Biting Conure. How to stop? UPDATE!!!

Featherfinder, I'm thrilled to hear you'll always provide a safe home for him. THANK YOU!

Butters (that's my red-belly's name) was a bit of a cage hog too in the beginning -- because that's where he felt safest. Its tough without seeing what he does when you hang out with him... Is he relaxed enough to sing or whistle? I've found mimicking them helps to relax them, as if they are in charge. The thing with birds (even chickens) you can't fake your "feelings". If you're sitting with him and you're feeling "come on little guy, come on out...." he's going to feel pressured. I would go so far as to take him into a dark room, turn out the lights, put him in a towel or use your steel tipped gloves and take him out of the cage. Close the cage (so he can't get back in), put him on top, maybe with treats or some toys and just make him be outside the cage with you (with the lights back on now). Then I'd read, maybe have a radio on, just be like, "Hey dude!" and ignore him at first. Then in later sessions sing out loud, talk to him but don't look at him. Just let him get used to your voice and that talking doesn't mean "I'm going to put my hands on your helpless little birdy body!". Let him do what he's going to do. If you do this enough, he'll realize life outside the cage isn't all that terrible. But it will take routine, something he will come to EXPECT. With animals, routines are the least threatening since they are predictable and that ='s safety to them. It's not knowing what will happen next that makes them whacky. Eventually, he'll start making his noises, or if he doesn't, do your best to mimic what you know his sounds are. At some point he won't be able to take being ignored, he'll want your attention. So sing to him, tell him how wonderful he is and really smile at him...like from your whole body smile so he feels how happy you are with him. Maybe start to have a phrase that means, "It's ok to go back into your cage" and open his cage door, let him go in on his own. He needs to feel some level of control before he hands it over to you.

I know these are baby steps but it's what this little guy/girl needs. I promise, there is a funny, happy bird in there...you just need to give him time to find himself in your environment.

Here is a picture of Butters on his favorite (and my least favorite) perch, flirting with Annie. He's got a thing for the big, busty chickens. He'll drop his wings and make a little singing voice when he can get close to her. He'll do the same if I pull up a picture of a similarity built chicken on the web. He certainly has a type! Of course, after I took this picture he did his flirting dance.

Butters looks very nice!


Mojo (green cheek) will make noises sometimes but it is more of a crakely scream noise and will click sometimes. I do mimick him and once in awhile he will answer back but mostly he mimicks Sonny (sun conure). I will try taking him into a dark room and getting him out. When i do attempt to get my hand close I use my motorcycle gloves (thick leather) I do have a routine with them. I wake up and uncover them and say good morning to both and Sonny will start clicking and that means he wants out. I will Put my hand close to Mojo's cage and he attacks me every time even without being close. Then I usually take Sonny out and over to say good morning to my ducks. Sonny loves to follow them and mimick and quack like them lol. I then go to work and as soon as i get home I do the same theing but say good afternoon. Ducks usually get their bath where Sonny is in the bathroom with us and then they get their diapers and run of my place. Sonny is usually out for the rest of the evening and I then try talking to Mojo and opening his cage. He usually only trys to attack me and wont talk back. I am trying the best I can to give him time and want to come out but he doesnt seem to want to. I will start trying what you have told me and see if he improves.

Since you showed me your little one i have to show mine

This is mojo. Also trying to attack my phone as i was taking the picture



And this is Sonny. He is and has been cuddling in the back of my hair agenst my neck and the couch as I have been typing this. That is his favorite thing to do at night.



Also my 2 indoor duckies to go with your chicken. Sonny likes the runner (Prince) He is Sonnys favorite to be around.

Thanks for the pics! Mojo is a cutie! Sonny knows he's the favorite child...he's fortunate to have been well cared for. Love the duckies...Runners are so goofy-adorable. I love that different birds enjoy watching each other or hanging out.

Sorry, when I meant routine, I meant your evening sessions with Mojo. A daily routine is good for everyone...people too. You have to make a daily commitment to him. Once he "knows" he's going to spend time with you, he may start looking forward to it.

And about how you "feel". It's not a secret you guys love Sonny, Mojo knows it too and that's not very fair. Just think of how you feel when you're going to approach Sonny and then how very different you feel when you approach Mojo. Which bird would you rather be?

I think you guys have high expectations of Mojo and he's just not ready because he doesn't have the experience with people you wish he had. You're really going back to minus square one with him. When you do get to the point of putting your hand in the cage (I know...that's a ways away), you won't be asking him to "step up" yet. Just being able to pet his chest or feet without him trying to bite you would be a huge step. Only after you've earned his trust can you start to ask him to step up. So he barely knows you guys and you've come at him with a stick (perch)...of course he's afraid of you.

Lower your expectations of him. He's like a kid raised by wolves. Forget what they said about him being hand fed, Butters was too...supposedly.

Another thing, you've got two different species of Conures there. Sonny is the Aratinga type that is more outgoing, loud, clownish, will make a fool of himself for attention. Mojo is the Pyrrhura species which tends to be a little softer in their approach and also can go to the dark side more easily as Mojo has done -- biting and fearful. So please don't have the same expectations for two different birds. I know, you want Mojo just to have some manners. First, you'll have to un-do all the ideas he's developed about people and that is going to take TIME. Weeks, months, it could be a year. But the more consistent you are, the more often you do something, the quicker he'll learn you're not like other humans.

It's tough when there is a bird in the house who does everything right. You'll have to completely switch gears when you deal with one to the other bird.

Wishing you both luck! If you need any more ideas, just let me know.

Your right. I would rather be sonny but I treat them equal and approach as equals. Only difference is sonny gets to be taken out of his cage. I am willing to do what ever it take to make mojo friendly. I would love for him to be like sonny. I love all my birds and would love for them to be friendly. I have the time I just don't k.ow what to do.

Tony will nibble your ear and your fingers (usually not out of anger more of just preening too hard) but for the most part is a very good bird. He will fly to me on command and is fully flighted and very happy. He will beat up my other birds so I can only let him out by himself.

Quote:
Very cute!

How did you teach him to fly to you on command? I would love to try that with sonny and eventually mojo if he becomes nice.

Wow, thank you for sharing this article. I have had my GCC for a year and a half (my first bird) and I am always doing research. This is by far the best article I have read on the subject. Thank you!!!!!!!!

I recently baught a green cheek conure the pet shop owner said she has been handled and was hand reared when I go near her cage she tries to bite and screams all day I got her out the cage today and she landed on my shoulder and just started biting every bit of skin in sight and was really hard to get her back in the cage.I resorted to covering her with a towel to get her back in she is 1 years old and help on how to stop her biting and screaming all day would be much appreciated. Thanks