Sun Conure help!

[SillySeri]

This is about my sun conure.

She hates me in particular, any other family member she's fine with sitting on, but when I try getting her to get on my shoulder she just won't. She'll only fly to me if I have a bribe of a nut, even then she just flies away after.

She will only step up in her cage, anywhere else she just bites and flies away. I've tried pretty much everything I can and I don't know what to do.

 

[kme33881]

Mine likes to bite as well. I’m sorry you are going through this.

Have you tried any sort of clicker training with your sun conure? Sometimes engaging in activity is the way to go to avoid the biting.

Also be careful if you are handling your parrot if you are emotional. They have a tendency to read that, and react.

 

[SillySeri]

Mine likes to bite as well. I’m sorry you are going through this.

Have you tried any sort of clicker training with your sun conure? Sometimes engaging in activity is the way to go to avoid the biting.

Also be careful if you are handling your parrot if you are emotional. They have a tendency to read that, and react.

Tried the clicker, but she HATES the sound and freaks out when she hears it.

I also tend to keep her away when I'm feeling extra emotional.

 

[kme33881]

Tried the clicker, but she HATES the sound and freaks out when she hears it.

I also tend to keep her away when I'm feeling extra emotional.

Unfortunately, sun conures are well known to be snippy. They are loud at sun up, and sun down as well.

All parrots can pick favorite humans, and they will choose who they don’t like as well. They are opinionated creatures. It’s incredibly random. I would describe it as a spectrum of tolerance for human interaction. Each parrot treats each individual human independently, and their tolerance for interaction can vary human to human as well.

If you have your sun conure on a good diet, and sleep schedule… this is all you can do. Train train train. Keep that beak occupied. You can still train without a clicker. If your parrot flys exercise helps with the pint up energy. Routines are important as well. Parrots learn your schedule. They aren’t always instantly adjustable to change in their routine.

 

[SillySeri]

Unfortunately, sun conures are well known to be snippy. They are loud at sun up, and sun down as well.

All parrots can pick favorite humans, and they will choose who they don’t like as well. They are opinionated creatures. It’s incredibly random. I would describe it as a spectrum of tolerance for human interaction. Each parrot treats each individual human independently, and their tolerance for interaction can vary human to human as well.

If you have your sun conure on a good diet, and sleep schedule… this is all you can do. Train train train. Keep that beak occupied. You can still train without a clicker. If your parrot flys exercise helps with the pint up energy. Routines are important as well. Parrots learn your schedule. They aren’t always instantly adjustable to change in their routine.

I did try training but she's just a bit too skittish. It doesn't help that I got her from a decently large bird store and that I didn't know that she was bonded to another sun.

Even with times where she gets to be out of the cage, she plucks.

I'm also worried because she's now 3 years old and acts permanently hormonal and overstimulated, and the possibilities of egg laying.

When she's in her cage she'll climb up on the front of her cage and flutter her wings in a pose similar to a Cockatiel doing heart wings. She'll wiggle her head and not make any noise during it. Glad she hasn't laid an egg yet, but it's still worrying.

She gets plenty of out of cage time, and loves sitting on anyone else's shoulders or head. I give her lots of toys for in her cage, and she LOVES shredding wood. She's part beaver I tell you!

 

[kme33881]

Hormones aren’t fun at all. Parrots aren’t in control when they are hormonal. It can make for some grumpy times.

For egg laying make sure you remove things from the cage that can resemble a nest, or can be built into a nest. If you have those parrot plush snuggle up things that made my conure really hormonal. Same with a mirror. It’s all trial, and error, and will vary parrot to parrot.

Is she on a diet that doesn’t consist of all seed, or lots of sugar? Really look into a good solid diet, and sleep. I do 12 hours of sleep for my parrots. That room has blackout curtains. I wanted to make sure that their sleep wasn’t interrupted.

Yes conures can absolutely be avid chewers, and it’s really healthy for their species. That’s great to hear.

 

[SillySeri]

Hormones aren’t fun at all. Parrots aren’t in control when they are hormonal. It can make for some grumpy times.

For egg laying make sure you remove things from the cage that can resemble a nest, or can be built into a nest. If you have those parrot plush snuggle up things that made my conure really hormonal. Same with a mirror. It’s all trial, and error, and will vary parrot to parrot.

Is she on a diet that doesn’t consist of all seed, or lots of sugar? Really look into a good solid diet, and sleep. I do 12 hours of sleep for my parrots. That room has blackout curtains. I wanted to make sure that their sleep wasn’t interrupted.

Yes conures can absolutely be avid chewers, and it’s really healthy for their species. That’s great to hear.

She has solid sleep and a healthy diet of cold pressed pellets, veggies, and fresh fruit. I have avoided any sorts of snuggle huts and dark enclosed spaces.

 

[Mosbird]

Sun conures are incredibly loyal birds but they can definitely bond strongly to certain family members and be resistant to others — this is really common! From my experience raising hand-fed Sun Conures, the key is patience and always letting her come to you on her terms. Try sitting near her cage and just reading or talking softly — let her approach you rather than the other way around. Treats also go a long way; find her absolute favourite (mango or corn work great for most suns) and only give it from your hand. Over time she'll start associating you with good things. Clicker training is also excellent for rebuilding trust. Hang in there — once a Sun Conure bonds with you they're the most affectionate birds!