Inherited a Blue Crown Conure

[black02rex]

I have just inherited a 2yr old Blue Crowned Conure from my mother-in-law named Ricky (maybe Ricki). I was trying to learn some of its background and found that Ricky has had 5 different homes. There was not much more info to be given. Ricky does not bite and talks to me and my wife alot. However, he/she will "step up" but immediately "turns and burns" back to the top of his cage.

I am trying to understand Ricky's position, could it be comfort, or maybe not trusting people in the past? I have tried giving a treat when Ricky doesnt run away from me without even trying to "step up" but Ricky does not seem to be catching on.

I do sit in the room a lot and watch tv and talk to Ricky. I am hoping that just by being there he (for all intensive purposes) will get used to me and start to trust me more.

So far so good though. Not a lot of screaming unless we leave the room and he knows we have not left the house. Nighttime is quiet as well. I am sure all of this wil change over time.

thanks for any suggestions in advance.

 

[JamesC]

5 homes is a lot. Especially for a 2 year old. Since it seems his life has been a lot of upset it may take him a while to learn to trust. But a lot of patience and little treats will help. Over time he may start coming to you as he learns you are not a threat. The cage is his comfort zone and that is where he feels more secure. I've had Rosco for over a year now and he still will fly back to his cage after I pick him up probably half the time now.

The one thing I noticed with Rosco is that he is constantly watching me. He has started hanging out nearby recently but will move away if I make a move towards him. I consider it part of the course of him learning to trust. It probably would have gone quicker had he been an only bird but he has Tootsie, my other blue crown, as his companion so is less inclined to look to me for companionship.

Just give Ricky some time to settle in. A few new toys and interesting things to keep his attention are good. And get him a nice bowl to bathe in. Like most birds, blue crowns love to get dripping wet 2-3 times a week. And if you can, place the cage near where you sit so that if he is feeling brave he can come down to say hello. Or maybe get a small play pen you can place nearby that has treats and toys.

Tootsie screams at me a lot when I leave the room. Heck, I can't even go into the kitchen which has just a half wall and she can see me all the time without getting a fuss going. I think a lot of birds are like that. But once the lights are out, all is usually quiet until Rosco starts ringing his bells about 5 minutes after lights out. He does this every night. Usually about 5-10 minutes of vigorous ringing. Never been able to figure it out but it has become a ritual that I listen to every night.

Anyway, good luck with Ricky. I'm sure that the other members of the board will be asking for photos so you may as well get a few taken and posted.

 

[black02rex]

this is a horrible low light photo. I saw a photo of him with a flash before we brought him home and he was flouresent green. Needed something better.

I do sit near him with the cage open most of the day while I am home. I am looking for a treat that he really loves to eat. He does snack on the millet spray but doesn't seem overwhelmed with it. Maybe I will try something else. I have printed out a list of do's and don'ts for feeding time so me and my wife are on the same page.

Hope you like the photo.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Congratulations on your new family member. It may take some time, but it sounds like you are giving the attention your bird needs. They thrive on the comfort of a routine of sorts, and having so many homes, s/he just may take time before s/he really feels confident in the new environment.

 

[black02rex]

I am away for a couple days and. It sure my wife is going to be able to spend the extra time between work and my daughter. I will start the process again on Monday morning after school starts. Otherwise I keep reminding her to change the paper on the bottom, water and food. She advised me that Ricky chewed up a ladder that I placed in the cage and that made me happy. I don't think she thought that was supposed to happen. She has been letting Ricky out of the cage everyday for a good amount of time. I want to look for puzzles. I did place a foraging hangy thing in the cage before I left.

Monday morning cannot get here soon enough!!

Still hope everything goes alright.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

It's wonderful that you are going to provide Ricky with a long term home and flock. It is such a sad thing to hear about a bird being passed off so many times, regardless of the circumstances. So it will surely take him some time to get adjusted and feel safe and "at home." Be patient and loving and keep doing what u r doing and he'll love you and your family right back.

 

[black02rex]

Im thinking that he will take a long time to get connected. He runs from my hands when I try to go close, or even funnier is he will lean to the side in order to be just a CM further away. I wanna laugh when this occurs, but i contain myself. I was trying to get him to eat from my hand so he would know that my hands are safe, but again, he will eat a bite of something and then throw it on the ground and then not accespt anything else. He is eating well though while he is on his cage (playtop).

Im just going to continue to watch tv and hang out with him during the day before work and for extended times on the weekends when I can be at home.

He is really cool and starting to show some personality. Definitley wants me around as he squawk a lot when I have to leave the room. So I think things are coming along. Its only been a week and I had to go away for a few of those.

 

[SweetPeasFriend]

Blue crowns are very loud, but awesome birdies! I just hold my ears and smile proudly.

 

[black02rex]

He certainly give a few good hollars when you walk through the room or when it is time to use the facilities. I am just afraid tht he will get cage bound before long. I am continually putting my hands in there is to do nothing but touch a toy or something. He scoots quick. I get him off his play top just by putting my hands near by. Right in the cage when that happens, and fairly close to the bottom as well.

I talk to him a lot while watching TV as well. I am hoping that he will start to try to communicate back. I am not saying talking but making noises because I am making noises kind of thing. And I dont think I can get my chair any closer to the cage without getting seeds and dired fruits all over me. So, we are pretty close.

 

[JamesC]

Blue crowns are very loud, but awesome birdies! I just hold my ears and smile proudly.

You outta try having two! Easily three times the noise cause they feedback off of each other.

Black02rex, it sounds like you are doing good so far. I might avoid reaching into the cage for him. Some birds get nervous about hands in their cages. They can get really defensive and possibly aggressive inside but are fine outside.

For getting him used to your hands, try putting some of his favorite treats in the palm of your hand and see if after a while he will come down to take a bite. Your arm could get sore from holding the position but it could work. First time I really had contact with Rosco was when he came to investigate the treat I was holding.

 

[black02rex]

Still not a noisy bird. I think he is getting too comfortable on the top of his cage. Also, starting to think maybe he just doesnt like me at all. Oh well, we are going to spend a lot of time together as I pay the rrent and Im not going to give up this easily!! LOL I am sure everything is going to work out Its only been two weeks and he is already 2 yrd ols with 5 different homes. Thanks for all the encouragement.

 

[OtterKin]

Well the good news is if he's not attacking you, he doesn't hate you with a passion! If he's still calling when people leave the room, he likes the company. Two weeks isn't that long for a bird that's been bounced around, or for birds in general! You still might have a wonderful relationship. You're right that it might take a long time, but you sound like you have the hang of it. Way to go on sticking with it.

 

[MonicaMc]

What does he eat, and what is the first thing he eats out of his dish, if it isn't pellets?

If you can figure that out, you might be able to use that food to train him with. Otherwise, just leave it to interaction through the cage bars. Put a treat cup inside the cage near a perch, and whenever you are near, drop a treat inside it. He may come to learn that you coming near can mean good things, and allows him to retrieve said treat on his own.

 

[OtterKin]

Do you know about Nutriberries? Alot of birds love them, and if he's not into millet as much he might like Nutriberries better for training purposes.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Black02rex. Hang in there. You are making progress and it seems having fund doing it. Is there somewhere you can bring the bird where the two of you can hang out on "neutral" territory. Like, if he'll get on your finger or a stick, maybe a clean kitchen floor. You could sit down on floor with him and bring in a ball or some other toy he might like and you could sit against a cabinet and put him down a couple or three feet away in front of a treat so he could eat it alone. Then put a short trail like two or three more of the treats getting closer to you, i.e. pieces of apples or green peppers or whatever he loves the most. roll a ball past him a few times (not at him like a bowling pin, lol). He might even want to just snuggle up to your leg or foot if you are calm and stay still, since he will be in this new environment where you are the only familiar anything/anyone to him. Pritti loves roaming around the floors and when I sit with him, he makes me the playground.

 

[black02rex]

So today we made some huge progress. Ricky was sort of watching me and making some bobbing type. Circles with his body while on his play top. Then he would sort of wave or act as though he was trying to step up into the air. I did hold some of his dried up fruit that he seems to like a lot in my hand between my thumb and finger and he took it from me. Also, if I spoke real quiet to him he was kind of talk back (squawking) until I spoke again.

 

[black02rex]

Ok, things get stranger all the time. Today he attempted to take flight. He doesn't get air but can travel a long way from his play top. Landed on my daughter. Fluttered a bit, dog came and off again, running start from the couch to the kitchen. Well of course I came to the rescue. Put my finger out and since I want him to learn step up, said it and up he went. Put him on his play top again and again he runs. I am starting to see what happens when he is away from his cage he is very trusting. But doesn't want anyone near his cage and if he falls for stepping up onto something realizes his mistake and turns back onto his play top immediately. If I could only get him to nose dive off the cage every day things would be awesome!!

 

[black02rex]

I realize I am replying a lot to my own thread, just kinda keeping an update for those who replied so they know I am trying their tactics.

So today while shopping I purchased some green beans and apples. Well, he wasn't very pleased with the green beans, but I have successfully found a treat to entice him to like me more. I stuck the apple out there and normally he will taste something and throw the rest down and not give it a second thought. Also, if I attempt to give a second there is no thought in his head to give it a second try. Well apples have changes all that. Not only was I able to hold it and have him eat from my fingers but I can continue to hold a single piece while he takes bites.

I told him while he was eating that I win. I figure I can use that treat to entice him to maybe step up from his cage. Hopefully anyway. I am super excited!

 

[JamesC]

Apples are the favorite fruit of both my blue crowns. And they love grapes. They generally do not like green beans much. I think their favorite veggies are sugar snap peas and corn. I break the snap peas up into 2 or 3 pieces to hand to them and they will eat the pea out of it and half the shell before dropping them and coming for another.

 

[black02rex]

The grapes would also be great because my 5yr old daughter likes those a lot. And apples for that matter. I was excited to spend a lot of time with him today. Yesterday I was in the room looking at him as we tried to see who could stare longer (I lost) interacting with this guy is awesome. I'm glad I am havng this opportunity. I hope he becomes friendly like of the other birds I read about on this forum. I will get some grapes tomorrow. And snap peas.

I'm just glad I found a snack he finds irresistable!!