My conures behaviour

[Lucabird]

So, I’ve had my crimson bellied conure (Luca) since December. He was hand tamed when we got him and we love him to bits. He’s silly, funny, loving and will give kisses, dance on demand and do a few other tricks BUT whenever I approach the cage (and only me) he bites himself, his feet, his wings and me if I get close enough. It’s like an aggressive warning to back off. When he’s out of the cage, he’s lovely with me, comfortable and playful and not aggressive. He also hangs upside down and flaps his wings rapidly when he’s playing, which damages the feathers further.
The problem is, he is damaging his wings and tail as this is how he acts when he doesn’t like something or gets bored. His tail feathers are snapped completely from rough play/tantrums so he can’t fly anymore, as he gets no height and just hits the floor. His other feathers are in perfect condition and gorgeous colours but it’s worrying that, each time they grow back, he snaps them off again.
I’ve tried speaking calmly to him, approaching the cage slowly or gradually from a distance. Giving him no attention when he displays bad behaviour etc. Vitamins to help with feather growth and strength (advised by vet) but nothing helps. They start to grow back lovely, so it’s not a health problem. I just need advice to stop him damaging them again!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Wow, I have not heard of such a thing... I can only guess that it's some kind of displaced expression of territoriality or aggression or...
???????????????
Just a long shot... if you'd like a second opinion from another vet...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.

I hope that other members have more to suggest.

Good for you for reaching out.

 

[Laurasea]

My rescue Quaker Penny did this in her first few days home...
Maybe you could start over with the trust bonding. The old e everytime you come near the cage you put a treat in the treat dish, and you do this lots of times during the day. You can add preen toys like cutting paper bag into one inch strips and zip tie the fringe together, presto cheap diy preen toy. Also make sure you have toys from each category, a noise maker toy, a chew on toy, a forage toy, a foot toy something small they can pick up, some toy that's like a puzzle or manipulation toy, I use plastic chain links they slide around on the bars, or something I hang on the outside that they can pull through, you can give and old paperback book or them to shred. Conures like to untie knots, so a safe parrot leather tied in knots is fun for them..
Your bird isn't a baby anymore, and birds change as they become adults. I can understand being protective of the cage, but being upset by your just coming to the cage is hopefully something you can overcome. Sometimes something happens that makes them loose trust with us, so try to build back trust, bribing with treats helps!
If try going by the cage every few minutes and putting a treat in a special treat dish then go on not taking the bird out. So eventually everytime you come near it's positive thoughts about treats, and not hurting himself...
Has your appearance changed? Have you ever forced him to come out of the cage? Just trying to think of stuff

 

[Lucabird]

Thanks for the replies.
The confusing thing is, he’s currently sat on my shoulder preening himself, so I don’t think it’s a problem with trusting me? He quite happily walks out of an open cage and onto my shoulder, without me forcing him or going towards him. It’s purely only when I walk into the room and he’s in his cage. I’ve opened the cage at times thinking it’s cos he wants to come out but he doesn’t always. He also does this slow bowing action? I think it’s defo a territorial thing but it’s damaging his feathers, as I mentioned he has no tail feathers anymore so can’t fly.

 

[Flboy]

My wife’s Bongo was exactly the same way with me! I was the trigger! In my case, I caused it by trying to dominate him into being nice! Complete ignorance on my part! It took months to get him to reassociate my presence near his cage! I 100% respected his comfort zone, and paid no attention to him when I happened to go by the cage, always being a coincidence that I was near. After a week of this, eating walnuts, I would ‘notice’ he was watching me and I would come closer and give him a piece! And immediately go back to something else! I never make him the center of my attention, and avoid watching him!
Now, when I walk in the house, the dogs get a hug, I then say hi to Bongo, giving him a piece of walnut! He is still a bit cautious, but he takes the walnut! He, for a very long time, threw it down in a very dramatic manner!
This thread is what changed me and made everything click!
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

 

[noodles123]

Do you have any dark/shadowy places in/around the cage (hammocks, boxes, tubes, drawers, low-ledges, tunnels, huts, shells, piles of fabric/bedding, pillows etc)?
If so, remove them-- I am wondering if this could be some sort of odd hormonal thing (coupled with other issues).
Dark/shadowy spaces (even for short periods of time) stimulate the production of hormones which can have serious impacts on behavior (and one symptom of a hormonal bird can be self-mutilation). Cage aggression and biting can also be hormonal.

Also, when petting, stick to the head and neck only. No snuggles/cuddles/stroking/ under-wing-scratches etc...

If you haven't considered hormones, I would. That having been said, make sure that your are reading signals and building trust.

Oh, and make sure he is getting at least 12 hours of quiet sleep nightly and that he is on a solid light/dark/bedtime routine (as this can also impact hormone and immune function). If his cage is in a loud room at night, consider getting a sleep cage and make sure his bedtime and wake-up routine is at roughly the same time every single morning/evening...Much like a toddler or baby.

 

[Lucabird]

Thanks again for the replies!
I definitely think it’s a temper/hormonal thing. For some reason he doesn’t like me being beside his cage but is happy to come out and it’s loving with me outside of the cage. Whether he feels intimated or threatened I’m not sure. We are working through it and he’s getting a bit better. It’s just a shame that his tail feathers are constantly getting snapped and he can’t live his life to the fullest and fly.