How do I know if my baby Sun Conure likes me?

[ebear]

I recently got my new baby Sun Conure, Apollo, who is my first bird. I've had him/her for about 3 weeks now, and they seem pretty comfortable with me. At first, Apollo would start squawking the second they saw me, but he doesn't anymore. Now he just squawks whenever I walk away.
He doesn't really like to eat from my hand, but he'll eat in front of me. Whenever I'm with him once he's done eating he will climb up to my shoulder, but he doesn't like me touching him and occasionally tries to bite me when I do.
I'm with him right now and he is just trying to get to and above my eye level, which the bird store that we got him from says is a sign of him trying to become dominant. Should I stop him from climbing to my shoulder? Also, whenever I take him off my shoulder he tries to bite me.

Any advice that anyone gives is very much appreciated!

 

[JaeG]

I don't know anything about Conures but it can take awhile for a new bird to bond closely with you to the point where they are comfortable with you giving them scritches. Some prefer to be stroked rather than having their feathers ruffled and it's an act of trust to let you touch them so take it slow.

Does he actually bite or is he mostly bluffing? I am hand rearing some cocktails at the moment and one is quite sassy and doesn't like being told what to do (which includes getting off my shoulder). She will act like she's going to bite but usually doesn't. I think she's a hoot because of her attitude and she's claimed me as her person. She will be staying as I do love her.

To a bird the highest perch is the safest place to be. As long as your baby doesn't bite you while he is on your shoulder I'd leave him be. I often have 7 cockatiels sitting up there and they are no trouble. They will often preen my hair and I think that's part of the bonding process.

You could reward your baby for coming off your shoulder. Every time you get him off, give him a favourite treat (wherever he is comfortable eating it). It might be a bit of a battle to start with, but once he understands that something good happens when he leaves his safe spot it should get easier. So maybe save the food until after cuddle time.

He's still figuring you out as much as you are still figuring him out so try not to stress too much. If he were a larger parrot you might have to worry about 'dominance' but if he behaves himself and can be trusted to sit on your shoulder I'd let him. I always tell my babies "nicely" if they are trying to preen my ears, or turn my head away if they are eyeing up my eyelashes, or if they are nibbling a bit hard. They don't understand that our skin is super sensitive as they only think in terms of feathers.

This discussion on another forum might put your mind at ease:
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index...ting-conures-hangout-on-your-shoulder.138417/

 

[PioneerChicks]

I start by sitting very still with my arm all the way outstretched with a treat in it. Once they start pecking the treats I make sure not to move so I don't startle them. Eventually it might get to the point where you can hold them without them trying to escape, but it depends on what age they are when you start taming them. The younger the better.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Sorry, I thought a Sun Conure was a chicken. I don't know about parents and parakeets and others.

 

[ebear]

I don't know anything about Conures but it can take awhile for a new bird to bond closely with you to the point where they are comfortable with you giving them scritches. Some prefer to be stroked rather than having their feathers ruffled and it's an act of trust to let you touch them so take it slow.

Does he actually bite or is he mostly bluffing? I am hand rearing some cocktails at the moment and one is quite sassy and doesn't like being told what to do (which includes getting off my shoulder). She will act like she's going to bite but usually doesn't. I think she's a hoot because of her attitude and she's claimed me as her person. She will be staying as I do love her.

To a bird the highest perch is the safest place to be. As long as your baby doesn't bite you while he is on your shoulder I'd leave him be. I often have 7 cockatiels sitting up there and they are no trouble. They will often preen my hair and I think that's part of the bonding process.

You could reward your baby for coming off your shoulder. Every time you get him off, give him a favourite treat (wherever he is comfortable eating it). It might be a bit of a battle to start with, but once he understands that something good happens when he leaves his safe spot it should get easier. So maybe save the food until after cuddle time.

He's still figuring you out as much as you are still figuring him out so try not to stress too much. If he were a larger parrot you might have to worry about 'dominance' but if he behaves himself and can be trusted to sit on your shoulder I'd let him. I always tell my babies "nicely" if they are trying to preen my ears, or turn my head away if they are eyeing up my eyelashes, or if they are nibbling a bit hard. They don't understand that our skin is super sensitive as they only think in terms of feathers.

This discussion on another forum might put your mind at ease:
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index...ting-conures-hangout-on-your-shoulder.138417/

Thank you so much! Also, to answer your question, Apollo bluffs but then if I try to pick him up he sometimes (75% of the time) bites me pretty hard, and sometimes draws blood.

 

[ebear]

Sorry, I thought a Sun Conure was a chicken. I don't know about parents and parakeets and others.

It's fine! Thanks anyway, your advice might end up helping anyway.

 

[JaeG]

Thank you so much! Also, to answer your question, Apollo bluffs but then if I try to pick him up he sometimes (75% of the time) bites me pretty hard, and sometimes draws blood.

Teach him the "step up" command and use a wooden perch/dowel until he understands the command. That will save your poor hands and means his bites don't produce any reaction whatsoever. Just be conscious of leaning so that he tips back and the perch/dowel is a better option for him to sit on. Don't lean towards your perch/dowel as he will figure out that he can run down your back where he's out of reach. Getting him to step up is better than trying to hold him which most birds don't seem to enjoy.

At the moment he just doesn't want to leave his safe spot so in a way its a compliment as he associates you with safety. But being bitten is not fun.

Good luck with Apollo (love the name).