Introductory Thread

[wilson_conure]

Hey everyone, wilson_conure here. I just joined parrotforums because my family and I just recently received this conure from a girl that I used to go to school with and her family. He is very chatty. If anyone has any information on how we can gain his trust, get him to stop constantly biting us, etc, that would be great!

 

[Tami2]

Hello, Welcome & Congratulations.

Here is a thread, I wish I knew about when I got Levi.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

I’ve read books, searched the internet & watched many you tube videos on this exact subject.
Eventually after about 3-4 weeks we were bonded.

Good Luck.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome!
Glad you found us.
And good for you for reaching out.

 

[Scott]

A warm welcome to the forums!! The thread linked by Tami2 is superb, read and feel free to ask questions! Please keep us updated on the progress!

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed!

 

[clark_conure]

The first part is always to gain the conures trust. You can't train anything until you get that. Once he will step up on your hand he will:
1) stop biting on his own.
2) be easily be trained not to bite. If a bird is bonded to you the method is simple...but that's useless until he bonds and likes to perch on you.

To gain trust with a bird that's not a newborn takes time and patience and treats. I assume you know his favorite treat from your friend you got him from.

I'd recommend putting the cage were you usually relax, by the couch in the tv room or by your computer desk, whatever, where ever you spend a lot of time. It should be an area you relax in so you are relaxed, not nervous, no bad emotions he can feed off of, feel confident not scared and he will too. Talk to him often. Open the door occasionally. give him the option to come out on his own, but don't reach into the cage. Once he's bonded he 'probably' won't care but for now it's his "safe zone".

Occasionally offer treats with your hand, then with your other hand near his feet so he can step on them to get the treat. If he trusted his ex-owner then it should go quick, if they never bonded, it might take a while.

Once he's used to you and want's to be with you all the time...if he still bites just put him on the floor when he tries to bite you. About ten feet away, on the floor, nt a cage or perch or play area. He will realize he is being "shunned" by his "flock" and will walk back and be all sweet and lovey...this usually only takes a few tries. It's getting them to be bonded that will take you more time.

Good luck! I hope you have a quick turnaround.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you and your new family!

 

[wilson_conure]

Thanks everyone. Now, we just got another conure to keep Rio company. But theres an issue.....Marco is 3 and is constantly biting everyone. Is there any way possible to train an older bird to stop biting everyone?

 

[Scott]

The only difference between a young and old bird biting is the length of time and degree of habit.

Bite-pressure training is a great technique as explained and discussed here: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

This one is from the macaw forum, but has so much explanatory information and is a worthy read for most every species: http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

 

[clark_conure]

Same rule applies, young and old, get the bird to bond.....shun the bird when it bites by putting it on the floor and making it come back on it's own the "timeout" lets him settle down and time to think about why he/she is on the floor in the first place.

 

[MonicaMc]

3 isn't old.... Old would be 15-25+ years.


The only bite that can't be rewarded is the bite that never occurs. Birds bite for a reason. If you can learn what the triggers are to biting and either avoid or redirect, you can learn to avoid many bites.

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

 

[wilson_conure]

Thanks again everyone. I hope all this help and advice you are all giving me helps us with Rio and Marco. I really appreciate it. Now I just found out that the shunning was what caused Marco's biting habits. If there are any other methods to stop biting other than the shunning and if being unsocialized could cause the biting, please notify me as soon as possible.