Rescue green cheek, how to entertain him?

[Trent84]

Hello there!
I'm writing this for my mom's parrot, which is a rescue green cheek she picked up with a plucking and self-mutilating issue.
Me and her did not have any parrot experience before him, and we don't know anything about his past life. Given the ring numbers, I suppose he's about 6yo.
I apologize in advance because it's going to be a long thread

Overall, he's not a bad bird or difficult to keep by any means. He's not super loud, he doesn't attack people (anymore) we just know we need to be careful when handling him, even if he doesn't bite as hard as he used to do.
He is still plucking occasionally -especially in summer- but he's not self-mutilating anymore. Also, I don't live with my parents so I see him about once or twice a month, and I've seen huge improvements since we've had him one year ago.
I taught him to wave in no time and basically by accident, and he's all he can do. He's on a pellet/seeds mix diet with fresh fruits and vegetables daily.

He has about 3/4 hours off his cage every day, but he doesn't move from the top of his cage despite being fully flighted. The only way to have him off his cage is rewarding with him sunflower seeds, and even that shouldn't be more than 50cm away from where he is. He won't move otherwise.
it looks like he's only interested in the sunflower seeds or prizes in general. He doesn't play with toys, even if there are a few in his cage.
I don't really know if he likes our scratches, as he'd bow his little head, fluff it, and let us scratch it for a few seconds/minutes with his eyes closed, and he'd suddenly bite out of the blue. This can go on and on for hours, he begs for cuddles but he gets either super hyped or super annoyed for some reasons I can't really understand.
This keeps us on the fence because we all know he wants attention and to be involved in our activities, but we don't know how to interact with him. I can't give him sunflower seeds all day long and I think there are better ways to involve him in our life and make him feel welcome and loved as he actually is.

He might be a little frustrating and not so pretty with a featherless hole in his chest, but even if he's not mine I love him to bits!

 

[Pixiebeak]

Hi!
My GCC does t like hand s coming from above her head , and random makes her want to bite. Also same I can be cuddling her then she is like you are trying to kill me ! I must bite you! Like a cat , pet me pet me, I bite you , why not petting? She has not had a successful bite in years tho. Because I pay close attention to body language, usually a pause and gentle talking to her and we are back to luvs no fuss no ouchie bites. You will keep learning and making progress.

On cage and reluctant to move. It's pretty common issue with birds that have spent way to much time caged , it's like learned helplessness. And with time patience and your happy home you can help them unlearn that and embrace curiosity and self choice! It takes time and help and encouragement and setting them up for success.

My old quaker rescue took the longest , almost 2 years to learn she can choose and move and nit be a bump on a perch , and to start flying. Birds that haven't flown much or Bern clipped most their life have had lots of falls and fear if falling and remembered pain. So climb and making little jumps builds confidence.

So I set her up with an interconnected perch highway! And she could find millet spray ( a real motivation for many little birds) or fun stuff a tied piece of cut osier bag, seed stuffed bird safe pine cone , a bird safe leather strip with a tied tiny toy to pull up. Really get creative and enrich the environment.

Attach a ton of perches on the outside of the cage all sides! I hang stuff from ceiling hooks and fishing line to a perch or swung or rope spiral it cargo net to just st head hight above cage . They can grab with beak and climb up .

 

[Pixiebeak]

Check out some of my ideas and others, in feathered estate! Click below! Get inspired!

Feathered Estates December 2022- Pixiebeak

December 2022 Feathered Estates Highlight :starshower1: :starshower1: :starshower1: I am very pleased to announce this months showcased member Pixiebeak 1~ What kind of birds do you have and how many birds did you design your setup for? I have a green cheek conure named Ta-dah , so named...

forums.avianavenue.com

This is a willow twig ball sold for rabbits but safe for parrots, I stuffed paper straws, Chinese ginger traps crinkle paper and treats in it ! Hard for a parrot to resist!

Feathered Estates December 2022- Pixiebeak

December 2022 Feathered Estates Highlight :starshower1: :starshower1: :starshower1: I am very pleased to announce this months showcased member Pixiebeak 1~ What kind of birds do you have and how many birds did you design your setup for? I have a green cheek conure named Ta-dah , so named...

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[Pixiebeak]

This link takes you to Ta-dah my GCC, she loves to take free choice bath nearly every day. She like real soft wood to chew sold by @Mizzely her little monsters bird toy online store hope she links! Absolutely best stuff for GCC and parrots sold by her!!! She knows how to tempt them!

Plus I read GCC like to untie knot's, I made lots of loose knots for her to untie and she does love that a ton!

Feathered Estates December 2022- Pixiebeak

Congratulations! What an absolutely magnificent set up! Your flock is so lucky to have a momma who spoils them with such lovely cages and the coolest playground to hang out in :heart:

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[Trent84]

thanks for the great advice!! The sort of fear you explained makes sense. As he was very very nippy at the beginning, God knows how long he was locked in the cage before we've had him.
I'll surely tell my mom to try setting up more perches outside the cage for him to climb and have his own quiet place!
It's relieving to know the bite during scritches is pretty common for GCC.

thank you again! "Ta-dah" as a name cracked me up

 

[Pixiebeak]

Gcc are amazing, so much personality!
Ta-dah like bam land all dramatic like here I am! Especially loves if she can fly up from behind and be like surprise!!! Or if I'm busy land in front of me all Ta-dah!! It's a very well suited name for her!

I've not met a GCC immune to flattery yet! So teach them what good birdie means by linked to all treats, everytime they do anything positive fir themselves like eat, preen, chew in something. They learn it pretty quickly, and then you can only give treats some if the times and good birdie will be motivating enough. Ham it up when they are doing anything you want to encourage, like exploring. Tell them how brave smart they are and amazed you are! They are definitely one of the clowns if the parrot family

 

[Trent84]

yes they truly are!!!
It makes me laugh when somebody new comes in the house and he's on the same room. He doesn't like males and thankfully he won't fly over them, but he fluffs his feathers completely and walks very slowly and dramatically while staring at his "target".
He thinks he's huge and intimidating

 

[Wardy]

Offer as much out of cage foraging as possible entertainment with a reward.
All off the following are either on my cages are outside my cages.

 

[Shannan]

Our little conure had to learn to play. So some of the things you might want to consider is to play with all of the toys around him so he learns how to play. It took awhile but our conure finally learned to play with his toys. It takes a little time and patience but I think you will be amazed. It sounds like you're doing a great job. As he gains confidence he will do more. Also, our conure tends to want cuddles but be very picky in exactly how he wants it and will let us know in no uncertain terms when we don't do it just right. Again you will learn to read him better over time. Conures can be such fun.

 

[Trent84]

Thank you all for the kind replies!
You helped me realize that it's going pretty good overall and some behaviours are quite normal for conures. It's hard to tell with first parrots as they're different than any other domestic pets.
I'll tell my mom to add some enrichment out of the cage to help him gain confidence.

If you'd like to see him "in action" , here is a link with a successful training session.. it might look silly, but I consider this a huge success considering the beginning of our relationship.

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

 

[Emma&pico]

Thank you all for the kind replies!
You helped me realize that it's going pretty good overall and some behaviours are quite normal for conures. It's hard to tell with first parrots as they're different than any other domestic pets.
I'll tell my mom to add some enrichment out of the cage to help him gain confidence.

If you'd like to see him "in action" , here is a link with a successful training session.. it might look silly, but I consider this a huge success considering the beginning of our relationship.

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

Wow that’s amazing love the little wave

 

[Wardy]

Thank you all for the kind replies!
You helped me realize that it's going pretty good overall and some behaviours are quite normal for conures. It's hard to tell with first parrots as they're different than any other domestic pets.
I'll tell my mom to add some enrichment out of the cage to help him gain confidence.

If you'd like to see him "in action" , here is a link with a successful training session.. it might look silly, but I consider this a huge success considering the beginning of our relationship.

Streamable Video

Watch this video on Streamable.

streamable.com

That's great progress, I have a cheekie that isn't that friendly after 2 years.
Maybe instead of shaking your hand and start offering praise as reward instead of a treat.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Fabulous video!!! You all are doing great!!
Keep updating us in this gorgeous GCC

 

[Trent84]

That's great progress, I have a cheekie that isn't that friendly after 2 years.
Maybe instead of shaking your hand and start offering praise as reward instead of a treat.

Oh really! I'm glad to read this and thank you for sharing your experience. I didn't have any idea that it would take so long to bond with a rescue parrot.
I'm sure your will open his heart as well eventually, they're too curious to stay on their own for too long!

 

[Wardy]

Oh really! I'm glad to read this and thank you for sharing your experience. I didn't have any idea that it would take so long to bond with a rescue parrot.
I'm sure your will open his heart as well eventually, they're too curious to stay on their own for too long!

She isn't on her own I have two cheekies Mojo very friendly KiKi that isn't the most friendly.