I need help with my Nanday

[AngelNikolov]

Hello, so long story short I got my Nanday Conure 10 years ago. It ( I don't know if it is male or female) is 12 years old now. And I have to admit I was a terrible owner so far. I've never trained him (atleast not properly) or tought him tricks or anything. I realise that was wrong and I've basically wasted 10 years of it's life. I can't change the past, but I can atleast try to make the future for the little guy and me better. I was really hoping you can help me with that, give me some tips or at least send me some articles or videos or something. I've watched some tutorials and red things on the topic but most of them seemed to be for when you get a new bird and not for when you've been neglecting your bird for 10 years.It doesn't seem to be very afraid of me, but it won't let me touch it, it eats from my hand but somethimes bites me (gently though). It seems to doesn't like hands and is afraid of them and starts to panic and screech when I reach into his cage. Anyway I really need some help and I'll be very gratefull if someone can help me.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome, you have my admiration for your willingness to make a wrong, right!

 

[AngelNikolov]

Thank you, I will give my best effort. The little guy deserves it

 

[CherylCali]

Welcome! Even if its been years the first thing to probably start with is learning to step up, that takes trust and it's a great way to begin just like with a baby bird. Reaching into his cage is probably very frightening for your bird. I would start with trying to open the door and let him come out when he's ready. In Every way take it slowly as though it is a bird you just brought home. You can still have a very rewarding life together. Parrots are incredible companions. There is such an amount of valuable wisdom, help and resources here. Read, read, read! Also, if he has had a poor diet I think that is the first thing you may need to address. If he is in poor health that is his first obstacle.

CherylCali

 

[GaleriaGila]

You're on your way already... offer toys, keep doing the treats - maybe making him come a step further or closer to you or your other hand, just spend time taking/whistling to/with him, most of all - be gentle and slow: you're going to be surprising him after all this time. I bet a lot of the 'new bird' advice could apply to you.

Just curious - what finally 'woke you up' to the situation? And good for you!

 

[AngelNikolov]

Welcome! Even if its been years the first thing to probably start with is learning to step up, that takes trust and it's a great way to begin just like with a baby bird. Reaching into his cage is probably very frightening for your bird. I would start with trying to open the door and let him come out when he's ready. In Every way take it slowly as though it is a bird you just brought home. You can still have a very rewarding life together. Parrots are incredible companions. There is such an amount of valuable wisdom, help and resources here. Read, read, read! Also, if he has had a poor diet I think that is the first thing you may need to address. If he is in poor health that is his first obstacle.

Thank you very much!I only reach into his cage to change the water and the food, I really try not to scare him, but most of the time he is afraid when I do it. I think his diet is good I try to keep it balanced, but he really likes sunflower seeds and eats them first, them the rest of the mix. He also doesn't seem to like dry friuts, he likes fresh ones but I'm a little afraid to give them to him, because I don't know how they are grown (if they are treated with chemicals or pesticides or something).

 

[AngelNikolov]

@GaleriaGila Thank you! I've kinda allways knew it was wrong, but I made excuses for myself ( beeing busy with school and then university and job ). Last week me and my girlfriend visited some old friends of hers and they have a bird (african grey) and just seeing the lovely relationship they have with their bird made me think "Damn I could've had that allready, but I was an idiot"

 

[GaleriaGila]

@GaleriaGila Thank you! I've kinda allways knew it was wrong, but I made excuses for myself ( beeing busy with school and then university and job ). Last week me and my girlfriend visited some old friends of her's and they have a bird (african grey) and just seeing the lovely relationship they have with their bird made me think "Damn I could've had that allready, but I was an idiot"

Wow! Well, I'm impressed: it takes character to face a mistake, and courage to correct it. Yes, I just made that up, for you!

 

[AngelNikolov]

@GaleriaGila Thank you!

 

[GaleriaGila]

About diet... if he's eating mostly seed, may I suggest thinking about pellets? I love Harrison's, which you can order by mail... supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first and current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry. He was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic.

 

[AngelNikolov]

About diet... if he's eating mostly seed, may I suggest thinking about pellets? I love Harrison's, which you can order by mail... supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first and current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry. He was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic.

GrandMix pappagalli. Padovan this what I'm currently giving him. I'll order pellets when I get my next paycheck.After he has converted to pellets can I use sunflower seeds as a training treat because he really likes them and I think he'll respond best to them?

 

[CherylCali]

About diet... if he's eating mostly seed, may I suggest thinking about pellets? I love Harrison's, which you can order by mail... supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first and current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry. He was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic.

GrandMix pappagalli. Padovan this what I'm currently giving him. I'll order pellets when I get my next paycheck.After he has converted to pellets can I use sunflower seeds as a training treat because he really likes them and I think he'll respond best to them?

This is perfect, sunflower seed for training, and its something he already loves, so when you use them it's going to be extra special coming from you.

On the fresh fruits and vegetables some is better than none. The Harrisons website has great very specific info on how much fresh food they can have with their food and what types.

Please be encouraged that you can gain the ground you lost, you can still have a friend and companion like no other with your Nanday. You've taken a huge step already! This is just the beginning of a beautiful story, please update frequently!

CherylCali

 

[AngelNikolov]

Thanks for the support guys I will update, hopefully with good news.

 

[AngelNikolov]

So I was hand feeding him today, it went well aside from few loud screeches, and he was a little agressive for just a second but he didn't bite me. One thing I noticed he was doing at the end of the feeding, I'm not sure how to explain it, but he puts his beak on the branch and starts to walk and drag his beak back and forward. I'm not sure why hes doing it, and what does it means. Any ideas?

 

[Flboy]

Sharpening for the next bite!

Kidding, my JoJo does the same!

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed! As all have said, thanks for realizing your error and the courage to want to change your relationship. Regarding food, fruit and veggies, if you wash them off well, pesticides will not be an issue, and both are important to your parrots diet. SLOWLY try to introduce them and wean him off that seed diet - not to scare you but they signifficantly affect your birds lifespan ( In my and many others opinion ). I realize that getting parrot food pellets in Bulgaria may be a challenge, but it will be worth it. I will help you out here, and send samples of a few different types
(I get crazy discount on shipping to Europe). You want to try a few different types and find one he loves and readily eats. My own Salty has pellets ( Roudyboush ) available all day, he gets fruits for breakfast and veggies for dinner. THose sunflower seeds are so not good for him, but the upside is that once he is on a good diet, you can use those for treats and to teach him things.

Regarding training him even now, Sitting quietly next to the cage, with the door open,
offer a few shelled sunflower seeds from your open hand , held near the cage door. The idea is the get him to stand on the opening and eat there. Once he does that comfortably, move the hand further away and introduce your finger on the other hand, so that he has to perch on your finger to get to the treat. ANY improvement or slight movement twords the goal should be accompannied with verbal praise, in a soothing voice ' Good Boy' or the Bulgarian equivalent (LOL). THis whole simple process could take days , weeks or months, but you have to let your parrot set the pace. You might spend 3 weeks just sitting next to the cage door with seeds in your hand, an hour or two each day, before he decides to even investigate OR it could take a day or two before you move to the next step.

But first priority is to get him off the seed diet and eating healthy. Do the veggies first, because they are available immediately. You must read up and find the veggies that are safe and which are not ( like avacadoes are a big no no), then hit the market.
Most parrots LOVe sweet potatoes ( yams), cooked and cooled, and they are good for them. Great place to start. carrots and peppers ( the hotter the better , for my bird).
Offer them separately or chopped fine and mixed together ( known as Chop).

Once you post more on here, you can send me a private message and I can get those pellet samples to you.

post some pics of your little guy and tell us his name !

 

[AngelNikolov]

Welcome and be welcomed! As all have said, thanks for realizing your error and the courage to want to change your relationship. Regarding food, fruit and veggies, if you wash them off well, pesticides will not be an issue, and both are important to your parrots diet. SLOWLY try to introduce them and wean him off that seed diet - not to scare you but they signifficantly affect your birds lifespan ( In my and many others opinion ). I realize that getting parrot food pellets in Bulgaria may be a challenge, but it will be worth it. I will help you out here, and send samples of a few different types
(I get crazy discount on shipping to Europe). You want to try a few different types and find one he loves and readily eats. My own Salty has pellets ( Roudyboush ) available all day, he gets fruits for breakfast and veggies for dinner. THose sunflower seeds are so not good for him, but the upside is that once he is on a good diet, you can use those for treats and to teach him things.

Regarding training him even now, Sitting quietly next to the cage, with the door open,
offer a few shelled sunflower seeds from your open hand , held near the cage door. The idea is the get him to stand on the opening and eat there. Once he does that comfortably, move the hand further away and introduce your finger on the other hand, so that he has to perch on your finger to get to the treat. ANY improvement or slight movement twords the goal should be accompannied with verbal praise, in a soothing voice ' Good Boy' or the Bulgarian equivalent (LOL). THis whole simple process could take days , weeks or months, but you have to let your parrot set the pace. You might spend 3 weeks just sitting next to the cage door with seeds in your hand, an hour or two each day, before he decides to even investigate OR it could take a day or two before you move to the next step.

But first priority is to get him off the seed diet and eating healthy. Do the veggies first, because they are available immediately. You must read up and find the veggies that are safe and which are not ( like avacadoes are a big no no), then hit the market.
Most parrots LOVe sweet potatoes ( yams), cooked and cooled, and they are good for them. Great place to start. carrots and peppers ( the hotter the better , for my bird).
Offer them separately or chopped fine and mixed together ( known as Chop).

Once you post more on here, you can send me a private message and I can get those pellet samples to you.

post some pics of your little guy and tell us his name !

Thank you for your advice and willingness to help, especially with the pellets, because it is hard to find quality ones in Bulgaria.

He goes by the unoriginal name of Nandy, the people in the shop had given him the name, and he seemed to respond to it so I kept it that way. He usualy comes to the opening when I approach him with food and takes it from my hand, but he still somethimes looks uncomfortable and scared around me. He is curious and seems to want to interact with me but he gets scared very easily and seems to be a little shy somethimes. I've allready started giving him fresh fruit, he ate some melon today. I think it will be a challenge to get him off the seed diet, because he is very picky, but we'll find a way.
Thank you again for the hellp! I'll post some pictures latter today

 

[CherylCali]

So I was hand feeding him today, it went well aside from few loud screeches, and he was a little agressive for just a second but he didn't bite me. One thing I noticed he was doing at the end of the feeding, I'm not sure how to explain it, but he puts his beak on the branch and starts to walk and drag his beak back and forward. I'm not sure why hes doing it, and what does it means. Any ideas?

I think he's cleaning his beak. Their beaks have nerves and blood vessels and they are very sensitive. They like to clean them off after eating moist foods.

CherylCali

 

[AngelNikolov]

So I was hand feeding him today, it went well aside from few loud screeches, and he was a little agressive for just a second but he didn't bite me. One thing I noticed he was doing at the end of the feeding, I'm not sure how to explain it, but he puts his beak on the branch and starts to walk and drag his beak back and forward. I'm not sure why hes doing it, and what does it means. Any ideas?

I think he's cleaning his beak. Their beaks have nerves and blood vessels and they are very sensitive. They like to clean them off after eating moist foods.

CherylCali

Usually when he cleans it he just grinds it on the branch, now he walked all the way to the one end of the branch and then to the other while draging his beak on the branch, but yeah maybe hes just cleaning it, he ate melon before that.

 

[AngelNikolov]

Here's the little guy. Sorry for the bad quality of the pics but it's getting dark here and I don't want to scare him with the flashlight