopped and took a little rest himself. This is starting to feel good and the screaming is down for sure.

GaleriaGila · Jul 31, 2016

CONGRATUATIONS!
It's love!

CherylCali · Jul 31, 2016

That's so sweet!

CherylCali

snowflake311 · Jul 31, 2016

I want a dusky. They seem like awesome birds from what I hAve reasearched. I never met one. I love conures. All birds are weird he is new and it will take time for the 2 of you to get to know and trust eachother.

How exciting can't wait to see more about this little guy.

Quark · Aug 1, 2016

Quark today! https://www.facebook.com/hannish.gerber/videos/10208054906543517/

GaleriaGila · Aug 1, 2016

Quark's link won't work for me...
I think maybe you copied the link from your open Facebook, which won't allow us to see. If so, you'll have to log out, then copy and past the link. That happened to me with YouTube.

Blancaej · Aug 2, 2016

He sounds like a small bird with big personality! A lot like my blue crown Conure! If he could curse he would be doing it all day! Lol! Congratulations!!

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Flboy · Aug 2, 2016

Quark said:
Quark today! https://www.facebook.com/hannish.gerber/

I believe this link will work now.

Britbryan87 · Aug 4, 2016

Oh congratulations! I have a dusky and he is the most out spoken bird in the house. They're a lot of fun!

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Sean21 · Aug 5, 2016

he is so cute. Looks like great fun. My favourite birds are conures

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