New baby GCC

[Tbex_01]

My name is Bex. And I'm an all around animal lover, and about 10 years ago, I finally purchased MY first bird,
So I'm new-ish to birds. I had one cinnamon gcc, and she made being a bird owner EASY. (Other than the first 3 mos we were getting to know each other lol)

I lost her right before Christmas last year and I was so devestated I didn't think I would get another bird again.
However, as fate would have it, a co-worker's gc pair had a clutch of 3 eggs. And she already knew about me losing my girl. So she offered me one of the babies.

One was particularly smaller than the other 2, aaaand guess which one I fell for. My coworker also taught me how to hand feed him so that if I could take him a little early, and start the bond. I half hoped it was another female, but I DNA tested, and ITS A BOY!!

So here's my questions and concerns:

A. He sometimes gets nippy / agressive about a couple toys. And I'm wondering is it a game? Or does he really not like them? (It happens when IM playing with him and the toys, so maybe he doesn't want me touching them?)

B. He is only 3 months old. Should I be expecting a teenage attitude soon?

C. He started to get sassy about me reaching in his main cage and grabbing him. (So I just wait for him to come out, and then we're good) but I also don't want him thinking he can just be a jerk like that.

I don't keep him in his cage all day, because I want him to be able to hang out when I'm home, so we've been learning to chill on his playset in the living room, and he does pretty well, except for when my dog is around.

Believe it or not they get along really well! He will even snuggle up against my dog and sleep if he gets the chance) I have a 12 year old mini Schnauzer who is very easy going, and has worked in animal-to-animal therapy and behavioral rehab. So he gets along with EVERY animal he meets. (Basically he was a therapy dog to other animals) I used to rehabilitate other dogs and small animals.

D. Is there any specific tips I need to continue with training and socializing? (Cause my other girl pretty much just loved everybody. Anyone could hold her or pet her) and Hes been REALLY sweet so far, and I want to make sure we continue on that path, because he goes with me pretty much everywhere. And he needs to be at least tolerant of people.

I've started passing him around to people ever since I got him, just hoping he will continue to stay a sweetie.

I'm new to having a male, so I just want to hear from those of you that know what I'm in for with him I guess, and considering hes so young. TIA everyone!!!

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome! What’s your little guy’s name? Hope you’ll share some pictures of him soon

I’ll give my thoughts based on my experience with my conures, I’m sure others will chime in. My guys seem to get aggressive about a couple of their toys - particularly bells lol. I think they just like to get rough/take out their aggression with some of their toys, and I let them play with those ones on their own and keep my fingers out of that business lol. Initially I thought they must hate the specific toys - but if I put them away, I have birds looking for them (so I know that they actually like those toys).

Teenage attitude - generally conures hit puberty between 1 and 2 (some might be earlier)... I think I caught the tail-end of puberty with Tango (he was 18 months when I got him). He’s mellowed since then thankfully.

Getting out of the cage - I don’t feel like it’s a bad thing for birds to feel like their cage is their “home” and I try to allow mine to come out on their own terms. I have 4 conures and they’re all a bit different about how they prefer to come out. A couple of mine like to come out on their own (so I have a short perch just outside the door that they come out onto). None of them object to my being in their space, but I don’t insist that they come out on my finger. It works well for us.

It’s great that you are socializing him - I would just keep doing what you are doing with him, making interactions with others positive. So great that you take him out with you! There’s tons of great info here about target training, trick training, and bite pressure training - all recommended

I would be very cautious with the dog being in close contact with your bird, although I know that your dog is well trained. I have seen the damage that can be done in just one second if something goes wrong (I volunteer at a parrot rescue). I understand that it’s a personal choice, but I encourage very close supervision.

Hope to hear more about your little guy as he grows up

 

[Sunnyclover]

Does your GCC conure know the "step up" command? If not please don't "grab" your conure out of his cage. That is not okay and he should either step up willingly or come out on his own. Never grab at your bird because that's how distrust and being scared of hands starts...

 

[LeslieA]

My first Pineapple was very friendly as well. This very much depends on the bird though. Some birds will choose a specific toy to act out on.

My current Yellow-side GCC is 19mos old and is going through his second hormonal season. My Sunday is going through her first. Conures tend to get their bigger hormonal pull in the fall to early winter. My male wants to bite and fight everything in sight, while my Sunday wants to mother the other birds and cluck at them. Again, their reactions vary by bird.

Conures generally reach sexual maturity at 9- 12mos for Pyrrhuras (GCCs, etc.) and 18-22 mos for Aratingas (Suns, etc.).

I've never dealt with "teenage attitude" in a GCC or Pyrrhura, so can't pretend to respond.

Since you have limited GCC experience, all I will add is clicker training and potty training help.

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome. Hope you take the time to go through some old threads, lots of people dealing with bites, lots if different advice. Ahhjj can't concerned I've gott a bunch of screaming birds right now lol anyway welcome!

 

[EllenD]

I'm very glad that you have a new little boy, and I hope that you have decades with him. Green Cheeks are known as "velcro birds" for a reason, they love their people and want to be with them as much as possible. However, they do tend to be a bit "nippy", and this usually can be curbed with positive-reinforcement. There are a few things you mentioned that are a bit alarming or at least need to be addressed though...

First of all, never "grab" your bird. If he does not yet know how to "step-up" onto your finger, then you need to start working on teaching him that right away, they usually get it very quickly. However, most-all parrots think of their cage and the items inside their cages as their "safe-space", and it's not at all uncommon for a parrot to not want anyone's hands inside of their cages, or touching their toys. This is not him "being a jerk", it's him being a bird. That cage is his place of comfort, and those are his toys. And it's totally normal for him to be territorial about his cage and toys, and not wanting even his "person", meaning you, to reach your hands inside or to touch his toys. You can try to get him to step-up onto your finger while inside of his cage, but don't be surprised if he still doesn't want to do that and is a bit nippy towards you whenever you stick your hands inside. As already mentioned, it's best to simply open the door to his cage up and let him come out on his own. And as far as touching his toys, if they are outside of his cage it shouldn't be a problem, unless he is nipping as a part of playing. But I wouldn't be trying to play with his toys inside of his cage with him, as he likely isn't considering this playing at all, but rather upsetting to him because you're invading his safe-place.

Green Cheeks usually start going through puberty between 6 months old to a year or so, and yes, they can become hormonal and moody, and if they consider you their "mate", then this nippiness can be much worse. There are things you can do to lessen his hormonal periods, such as making sure he's getting at least 10 hours or more sleep every night, and putting him on a "Natural Light Schedule" every day. Also, making sure that Green Cheeks have nothing inside of their cages that can be considered "nesting material" or like a "nest" will keep them less hormonal. So this means that making sure he does not have anything inside of his cage like any tents, huts, or anything that is made of cloth/fleece/fabric that creates a small, dark, warm place that he can get inside of. Also, making sure when he's out of his cage that he cannot get underneath furniture or inside of any boxes, etc. will help. They tend to become extremely hormonal and actually can bite very hard if they are allowed to get inside of small, dark places, or have anything inside of their cages that can be considered "nesting material".

As far as time out of his cage, he should be out of his cage every day for at least 4-5 hours, if not more. Green Cheeks are parrots that need lots of attention and direct interaction with their person, and the longer he spends inside of his cage, the nippier he'll tend to get. So if you can give him an hour or so out of his cage every morning while you're getting ready for work/school, and then let him out as soon as you get home, and let him out until bedtime, that's the best way to do it...My birds are all out whenever I'm home.

****Please do not let your bird and your dog alone together unsupervised, no ever!
Regardless of how docile, well-trained, loving, etc. your dog is, and regardless of how much "rehabing" he's done, there is nothing that will ever take away his natural, innate predatory instincts towards birds. Dogs are natural hunters of birds, just as cats are, and that never leaves them, regardless of training, past experience, personality, or age. It takes only one second for your dog to kill your bird, only a single bite to your bird's head and that's it. And so even if you're in the room with them together, and they're "sleeping together" or "snuggled together", your dog can literally snap at him at any time, and that would be it, and there's nothing that you can do to prevent it even if you're there with them, as it will be over before you even realize what has happened. Your dog might very well be fine 99% of the time with your bird, but we as people don't understand what it is that triggers our pet's natural instincts and predatory nature, and I cannot tell you how many people we see coming here to the forum who have said exactly the same thing that you did about their dogs, cats, ferrets, etc., and who are warned, and who tell us that "their dog is different, and there's nothing to worry about, and that their dog would never, ever do anything to hurt their bird", and then they are posting in the Bereavement forum because their dog suddenly and without warning bit their bird...or worse, they're posting in the Health forum because their bird is seriously injured and they don't know what to do, and they watch their bird suffer and die...So please, keep this always in your mind, and have/show a healthy respect for your dog's natural predatory instincts, as they are always there...

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome!
Just a few of my usual links for new parronts... general reading for you!

Here's some reading on bonding.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community
http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2012...n-parrots.html


Most of us swear by our avian vets in the event of health concerns. I don't know where you are, but here are some links. I only have USA info...
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.

What's the diet? That's critical for health. Too many are kept on seeds or other poor-nutrition things. They need veggies, legumes, grains... pellets are a good staple. Here's what I use.
Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my 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 enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy 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. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

Since you're new parront, I'll just drop a note about avoiding teflon pans, which are lethal to birds.

 

[Tbex_01]

Hello everyone! Thank you for all the responses!
First things first: DOG lol
They NEVER play unsupervised. In fact Fenway (Birdy boy) isn't allowed outside his cage without me there to supervise. It's been difficult to keep Fenway separate from my dog, because he will literally fly to him whenever he sees him. My dog is almost 13, and acts like it, but they walk around the house together. (I designate 2 rooms when the bird is out) I would never allow them to be unsupervised together. I know of all the dangers. But is it bad for them to hang? My bird is obsessed with him.
And he DOES know step up, but won't do it from inside the cage. Once he comes out, then yes he does. The nipping is only happening with a specific toy. So I just let him play with it on his time. Pretty much all the other toys, we have no problem with nipping or anything. And so far he's only got one good bite on me. But it was totally my fault. He didn't draw blood even. We have been doing some training. He already learned "shake" (he shakes my pinky finger. And "crazy bird" which is where he screams and throws his head around for a few seconds. He really only does this behavior right when I get home, or right before fruit time. Lol so I put it to a command word. I tried a clicker, but he seems to get more startled by the sound, so I've been snapping my fingers first, then I'll move back to clicker once we're more acquainted with the sound.
We're really not doing bad, he's SO sweet and SO lovey. We're doing great!!!

 

[Jen5200]

I’m so glad to hear that things are going so well! He sounds super sweet - hope you’ll post a pic of him. I never mastered the clicker (apparently I’m not coordinated enough to click and treat at the same time), so I just use “good” and a treat to reinforce the good stuff