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bren
Egg
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Arkansas |
| My conure |
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Hi, my son works part-time at a pet store and recently found an abandoned finsch's conure on the door step of the store. My son kept the conure a week before he could bring it to us. The bird immediately bonded with my son and now, after 2 weeks, has taken a liking to my husband. For some reason he doesn't seem to like me and he often runs away from or bites me. Do some conures just have a male or female preference? Also, he show no interest in bathing. Will this come in time? I would appreciate any help on these matters. |
Wednesday March 7, 2007 7:45 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: My conure |
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All parrots (or almost all) have some sort of preference. But a well behaved parrot should just bite someone. (Ehm, please note that I have a bad parrot too  )
Not all parrots bath the same. Some like showers, some baths.
If he really doesn't like to bath, you can try putting the vaccuum cleaner on. (No joke) and provide a bowl of water.  |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 8:15 pm |
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bren
Egg
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Arkansas |
What is the most important step in having a well behaved parrot? |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 8:32 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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Wow, that's not easy to say. If it would be that easy, then we wouldn't need behaviorists, books etc. |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 8:46 pm |
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bren
Egg
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Arkansas |
Well, let's start with biting. I've read several thoughts on it. What do or would you do? |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 9:27 pm |
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Lynzi Marie
Flying tumbler
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 2052
Location: Utah |
I have a Sun Conure that was mistreated, and he looooves to bite, and we went through his sexual maturing stages just recently....
I learned that if you don't want him to bite, give him something else to do.....
I give my Sonnie sunflower seeds once he steps up onto my hand...
or I've read you can slightly shake your hand to distract them....
maybe even use a clicker...
anything to get him to stop his action.
once he/she stops in the middle of the biting movements give a treat or positive reinforcement imediately.
that may work.
I'm not a behaviorist or anything...I actually read this stuff from a book...
I'll find the title of it, it's remarkable.... |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 11:52 pm |
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Lynzi Marie
Flying tumbler
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 2052
Location: Utah |
found the title!
it's
"Your Outta Control Bird" by Nikki Moustaki.....
wonderful advice on "second hand" birds...
just like your little one
good luck!!!
I bought the book at Petsmart.... |
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Wednesday March 7, 2007 11:54 pm |
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bren
Egg
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Arkansas |
Thank you so much for the advice and the reference! I'm heading out today to run errands so I'll stop by Petsmart. My bath problem just got solved. If my husband's not around my conure likes to sit on the kitchen counter and watch me work while he eats snacks. This morning I decided to wash a few dishes by hand and I could not keep him out of my dish drain. Finally, I just let him sit on my silverware holder and I sprayed him over and over with warm water. He really is a funny and surprising little guy. I just wish that he could like and trust me like he does my husband, I'm so anxious to love and nurture him. |
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Thursday March 8, 2007 2:57 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
awww sounds like a funny little guy there with the water spray. 
congrats on the new addition... I think with the liking you thing, may be just give him/her time to adjust.. may be he was mistreated by a female, and he doesn't really trust females at the moment. you'll need lots of love and patience and eventually I think you'll win him over... I guess you can try to be the only ones that give him/her treats and may be that might bring him to trust you more. Just a thought. |
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Thursday March 8, 2007 3:45 pm |
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cheekie_birdy
Experienced flier
Joined: 08 Jul 2006
Posts: 1719
Location: Canada |
Another great book is "The Beak Book" by Sally Blanchard.
To get him to like you, you do most the bird related chores, give him his fave treats he doeasn't get often, and stop by his cage multiple times during the day, to give him some food, whistle or talk to him, or whatever. Talk to him a lot. Sit by his cage and read without looking at him. when he's more comfortable, and will let you hold him, you can take him to his fave places, like a playgym, or your husband, or something. Soon he'll associate you with good things, and like you more.
good luck.
Haley |
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Friday March 9, 2007 9:44 pm |
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bren
Egg
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Arkansas |
Today was a really good day for me and my conure. My husband and I have yet to name our little one so I just refer to him as "my conure". We had another bath in the kitchen sink and he spent a lot of time on my shoulder and the back of our favorite chair. Just when I was about to feel really good about our relationship he almost took a plug out of my cheek. He was on my shoulder when my husband came home and as soon as he saw my husband he reached down and bit me! What a little rascal he is. It's a very good thing that he's soooo cute!
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and help. |
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Friday March 9, 2007 11:09 pm |
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