Hello from me and Annie

AnnieTheConure

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Apr 25, 2020
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Canada
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Annie, the green-cheeked conure
Hi! I'm new here.

My wife and I got a young GCC a few months ago. I can't remember exactly when the pet store said she was born, but I believe it was late last year, making her about 5-6 months old. She's my first bird but not my wife's -- my wife has had parakeets in the past.

She's got so much personality and she's very beautiful! We named her Annie after our unborn daughter whom we lost due to pregnancy complications.

I have a few questions for you folks:

1. I read that these birds are typically very quiet. Annie is often loud. I noticed it's usually when she wants attention or if her food is less than 97.5% full, but sometimes she just sits in her cage or on my shoulder and screams while she bobs up and down. Is there something I'm missing? Or do I just have a noisy girl?

2. Her tail feathers look like hell at the tips. I googled it and it doesn't look like stress bands; the most likely cause I read is that she's just whacking them on her cage and stuff and that's why they look like that. All her other feathers are bright and look good. She preens meticulously. Is it maybe something in her diet? I can't find any food that says conure on it and the stuff for parrots looks too big, so I get her the parakeet food from Bonanza. She also gets bits of banana and orange, as well as pumpkin seeds and almonds sometimes. Plus the occasional piece of cracker.

3. She HATES hands. Hates them. Mine, my wife's, anybody's. Whether she's in her cage or on my shoulder or anywhere else, if your hands come near her she will bite you hard. It doesn't seem playful either; she'll crouch down and her eyes go wide and she bites. She'll reach for your fingers or hand if it comes close, too. Then when you take your recently-bitten hand away she squawks and bobs up and down. But she's fine with us generally-speaking. I open her cage and she comes right out, and I give her my arm and she climbs straight up to my shoulder and preens my hair or my sweater. Hands are still evil, though. The only time she doesn't hate hands is if I do get her onto my finger (like if she goes there herself). She won't bite the hand she's on, and then I can give her a finger and try to get her to step up or something. She's definitely trying to get back on my shoulder, but at least I'm not being bitten. Any suggestions on how to get her out of this habit?

I attached a picture of the girl in question (it's sideways and I don't know why or how to fix it) :)
 

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wrench13

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Welcome and be welcomed.

1st off, no oranges or citrous fruits, they have a hard time with the acids in those. Plenty of other types you can give, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, mango all safe. Fruits are high in sugars and should be given sparingly.

Most folks here will use the 'shunning' method to train parrots that biting is a no no. After you get a bite, immediately after, place the parrot on a chair back ( not the cage), and turn your back to them - no eye contact, nothing, for 2 minutes maximum ( they will forget the lesson if its longer). Try again. Most parrots will get the message after a few of these, but if not, keep doing that when a bite occurs. BE CONSISTENT, thats very important. All family members must do this any time a bite occurs. Try not to yelp out loud, as this can provide entertainment to your parrot and you don't want bites to become a little 'show' for him. A firm 'No Bite' and right to the chair back.
 

Flboy

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Hello and welcome!
The ragged tail is normal for her age! And, unfortunately, loudness is normal for her-period!
You will need to give her time to trust your hands! More than likely, she has been grabbed and groped for her entire time!
Get her used to a stick for moving around! And learning to read her will save you both a lot of grief!
Don’t become a slave to her yelling!

I am so sorry for the loss of your child!
 
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AnnieTheConure

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Apr 25, 2020
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Annie, the green-cheeked conure
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  • #4
Welcome and be welcomed.

1st off, no oranges or citrous fruits, they have a hard time with the acids in those. Plenty of other types you can give, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, mango all safe. Fruits are high in sugars and should be given sparingly.

Oh I didn't know! The pet store folks said that pretty much any fruit or vegetable is fine in moderation. Other fruit and berries are fine, though? What else can I give her to fill out her diet?

Most folks here will use the 'shunning' method to train parrots that biting is a no no. After you get a bite, immediately after, place the parrot on a chair back ( not the cage), and turn your back to them - no eye contact, nothing, for 2 minutes maximum ( they will forget the lesson if its longer). Try again. Most parrots will get the message after a few of these, but if not, keep doing that when a bite occurs. BE CONSISTENT, thats very important. All family members must do this any time a bite occurs. Try not to yelp out loud, as this can provide entertainment to your parrot and you don't want bites to become a little 'show' for him. A firm 'No Bite' and right to the chair back.

This sounds like a good plan, but issues is I can't pick her up from where she is most times. If she's in her cage when she bites I can, but if she's on my shoulder or something she'll run to the other shoulder and keep biting at me. Tips for winning that game to get her in my hand so I can do the shunning thing? It sometimes takes me a good five minutes to trick her into going somewhere I can reach better than immediately behind my head so I can pick her up to put her somewhere else.
 
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AnnieTheConure

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Apr 25, 2020
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Annie, the green-cheeked conure
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  • Thread starter
  • #5
Hello and welcome!
The ragged tail is normal for her age! And, unfortunately, loudness is normal for her-period!
You will need to give her time to trust your hands! More than likely, she has been grabbed and groped for her entire time!
Get her used to a stick for moving around! And learning to read her will save you both a lot of grief!
Don’t become a slave to her yelling!

I am so sorry for the loss of your child!

Thanks for your reply! I'm glad to hear the ragged tail is nothing to worry about.

Do you think the loudness is her asking for something that I haven't figured out yet? Or is she just participating in conversation?

Will a stick from the yard do, or should I grab something from the store?
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome to you and beautiful Annie! A touching memoriam for your lost daughter.

Birds vocalizations vary considerably based on personality and background noises. Wouldn't worry about it being harmful behavior unless distressing during normal sleeping hours.

Active parrots will often mangle the tips of tail feathers. Frequent bathing may help appearance.

Fear of hands is not uncommon and may be a consequence of early socialization. You can help eradicate discomfort by developing trust and more closely bonding. Check this excellent thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Biting hard is one if the most serious impediments to a close relationship. Shunning technique is helpful, another method is Bite Pressure Training: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html Bear in mind shoulder privileges are earned, as a GCC is capable of inflicting substantial damage to neck and face areas.

An ideal diet is rich with fresh vegetables and some fruits. Some helpful ideas: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html
 

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