Odd Sun Conure Behavior

[OutlawedSpirit]

I am fostering a sun conure right now, who was said to be cage aggressive. I am unsure as to whether this is actually the case.

When he is in his cage, I can reach in and scratch all around his head and neck, I can pet down his back and wings and he is fine. However, if I ask him to step-up, he will lunge and try to run away from my hand.

I tried to get him to step-up onto a perch, and he attacked it with such vigor he was ripping chunks of wood out of the perch. If, however, I put a glove on my hand, he will step up with no issues. I don't mean I grab him, either, I just put the glove on, then ask for a step-up and he will come out just fine.

Once he is out of the cage, there are no issues with him, he is as sweet as can be. I am just not sure what the reason behind his behavior in the cage is. I would think if he was actually cage aggressive, he wouldn't let me pet him, and he would run towards my hand, not away from it.

Does anyone know what this behavior is, and what steps I can take to correct it?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi, ooh definitely an issue with the perch I feel. Something in his history? Ill treatment maybe? Don't forget people say all sorts of rubbish to get rid of anything these days, pinch of salt!

Are you willing to try bare hand no glove next? See if he will go hand to perch and back for loads of encouragement and treats out of the cage. Back off if not happy but he likes you so go slow, be gentle and see what transpires, you could well be pleasantly surprised I feel.

 

[ChrisDooley]

The bird has learned that the glove means business.

Otherwise, if you don't use the glove, you aren't serious.

I have seen this in my conures. They figure out the gloves means they cannot misbehave.

Try this.....

Show the bird the glove, put it on the wrong hand, then reach for the bird with your bare hand.

or

Use the glove to immediately transfer the bird onto your bare hand and put the bird back in the cage with the bare hand.

The bird has the current system figured out. You have to change stuff around. These birds are smart. I forget sometimes that when I'm training them, they are also trying to train me.

CD

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I have to totally agree with Plumsmom. It is very likely that he had some sort of traumatic experience involving a perch/bare hand. Possibly, the person prior to you used gloves when trying to take him out so that is what he is used to and sees a bare hand as a 'threat' since its unfamiliar.

Cage aggression is when they are 'protective' of their cage and its environment against everything and everyone. If you can put your hand in the birds cage WHILE he is in it and he does not attack you or respond aggressively then cage aggression is not an issue, period. I can stick my whole head in Skittles cage and he'll just look at me like he's saying "so what? you want a prize?".

Skittles will use his beak to climb onto my finger, its his way of 'testing' out the safety of it (is it a stable or will it collapse, etc). This is normal. But BITING when doing this is not.

 

[SirEdwin89]

I have to totally agree with Plumsmom. It is very likely that he had some sort of traumatic experience involving a perch/bare hand. Possibly, the person prior to you used gloves when trying to take him out so that is what he is used to and sees a bare hand as a 'threat' since its unfamiliar.

Cage aggression is when they are 'protective' of their cage and its environment against everything and everyone. If you can put your hand in the birds cage WHILE he is in it and he does not attack you or respond aggressively then cage aggression is not an issue, period. I can stick my whole head in Skittles cage and he'll just look at me like he's saying "so what? you want a prize?".

Skittles will use his beak to climb onto my finger, its his way of 'testing' out the safety of it (is it a stable or will it collapse, etc). This is normal. But BITING when doing this is not.

I have to disagree with your view on cage aggression a bit. Cage aggression can have several different forms, and not all of them are omnipresent. Triggered and situational cage aggression can definitely exist. For example, an animal who isn't opposed to being touched in his cage, can still become cage aggressive if you try and remove him from his cage, and I've seen quite a few cases where cage aggression was directly linked to a relative time of day, as well as cases were the cage aggression doesn't trigger at all until after you pass a certain point in the cage.

overall I totally agree with you and plum in that it sounds like the little guy is dealing with some form of past behavioral enforcement or trauma, I just wouldn't discount cage aggression as a possibility simply because it isn't the full on 24/7 "you are near my cage now you die" form.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Yea i can pet him and give him scritches while he is in his cage. It is just when I try to get him to step up that he tries to bite, and he will bite hard. Although he will try to run from my hand before he'll bite, but only if I'm asking him to step up, he does not run if I'm merely touching him.

I have even showed him a glove on one hand, and he'll step up onto my other hand with no glove. I wonder if I should go that route and slowly phase the other hand being in a glove out.

He will step up onto a bare hand or perch outside of hours cage with no issues as well.

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[Skittys_Daddy]

@SirEdwin I see your point, and I agree. There are various forms of cage aggression. The method I was referring to, however, is usually the most common one. But there are various sorts like you mentioned.

Bottom line, with any bird and any behavior- you have to consider many different aspects, some of which we might not necessarily notice at first. The cause and solution is not necessarily right in front of us nor is always a simple solution.

 

[SirEdwin89]

Yea i can pet him and give him scritches while he is in his cage. It is just when I try to get him to step up that he tries to bite, and he will bite hard. Although he will try to run from my hand before he'll bite, but only if I'm asking him to step up, he does not run if I'm merely touching him.

I have even showed him a glove on one hand, and he'll step up onto my other hand with no glove. I wonder if I should go that route and slowly phase the other hand being in a glove out.

He will step up onto a bare hand or perch outside of hours cage with no issues as well.

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As far as your glove idea, personally I think that's a perfect route especially since it's already working for you. I would probably go from having the glove on the off hand (like you are doing now), to holding the glove in the off hand, to just setting the glove near the cage but within view, to removing it entirely.

And props again for fostering.

@Skittys_Daddy: Totally agree, though the fact that the simple solution almost never seems to be the working one is an ever present cause of frustration in my world

 

[snowflake311]

Why do you have to put him on your finger to let him out? I just open the door and let the bird come to me. Then once out of the cage Work on Step up training. With time he will trust you. No need to cause him more stress when he is in the cage. The cage should be a safe place.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Skittles actually comes right to the door of his sleep cage and 'waits' for my hand.

The amount of trust he puts in me never ceases to amaze me. People should feel truly honored when they gain their birds trust.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

The glove thing is working really well for now. I found I don't have to put it on, I just have to show it to him. In a way I'm sorry of sad about it because I can't help but imagine what got him that way. I know it's possible that he just learned he can't get away with misbehaving while someone is wearing a glove, but I have a feeling there's more to it than that

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[SirEdwin89]

The glove thing is working really well for now. I found I don't have to put it on, I just have to show it to him. In a way I'm sorry of sad about it because I can't help but imagine what got him that way. I know it's possible that he just learned he can't get away with misbehaving while someone is wearing a glove, but I have a feeling there's more to it than that

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I don't think you have any need to be sad or sorry about it! Clearly he doesn't mind attacking things like you said he took chunks out of that perch when you tried using it. To me, that says he doesn't have a problem reacting aggressively to things that make him uncomfortable/nervous/etc. I would think if a glove was the result of past negative stimulous, he would be just as keen on ripping chunks out of it as well, or running away from it, certainly not willingly stepping up on it, or on to the person holding it.

I could be totally off base there of course, and it definitely sounds like a glove was used with him in the past, and it has conditioned him, it just doesnt seem like it is based on negative conditioning. Congrats on the quick progress though, sounds like things are moving along splendidly, he is lucky to have ya!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I just think you should be commended for taking him in and working with him to get to a better place.

I just get so tired of hearing stories in the news or online- sometimes I have to come back to this forum just to keep my sanity and remind myself that there are good people out there who love their birds.