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| | From:  hawkins573 (Original Message) | Sent: 2/17/2007 5:53 PM |
Hello all! I adopted a Sun Conure last night and really need some advice. He is 1 1/2 years old. I have never owned a bird so even if you think something is obvious please tell me...
At the momnent if I stick my hand in his cage he kinda mouths me with his beak but then backs up in a corner... How can I get him to be comfortable with me???
Also I got him Kaytee Exact -Rainbow for Parrots and Conures and LM Animal Farm VIta-Vittles Parrot Diet mixed together...is this okay? I got vitamins to put in his water(Nekton-s).....
HE has 3 perchs, 2 toys ,a Kosie bed...
Am I missing anything???
Thanks in advance.
Misty |
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Hi Misty, Welcome. The Kaytee pellets sound ok. I don't know if the LM is a seed mix or pellets but it's a good brand so will likely be OK. Maybe someone else can advise about them. I would not use the vitamins in his water. Vitamins cause bacteria to grow out of control very rapidly. Even if he drops just a few pellets in the water bowl the vitamins will cause bacteria to grow fast. Better would be to offer him fresh or thawed frozen veggies and fresh greens with the vitamins sprinkled on top or mixed in. Most birds on a pelleted diet don't need supplemental vitamins at all because the pellets have the correct amount already added. If you offer fresh foods, and I hope you will, be sure to remove them after a couple of hours so they don't start to grow bacteria. Dry food is safe for days but wet foods and water need to be changed very often, several times a day. If you need anything just ask. And drop by just to visit. We love folks. We'd love to see a pic if you'd like to create an album. What is his name? Annie |
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thanks for telling me about the vitamins.... I do plan on supplement with fresh veggies...
I don't know if I should rename him or call him Jasper (what they called him before)...
I will get pictures as soon as my husband gets back in town(he has the camera)....
misty |
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Hi, Misty! Congratulations on your new pet! Sun conures are beautiful! I have a green-cheeked conuure and he's a peach! I think it will take a week or two for your new pet to get used to his new surroundings and family. Please tell all you know about the bird, so folks on this forum can help you better. Some things it would be great to know: 1. What was bird's behavior around his owners? How did they get bird out of his cage? What did bird do out of the cage? 2. Why was the bird given away or sold? 3. Please describe the bird's cage construction, size, and types of toys inside. Here, a photo would help. 4. Where was the cage kept by its old owners? Bedroom, office, kitchen, living room, etc.??? 5. What tricks does the bird do? 6. Does it talk, and what does it say? 7. Can the bird fly? 8. Who will trim the bird's wings and toenails? (our avian vet does this) 9. What did the avian veterinarian say about the bird when you took him for his first visit? 10. Have you found a bird club in your town to join? (so much info there from folks a phone call away from helping you with a question) It is a good thing that your Jasper doesn't actually bite when you grab him in the cage. If and when he does bite, it's important not to react beyond getting body part away and getting bird safely back in its cage. Otherwise, the bird might learn to bite to get a dramatic reaction from the funny human. Never hit the bird, it is so small and delicate, and doesn't know better. The bird is probably scared in its new home and wondering what happened to his old family. It would help greatly if you spent time frequently stopping by the cage to talk to Jasper and maybe give him a favorite treat (a sunflower seed or two--not many, these are fattening), a nutriberry or piece of avicake, little chunk of apple, or so on (see the section in this forum on treats). Talk to him like he is a little child and let him feel your good will. I've read how some people sit and read a storybook to a new bird, being sure he can see the pictures. Your goal is to get the trust of this new bird. You know you have it when the bird tries to get as close as he can to you beyond those cage bars. It might take a few more days, a week or two. Does the bird know how to step up? You will have to teach him this so it's easy to get him out of the cage. Your finger goes in the cage, the bird hops on and there you are! There must be instructions for this lesson on this forum somewhere. It is real easy to teach a bird and the best thing for it to learn. Misty, I'm sure Jasper is a gem, he sounds like a sweetheart already. You can give him a new name, just be consistent in using it. Please write back and we'll do best to help you. Mary Jo |
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Mary Jo,
Here are the answers I know....
1. Frodo(previously known as Jasper) was raised by a person who was not being cared forby his owner and a lady who breeds birds got him from him to rehome him and she rehomed him with me.
She gave me a little travel cage which when placed at the opening in his current cage he would hop in. She said she would leave him there for a while then get him out.
I don't know what he did then.
2.He was sold so he could have a perminate home where he would be loved and cared for. There was alot more invested in the bird then I paid but she was looking for a good home.
3. He has a wire cage which is 2' 6" tall and the width is 1' 4"and is 1' 2"deep. He has 3 wooden perches that run from the back of his cage to the front. they are at three different height levels. He has 2 water bowls and 1 food bowl. His toys are hanging form the top they are string and wooden blocks. He has a Beak Conditioner and Kozie for sleeping in. He has a 8 in 1 protector(for mites) I will get pictures as soon as SO gets back in town with camera..
4. He was kept in the livingroom.
5. I don't know if he does any tricks....I have not seen any so far.
6. This is a G board so I don't know how to let you know what he says... In the car on the home I swear I thought he said F*** NO!!!! But have not heard anything since!!!!
7. Bird could fly but had local help from a neigborhood petstore in clipping his flight feathers.
8. I now know how to do wings but still need to learn toenails....
9. No local avian vet but prevous mentioned pet store who knows alot about birds said he looks really good.
10. I am still looking for anything local. But since I just started this weekend I am sure I will find something.
Frodo has actually bitten me..I was wearing thick gloves but only because I was trying to get him out of the cage. Once out he still bites a little but if my hand is open he sort of calms down.
Thanks,
Misty owned by Frodo
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I don't know much about Conures, but I do know that those mite protectors can be very harmful to your bird. Please remove it immediately! Robyn |
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My opinion: If your bird was on a pelleted diet in his previous home, it is hoped that you would continue to feed him the same diet. However, if he was on a seed diet in his previous home, you cannot change him over to the pellets in a short span of time. Birds don't recognize pellets as food and will starve if not properly introduced and converted from seeds to pellets by mixing seeds with pellets in decreasing amountsm per the instructions of their labels. Do not give vitamin supplements of any kind while feeding a pelleted diet! It will create an overdose of the non-water-soluble vitamins. The mite protector is also detrimental to his health! Please remove it and dispose of it carefully. Sticking that thing on his cage is comparable to you wearing moth balls around your neck. Someone in a pet store can say that he/she looks good but that's just an opinion and doesn't replace the testing and exams done by an avian vet. You need to find the avian vet in your area as soon as possible for a well-bird check-up and then at least yearly exams. Also, one time of observing a wing clip doesn't qualify you to do the job. Wing clips and nail trims done improperly can be painful and bloody. Watch your vet or pet store personnel for several more times and work with them before ever trying it on your own, please. The dimensions that you gave for the cage are not nearly large enough for a sun conure. With all of the stuff in that small cage, the poor guy barely has room to turn around. I'd say that you need a cage about twice as large in the width and depth dimensions. And last, but not least, please, please, please do not wear gloves when working with your bird. The gloves are terrifying to him and will never allow him to learn to trust you. No gloves. You must learn to either endure the bites that may come with teaching the Step Up command or offer him a stick or dowel to step onto instead of your hand. Since you've only had this bird for a few days, it is really too early to be luring him out of the cage anyway. By leaving him in his cage for the first couple of weeks, you give him the opportunity to learn to feel secure in his new surroundings. No need to rush things. He has a lengthy lifespan. I still recommend that you obtain a copy of Mattie Sue Athans's little book Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot, and a subscription to Bird Talk magazine. Read all that you can in every possible location (there are a number of very informative sites on the Internet dedicated to various bird species) concerning sun conures and companion birds in general. It takes a lot of time, and patience, and love to earn the trust of a bird so slow down and take it easy. You can't force him to do anything but you can ease him into understanding that although you are a predator you don't intend to eat him. |
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Birdlady, Okay so the bird protectors are down(Icalled home as soon as I read it!!) and I am shopping for a new bird cage.... No more gloves and going to slow down and give him some breathing room. I was just scard that he would feel abandoned once again... I really want him to be happy with us. His life does not sound like he has had any happiness in it yet and that makes me feel bad for him! I am looking for the correct vet as I have called my current vet and am gettting recomendations for an avian vet.... As for the pellets he was eating seeds and fresh veggies and I was told pellets where better for him so I got both to mix...Was this incorrect? I will no longer use the vitamins either. Thanks sooooooo much for your advise...please send more if you think of anything. I just want him to lead a happy healthy life. Frodo and Misty |
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If he was eating seeds and fresh foods before, converting him/her to pellets might take many weeks or even months. Take it very slowly and don't allow him to loose any weight during the transition. And continue to provide all of the good, fresh foods, too. He can eat just about anything that you eat, so long as it doesn't contain sugar, fat, or salt! Fresh veggies, fruit, whole grain brown rice, pasta without the fattening sauces, etc etc etc. Lettuce has no nutritional value so it is pointless to offer lettuce. Yams and some other veggies are high in vitamin A, which helps the immune system, and are especially good for our birds. Your little guy won't feel abandoned if you place his cage where he can see what everyone is doing but not in the path of traffic. Just remember that he needs 10 - 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night in a quiet, dark room. You may want to keep his old cage for a sleep cage, if you have to move him out of the room where he spends his days. And you'll want to spend quality time with him so sit beside his cage, talk to him, read to him, sing to him, enjoy your time getting to know each other. Offer him treats. If he won't take say a piece of nut from your hand, just drop it into his food dish. You said that he has three dishes. One for fresh water, one for pellets and seeds mixed, and one for the fresh foods (which should be disposed of after a couple of hours so the bacteria don't have time to start growing). I would drop any treat that he won't take from you into the fresh food dish. After a couple of weeks of getting acquainted, it will be about time to start working with your bird. Let us know how things progress and ask about the next phase as time goes by. Good luck with your fid. We'll be looking forward to hearing how things work out for both of you. |
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Hey Misty, I have a Sun Conure and he loves apples and grapes and Oroweat Health Nut Bread, plus he gets pellets and a seed mixture. If your conure had not been fed the pellets he might strave himself if that is all you are giving him. So give him both. Conures love to be cuddled, so have patience, they are wonderful pets. Mine sleeps in a furry pouch that came from the pet shop and loves toys, like things to chew on, he lives with a Patagonia Conure and they hangout on top of their cage all day with a cockatiel. Oh also he loves to take a bath in a deep plastice cup. Good Luck.. |
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| | | From: Cynlin2 | Sent: 2/24/2007 2:35 AM |
Hi Misty, I have been owned by my sun conure for 8 years. They are very affectionate as I am sure you will soon learn. They are also very playful and curious. My little guy likes to eat apples and grapes and samples of whatever I am eating. People food, such as vegetables are good for them, just don't ever let him eat chocolate or avacados. Nuts are a special treat and pistachios are made in heaven according to my conure. Just have patience with him while he gets to know you and his new home. You will have a wonderful pet for years. Good luck to you and your new friend. Cyndi |
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| | | From: Cynlin2 | Sent: 2/24/2007 2:40 AM |
Misty, I forgot to mention... Lafeber's Nutri-Berries are also a great choice for food. Mine conure loves them. Cyndi |
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