Hello,
I'm sorry for the novel I'm about to write, but I enjoy typing and explaining things in detail.
Truth be told, I don't even know where to begin. I of course have been a regular lurker for some time during my research phase over the last 5-6 months. Long short story long, I thought a $200 yellow sided Conure was a well priced investment to introduce myself to the avian world. $1000+ later I laugh at how naive thinking 'cheap' but well meaning was a viable route. Large cage, toys, bird, treats, food, fruits, veggies among things I'm likely not even thinking about.
My name is Pat, a very new owner of my yellow sided Conure named Khalessi. The wife and I came up with Khalessi as Game of Throne fans. The mother of dragons. It suited her personality and went with it. I lie, she said it has to be Khalessi and my options were met with but... but...No blood for DNA so we're just rolling with her being a girl
edit: I forgot to mention. She is now 12 weeks old.
On to my comments, questions an dizzying overall adventure. What I learned so far, is everything you think you know before getting the bird is fantastic and all, but no amount of research prepares you for the "what to do, how to do, should I do" since each bird as I've read 1000 times is very different. I did want to go with a rescue but as a first time bird owner (something I've wanted to get in to for over 20) years. Even had the option of an African Grey as he was offered to me for free, but I didn't feel comfortable 10+ years ago to dive in to a bird like him, I felt it wasn't in his best interest. Wish I did now looking back, but what can you do?
I went with a breeder. That in itself in Canada around the Toronto area is beyond ridiculous. I struggle to trust people and when I see people using others pictures or they have 200 adds up in 3 months and rush me on the phone or wings already clipped at 6 weeks or 7 I forget what she said, another 3-4 really sketchy folks until I came across someone who after much research had this beautiful yellow sided conure with feathers that were really nice, unlike others I've seen, she was hand fed, actual pictures of her perched on their hand and had me a little more comfortable. Also fully flighted.
Our introduction was odd, they brought her, she flew to my face, felt like a hover in slow-mo and then went and perched somewhere for them to get her and place her in the travel cage.
Stay with me here... She was a agitated but not scared when putting her in big cage at home. From day one, she never sat away from me. She was as curious about me as I was her. No vocalization until later that night where we heard a few little noises. She's always been openly goofy, spunky, funny since day one. She appears happy, feathers still look awesome, I feel like a kid in a candy store seeing her open her wings. I plan to keep her flighted but here is where my questions come.
I knew Conures are nippy going in and owning a bird and thinking you won't be bit is silly. I'm sure everyone has been bit that owns a bird. I'm now working on 3 weeks with her, I'm a stay at home dad that has an aspie son that I also home school due to some of his behavior after trying him in 3 schools. So Khalessi is (i think?) lucky to have me pretty near sitting near her cage or around her cage .....a lot.
She bonded with me after about day 10. I'll attach picture of the first time she let me or I should say really wanted me to rub her neck. In between all of this I have attempted to take her out several times, my hands already look like I been in a few brawls. In the picture you can see one of the cuts that drew blood. I'm fortunate enough that I have Nest cameras setup in my house so I tend to go back and watch what I did wrong if (every time) she bites me and every time, sure enough I seen that I moved this way or down or tried getting her off my finger to her play stand and she didn't want to go (felt longer in my head) but I did hold my hand long enough that should have been obvious she didn't and sure enough I was bit.
I need help understanding pressure training. I'm already doing target training, she caught that beyond fast where I don't really use a chop stick anymore, I started using my finger instead so she could get used to my hands, that was before she let me touch her. She's very happy to come out, so much so I can't even give her a treat in her cage, she says *NOPE* and comes outside the cage then hangs out. She doesn't nip, I haven't felt a single nip yet. I've only received blood drawn bits, every one of them.
I reward her when she is very gentle with my hands and praise her so much that she does this weird thing my son asks (why is she acting like a dog) holds foot up to grab my finger, neck down under her belly rolls over, lets me rub her neck and head with some cute sounds from her. I read a lot about bird signs and fear feathers and all that jazz, but I'm a wimp with needles and she's no exception. Opening the cage is like walking in to the doctor for a daily needle. Trying to work with something I read about deep breath, go in calm, relaxed and yesterday was great, son came out of his room, freaked her out, she some how ended up on my headphones mic boom (Use headphones for now to protect my ears with her biting) and she ended up a little too close to my face but I stood still since I knew he startled her was bit twice, left cheek, thankfully less sensitive than the hands so she didn't see that those hurt.
She's a night time talker, very talkative and lets me know she's ready. I think we bonded quick because I've spent an obscene amount of hours with her already, but those blood drawing bites keep my stress levels up and I know she gets more irritated when I don't let her out as often as I'd like. Ideally, she will be out of her cage from morning to night as far as I'm concerned aside from things that require her in it.
She will come out, I could be anywhere in the house, she will always fly to me, she will step up but we haven't tried much step down because even when perched on my finger for some reason she chomps at my skin like there was a Nutri-Berrie under there, so much so I had to gently lift her beak up one time to release from her death grip of a bit. Earthquake method doesn't appear to work, I've tried the moving of the arm enough to throw her off balance but that doesn't work, she stays latched. She wants to step up so much so that she does it when I'm rubbing her through the cage, both feet placed on a small part of my finger and I swear she's very good and knowing how to pull the heart strings.
Overall, I feel I've been lucky so far. Very, very affectionate and loving, talking already ( i think she says Hello ) but that different sound when she talks, she seems over all happy, 2 water bowls, 1 bowl for fruits and veggies other for a small amount of pellets. She's won me over, I'm not going anywhere but trying to figure out how to build the darn courage to open the cage and receive my daily bites.
I should mention I have also tried the 'time out' method of putting her back in after a bite but I don't feel it's changing anything. I have been doing my best to reward good behavior and she does have times she's very gentle with my hands threw the cage, and I reward for that too and praise. I'm sure it's just a matter of being consistent but I'm sure she feels my trepidation when opening her cage every time no matter how much I try to it's there. That's why my doctor calls me a football player sized baby when it comes to a needle
In my early attempts a day before she let me touch her, put the top of my head on the cage to see if she'd preen me, and she did. I felt since then is why she allowed me near her.
My last question would be an interesting one I've seen answered many ways and it's hard to figure it out because I've tried both but letting her sit with me near her cage or away from it. Near it, was the day I was bit on the cheek, but that wasn't because of something I did. She sat with me through my nervousness and when I sit away I feel taking her away from her comfort zone can cause issues of fear, but being near can cause territorial issues too.
Anyhow I should contact a publisher if I keep writing. I know the most common topic is biting but I rarely see things about human fear of opening the cage daily and how to work with those issues. I know training and such but she wants on me, near me and doesn't want to be even 2 feet from me. Being flighted doesn't help since she can come when she pleases. I don't have a T-stand which I will be buying soon and it may help.
How do each of you do this with the Macaws and Too's? I feel like her tiny beak, though tiny is like feeling a papercut. Hurts more than you'd think it would. Here I am hoping for a grey one day and I can't man up enough to deal with a small bite from my goof ball
I'll end here, I feel like I should have left a case of water for anyone brave enough to have read it all. I know I rambled a lot. Sorry about that.
Thanks and Hello!
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