I rescued/adopted an unbanded Green Cheek Conure "Sally" from a young student who was traveling back to Korea and not returning...and could not travel with the bird. I had previously taken care of this bird, for 9 weeks during the Summer, while she was away...and the conditions "she" lived in were awful. She came to live with me in June of 2019.
Upon my first visit, I found the the water bowls filthy, moldy and foul. Her food had feces in it. The owners roommate was 'supposed' to be watching/ caring for her for two weeks--until my care started. She likely never did a thing--from what I saw.
Sally drank and drank after offered fresh water on our first meeting. She sat and ate out her fresh seed/pellets for about an hour, and I replaced the food again. This bird was confined to a 10 x 10 bed room, allowed to poop, do whatever in the room. I don't think she had much people interaction overall, no music playing, and the window looked into a brick wall. I found out she never ever was given fresh fruit or veggies, toys were never changed. I bought her a few new toys, mango's, apples, spinach, kale, etc., and I spent a lot of time just sitting with her, talking with her and one day I spent 3 hours cleaning her cage, the wall behind it (covered in poop) and the floor around her cage. She never swooped to bite, and was relatively very quiet when I was there.
A year later, the gal texted me, looking for someone to take Sally, had only a few days to "give her to someone"...she hadn't planned well...and I thought about it for a day and thought I could handle her...besides she seemed so docile. Sadly she has been anything but docile and quiet.
She bites, draws blood, swoops toward your shoulder or head--goes for your ears, neck, or arm. Once I was sweeping, and she dove for my face, ripping open my top lip--with a hole all the way through, and I have the scar still. I was napping once and she bit me hard on the face--even then, doing nothing.
She attacks and bites the cat, while she is sleeping or just sitting, being a cat. Goes after the dog, while he is sleeping, or enjoying a chew toy. God forbid you try and leave out the front door if she is out of her cage. Never put on a coat in her presence, grab the dog leash, or put your purse on your shoulder--you will be subject to attack and severe bites. You cannot sweep the floor near her cage, trying to change paper, re-arrange toys, or change water/food bowls must be done before dawn or very late at night, so she is semi-asleep. Moving slow or fast--doesn't matter. She definitely calls, screams and goes crazy with noise--though I find she is somewhat quiet when alone.
The odd thing is she actually wants to sit on your knee, she makes moves to climb up your arm, I get the sense she wants physical attention, though the price you pay might be bloody. I use an oven mitt to have her on my hand at any time I need to get her to bed, or in her cage--which she swoops right to.
I have done the following:
given her a broad, varied diet-fresh veggies, fruit, greens, pellets, some seeds, chicken now and again, pasta, rice, bird nuggets, etc.
fresh water 2-3 times per day
sleep, I put her to bed at 9PM, low light for about 10 mins, then I cover her and lights out
provide her with UVB light 10 hours a day with a special bird light on a timer
change/rotate her toys when I can/allowed every two weeks
change her cage paper every week when allowed
give her "tubbies" as often as she wants--she enjoys the sink sprayer
have tried clicker training with reward--she really has nothing she cares about enough to respond to the clicker, and after 3 months she did not seem to "get" the process
have tried dowl step-up training, where she just lunges toward my neck or face and bites again and again...drawing blood, on cheeks, nose, eyes, ears, etc. Anyone who says "don't react" to biting, is crazy...you have a bird biting gashes and you are supposed to be calm? right....
when she bites I put her back to her cage, as soon as I can get her in there and is ignored--she def seems to dislikes being ignored
I am at my wits end. I feel responsible for this little bird and wanted to make her life better. The constant tip toe-ing not to upset her, keeping her away from the other pets, changing how we come and go -and just how we live when she is out is taxing at best.
I hate to leave her in her cage-that's no life, though when she's out of her cage she can be out of control. When I first got her she had a full exam and nails clipped at a bird experienced vet, who gave her a clean bill of health.
Some of my friends say that I have given it my best an I should re-home her or surrender her to a shelter. I'm torn on what might be best for my other pets--who do nothing, and are subject to her attacks. It's not fair to them.
So, any suggestions?
Upon my first visit, I found the the water bowls filthy, moldy and foul. Her food had feces in it. The owners roommate was 'supposed' to be watching/ caring for her for two weeks--until my care started. She likely never did a thing--from what I saw.
Sally drank and drank after offered fresh water on our first meeting. She sat and ate out her fresh seed/pellets for about an hour, and I replaced the food again. This bird was confined to a 10 x 10 bed room, allowed to poop, do whatever in the room. I don't think she had much people interaction overall, no music playing, and the window looked into a brick wall. I found out she never ever was given fresh fruit or veggies, toys were never changed. I bought her a few new toys, mango's, apples, spinach, kale, etc., and I spent a lot of time just sitting with her, talking with her and one day I spent 3 hours cleaning her cage, the wall behind it (covered in poop) and the floor around her cage. She never swooped to bite, and was relatively very quiet when I was there.
A year later, the gal texted me, looking for someone to take Sally, had only a few days to "give her to someone"...she hadn't planned well...and I thought about it for a day and thought I could handle her...besides she seemed so docile. Sadly she has been anything but docile and quiet.
She bites, draws blood, swoops toward your shoulder or head--goes for your ears, neck, or arm. Once I was sweeping, and she dove for my face, ripping open my top lip--with a hole all the way through, and I have the scar still. I was napping once and she bit me hard on the face--even then, doing nothing.
She attacks and bites the cat, while she is sleeping or just sitting, being a cat. Goes after the dog, while he is sleeping, or enjoying a chew toy. God forbid you try and leave out the front door if she is out of her cage. Never put on a coat in her presence, grab the dog leash, or put your purse on your shoulder--you will be subject to attack and severe bites. You cannot sweep the floor near her cage, trying to change paper, re-arrange toys, or change water/food bowls must be done before dawn or very late at night, so she is semi-asleep. Moving slow or fast--doesn't matter. She definitely calls, screams and goes crazy with noise--though I find she is somewhat quiet when alone.
The odd thing is she actually wants to sit on your knee, she makes moves to climb up your arm, I get the sense she wants physical attention, though the price you pay might be bloody. I use an oven mitt to have her on my hand at any time I need to get her to bed, or in her cage--which she swoops right to.
I have done the following:
given her a broad, varied diet-fresh veggies, fruit, greens, pellets, some seeds, chicken now and again, pasta, rice, bird nuggets, etc.
fresh water 2-3 times per day
sleep, I put her to bed at 9PM, low light for about 10 mins, then I cover her and lights out
provide her with UVB light 10 hours a day with a special bird light on a timer
change/rotate her toys when I can/allowed every two weeks
change her cage paper every week when allowed
give her "tubbies" as often as she wants--she enjoys the sink sprayer
have tried clicker training with reward--she really has nothing she cares about enough to respond to the clicker, and after 3 months she did not seem to "get" the process
have tried dowl step-up training, where she just lunges toward my neck or face and bites again and again...drawing blood, on cheeks, nose, eyes, ears, etc. Anyone who says "don't react" to biting, is crazy...you have a bird biting gashes and you are supposed to be calm? right....
when she bites I put her back to her cage, as soon as I can get her in there and is ignored--she def seems to dislikes being ignored
I am at my wits end. I feel responsible for this little bird and wanted to make her life better. The constant tip toe-ing not to upset her, keeping her away from the other pets, changing how we come and go -and just how we live when she is out is taxing at best.
I hate to leave her in her cage-that's no life, though when she's out of her cage she can be out of control. When I first got her she had a full exam and nails clipped at a bird experienced vet, who gave her a clean bill of health.
Some of my friends say that I have given it my best an I should re-home her or surrender her to a shelter. I'm torn on what might be best for my other pets--who do nothing, and are subject to her attacks. It's not fair to them.
So, any suggestions?