Everyone Meet Apple!

[PrettyInInk87]

Just brought him home and he is currently hanging out on his cage top perches. He's such a CUTIE and I already love him to peices... Right now he is being left alone (sort of, my son is excited and is singing to him.). Just as a test I put my finger out and asked if he would step up and he just bit my finger, sort of a "Get that finger away." nibble, it didn't hurt. I cut 2 little peices of Mango and put them in his dish so hopefully he likes those, he's never had Mango. Here are his first pictures in his new home.

 

[antoinette]

Hi Apple, you sure are a "sweet" bird
You look so healthy, and what beautiful coloured feathers
Thanks for sharing the pictures are all gorgeous

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Apple says thank you!

 

[Spiritbird]

Such a cute little guy. Love the name too.

 

[IcyWolf]

Aww, I love that first pic where he has his toe up, I just picture him tapping it like he's thinking Are you keeping in touch with his previous owner, she seemed like a nice person?

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Aww, I love that first pic where he has his toe up, I just picture him tapping it like he's thinking Are you keeping in touch with his previous owner, she seemed like a nice person?

Thank you and yes I am. I told her she could come visit him whever she liked and also let her know that she wouuld get updates on how he is coming along. She was such a sweet heart and was nice enough to give me her baby.

He go so mad because I put 2 little peices of Mango in his food dish, lol! He grabbed and kicked them out, started thrashing food, lol!

Here is his first video at home.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-1WzIJmPqY]YouTube - ‪Yellow-sided Green Cheek Conure "Apple"‬‏[/ame]

 

[Nakiska]

Awww...Apple is soo cute! We have a yellow sided as well and love him to bits!

You know...just and fyi...and maybe you already know this, but sometimes they will bite and kind of hard when stepping up on your finger...it's how they "test" to make sure what they are stepping up on is "safe" in their mind...and since you are a new owner, he will probably "test" you each time for a few days or weeks even.

With our bird, when he was new to us, he'd reach out to grab and "test" and if it got too hard, I'd say "OUCH, Beeee Niiiice" Generally he'd just step up after that. Once he got to know us he quit with the "testing."

I could tell the difference in his body language, reaching out to grab and test was way different then, get away and leave me alone.

Get away and leave me alone would be more of an aggressive lash out, beak open, squawk, puffed feathers, defensive stance...if you continue with that...then you are asking to loose a chunk of your skin

Reach out and grab and test bite, is usually more of a cautious, grab, bite...harder and a little harder...feathers down and no squawking and usually while "testing" step closer to your finger then once he's decided it's safe...up he goes

Although, I had a tiel once, who'd make you think he was going to take your entire hand off when asked to step up...he NEVER bit, but he'd squeal, open his beak and...I can't describe it, but he'd almost try to scare you, not pecking, but...umm....just moving his head really really fast and tasting, I guess...he'd do this for like 5 or 10 seconds, then jump right up on your hand as if nothing was wrong. It was almost like he was testing to see where he stood and if you jerked your hand away in fear, he'd attempt to bite, but if you remained calm knowing he's not going to bite and said "oh knock it off and get up here..." He would just quit right now and jump up like...Oh, okay...let's go have fun!" LOLOL He was a goofy thing, but I sure loved him.

Anyway...good luck with Apple, he's beautiful!

Toni

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Awww...Apple is soo cute! We have a yellow sided as well and love him to bits!

You know...just and fyi...and maybe you already know this, but sometimes they will bite and kind of hard when stepping up on your finger...it's how they "test" to make sure what they are stepping up on is "safe" in their mind...and since you are a new owner, he will probably "test" you each time for a few days or weeks even.

With our bird, when he was new to us, he'd reach out to grab and "test" and if it got too hard, I'd say "OUCH, Beeee Niiiice" Generally he'd just step up after that. Once he got to know us he quit with the "testing."

I could tell the difference in his body language, reaching out to grab and test was way different then, get away and leave me alone.

Get away and leave me alone would be more of an aggressive lash out, beak open, squawk, puffed feathers, defensive stance...if you continue with that...then you are asking to loose a chunk of your skin

Reach out and grab and test bite, is usually more of a cautious, grab, bite...harder and a little harder...feathers down and no squawking and usually while "testing" step closer to your finger then once he's decided it's safe...up he goes

Although, I had a tiel once, who'd make you think he was going to take your entire hand off when asked to step up...he NEVER bit, but he'd squeal, open his beak and...I can't describe it, but he'd almost try to scare you, not pecking, but...umm....just moving his head really really fast and tasting, I guess...he'd do this for like 5 or 10 seconds, then jump right up on your hand as if nothing was wrong. It was almost like he was testing to see where he stood and if you jerked your hand away in fear, he'd attempt to bite, but if you remained calm knowing he's not going to bite and said "oh knock it off and get up here..." He would just quit right now and jump up like...Oh, okay...let's go have fun!" LOLOL He was a goofy thing, but I sure loved him.

Anyway...good luck with Apple, he's beautiful!

Toni

Thank you SO much for that information! My fingers are sore, lol! I left him alone for a few hours then I tried to get him to step up, he bit my finger so I said "No" in a soft but firm voice and walked away. I'd wait about half an hour then go back and attempt him to step up again, he did the same so I said "No" and walked away. After about 4 or 5 times of repeating he still bit onto my finger but jumped right on. I walked with him showing him the apartment then sat down at the computer. He bit my finger again so I walked back and put him back on his cage. I want to teach him that by biting he isn't going to get "fun" time or time with me. Hope he learns that I love him and should love me too, lol! All the nibbling makes sense now but sometimes he will chomp down and grind his beak on my finger. I don't want to show him that it hurts, just that it's wrong. I don't know if i'm doing it right but hope it works.

Of course I totally know that it will take time and patience but I feel very accomplished after having him step up onto my finger and ride around with me for a bit.

Also, I in no way want to force him into doing anything he doesn't want to.

 

[Bobioden]

Congrats, Apple is a little cutie.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Wow! He is a quick learner! He now steps up onto my hand without biting and willingly! He even lets me give him neck and head rubs. Such a sweetie! *sigh* Also, to top off the good new, he also stepped up to my son without biting. His previous owner gave him to me because he bit anyone and everyone who came close to him but her, especially tried with her young daughter. :/ Just glad he is happy with us (not saying he wasn't happy before, she was a GREAT sweet lady.).

Thank you for all of the great replies!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

It only took one day for Apple to gain my trust and accept me... He has now spent a few hours hanging out on my shoulders and even snuggles up against my neck into my hair. So happy right now, didn't expect it to be this quick. He also tolerates my son, I say tolerate because he doesn't try and go out of his way just to bite him anymore.

 

[Rio Mom]

Congrats! Apple is definately a cutie!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Thank you!

He totally tried to snag a green bean from my plate! No buddy, you get the unsalted ones with no butter, lol!

 

[Bobioden]

It only took one day for Apple to gain my trust and accept me... He has now spent a few hours hanging out on my shoulders and even snuggles up against my neck into my hair. So happy right now, didn't expect it to be this quick. He also tolerates my son, I say tolerate because he doesn't try and go out of his way just to bite him anymore.

It seems like he is settling in very nicely. Just take it slow. He is in a new home, new people around, and he needs quiet time to get used to it all.

Great start though, he seems to accept you, and is very comfortable being with you.

Congrats on your new little one.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Oh yeah totally... I don't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do. Just a bit ago I put him in his cage and he ran up and stared at me through the acrylic door with a "I want out." Look, lol! It was so cute... He does hate anyone that isn't me or my son though. I just think he needs to be socialized a bit more and with differnt people. I'll wait on that though, need to work on him totally trusting and accepting me.

 

[Parrotlover101]

I love your bird! He's so pretty! Is this your first bird?

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I love your bird! He's so pretty! Is this your first bird?

Thank you!

No he is not... I have had Parakeets all my life growing up (had bad luck with them getting out and flying away), Finches, Love Birds, and 2 Cockatiels. I did have a Senegal that was blind in one eye, I adopted him from someone on Craigslist. My bf had gotten him for me for my Birthday. We lived in Tijuana Mex. at the time and lived there for a bit over a year. I of course took him with me not knowing that I would not be able to bring him back to the US legally. So, a year later I became pregnant and with all of the doctor visits we had to move back to San Diego not being able to bring him with us. My father in law and step mother in law live there so I gave him to her for her birthday. He was never really a social bird and as much as I tried he wanted nothing to do with me. Maybe he was just one of those birds. 4 years later and about 3 months ago, he decided he wanted to take a cruise out of his cage and he never came back. I was able to visit him whever I wanted. I just hope whomever found him loves and takes care of him.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

So apparantly my new buddy loves to taunt cats, lol! Here he is teasing Shadow my brother-in-laws cat. He has his claws clipped and is a very sweet cat. He is also mostly afraid of Apple, lol!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8ZZiA_Cr7o]YouTube - ‪Yellow-sided Green Cheek Conure‬‏[/ame]