conure vs. cockatiel?

[aldren90]

Nice choice!!!

 

[cowgirl11]

Thanks everyone! I was considering buying him one of those bird tent thingys but was wondering, do they really use them??

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
Sometimes they use them and sometimes they just perch on top of them. If he just perchs you can put treats inside to try to get him into it, but he may decide it is his favorite perch. If that happens you will be washing it often. Julian loved to push balls out of his and find treats in it, but he never really stayed in it. He did however like to puff up his head and rub on it while he purred. Pickle our Quacker got very territorial over hers. So much so that we had to take it away. She had quit the tempertantrum everytime she saw me for a while.

 

[Nambroth]

Two warnings about bird tents / snugglies / huts:

1. These can be chewed and frayed, depending on the material. This has caused problems if they ingest it, and sadly birds have gotten caught up in the loose fibers / chewed strings before and have hanged themselves or lost toes. I have had peers tell me this sad story several times! It's depressing and totally preventable. If you buy one check it daily for damage and fraying!

2. Once a bird reaches maturity it can cause an unnatural, prolonged elevated level of hormones which in female birds can cause them to lay eggs, become moody, or even more aggressive. In males they may try to mate the toy, or regurgitate for it, and often become more aggressive. Watch your bird's behavior carefully. It can look cute to have them snuggled up but unnaturally elevating their hormones over a long period of time can be detrimental.

Best wishes!

 

[animalpro24]

I've been reading this thread for info and for fun. Congrats on your new birdie! Sun Conures are beautiful! What's his name?

 

[cowgirl11]

nambroth and flocksalot - Thanks for the advice on the tent.. I'm going to hold off on it for now!
animalpro24 - yes, everyone on this site is so helpful and knowledgeable! he doesn't have a name yet =/ can't decide and trying to find out his personality first!

 

[animalpro24]

Quote:
Let us know when he has one!

 

[cowgirl11]

Hi! I have an issue with my new conure and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts! Everyone has their own opinion on how to stop biting so I was wondering what yours were.

Sometimes when I go to take him out of his cage and he doesn't want to go he starts to bite, and he is starting to bite pretty hard. Once he is out he usually doesn't bite. Right now when he goes to bite I just keep my finger in place (even if he is biting) and say "step up" until he eventually does.

And I just had him out and he was sitting on my lap, and when I asked him to step up he bit me and held on. I didn't jerk my hand away, I kept in my finger there and push it into his beak a little more and kept saying step up and he just kept biting. I am starting to see that he only steps up when he feels like it, and when he doesn't want to, he bites. How do I let him know that biting is not ok?

 

[flocksalot]

Quote:
Wow, it's been awhile since I had to deal with the "I don't want to and you can't make me stage". Oh wait that was yesterday with Sonny, the African Grey. Actually she doesn't bite she just says that.

Anyway, you are doing one very important thing and that is being persistant and not letting him get away with it. One thing we used to do with young birds is called a step ladder. You get him on your finger or arm which ever you prefer and than immediately have him step to the next step on your other hand. You do this back and forth for just a few times unless it starts to take longer and longer for him to stop the bitting. You can increase speed if needed or change levels too. Birds don't like change of any kind. He may love to be on you, but feels comfortable where he is. It takes time. Also remember that he is young and because of that he will be testing you for some time. It's this stage that most people can't make it through and the reason for so many parrot rescues. There's just not enough resources out there to help people deal with the only animal that comes close to being as neurotic as a human. So think of him as a young toddler that is beginning to explore what he can and cannot get away with or that he is just trying to assert himself. You are in charge and get to make all the decisions for him, so he wants to have a little input. He thinks that by biting you he gets to decide when to perch or as you said "step up." You need to make him want to be on you with little or no effort on your part. Treats like a grape work, but remember all treats and no real food makes for a malnurished bird. Does he get feed a pelleted diet or is he on a primarily seed blend. Pelleted is designed to give a parrot a well rounded diet, but seed is designed to be supplemented with plenty of fruits, veggies, meats, and grains. Even thoug I feed peleted I also suppplemented with whatever we are eating if it's ok for them. Pizza is not for them. Spaghetti is and boy do they love it. So an idea is try getting him to come to you for special treats. Then when he does come give him plenty of praise. If he argues (bites) he doesn't get the treat. Leave the treat out of it sometimes until he has perched. That way he won't always associated perching with food. I never minded the mess on my shoulder from them eating, but you may not be that way. Hey you haven't lived til you go to the store and realize you have bird cookie on your shoulder and crap down your back. What's even worse is when you really don't care. I'll try to remember some of the other things we did. It's been a while since I had a young bird, so I may not remember every thing off the bat. Guess I'm as bird brained as some of my house birds. Good luck. Wait until he starts giving you kisses. I think thats always been when I knew they loved me as much as I loved them.

 

[cowgirl11]

Thanks for the good advice! I tried taking him out of his cage right now and he bit very hard. I put my hand in a fist so he couldn't really grab anything and left in there in his face and said "no" sternly until he stopped biting. Hopefully he will get the picture soon!