New bird, how much interaction?

[Pertalote]

I just brought home a baby green cheek conure yesterday. How long should I wait before I try to handle him? I handled him at the bird store and he knows to step up.
Also, in this super hot weather, how dangerous would it be to run a fan in the kitchen where he is? NOT blowing on him, but can he take any air movement at all? Thanks.

 

[chris-md]

Handle him now, so long as he is receptive. If he’s a bit scared, open the cage door and let him work up the courage to come out on his time. Then you can try to interact.

 

[itzjbean]

You can handle him right now and you should be spending some time with him every day to keep him tame and socialized. We would love to see a picture of him!

Fans are fine, they'll enjoy a nice breeze just as mine do when its hot!

 

[Scott]

Definitely interact, but let the bird help guide your speed.

A great thread with ideas for bonding and building trust: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Squeekmouse]

Handle him as much as you can handle and as much as they can handle. GCC's are (typically) cuddle-addicts!!

For the fan, the moving air isn't really the problem, it's the fan blades. Use extreme caution if there is any way he could get hit by the moving blades. The circulating air is just fine. Generally, if it's a temperature you are comfy with, it's probably a good temperature for your bird. If you are sweating hot or shivering without a coat/blanket, then your bird won't like it any more than you do.

 

[Pertalote]

This bird is the opposite of scared - when I open the cage he barges right out (wings are trimmed.) He's very friendly. Also, he BITES. Hard. When he does that I try distracting him by asking him to step up to my other hand. Any other suggestions for biting? Probably it's just a baby thing but probably could become a habit and I need these fingers!

 

[Pertalote]

https://imgur.com/a/DfbouEm

I attached a pic. Couldn't figure out how to post it.

 

[Flboy]

Meh, fingers! Love is forever!
Fan? Our vet’s official term is ‘shredded tweet’!

You are correct, you do not want the biting to become a habit! Don’t confuse beaking with biting! When beaking, if you pull away, he will then clamp on harder.
GCC, by nature, are very nippy! But need to learn pressure! Right now, as I type, my JoJo is on my shoulder, watching my iPad. If I block his view when taking a sip of my coffee, he grabs my ear, lightly! The longer I sip, the more pressure he uses! Solution? Use the opposite hand! Like any relationship, you both need to learn each other and respect boundaries! Learning bite triggers and reading body language is important!
This is my goto post that redefined my feathered relationships! In my stubbornness, it didn’t click until the third read!
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html
With all the years we have been together, I know there are times I must use a stick to move JoJo around, and if he is out with me and I place a suitcase on the bed, I will bleed!