Your new bird will be tired and stressed and possibly
frightened when you get it. Either it's been shipped or hand-delivered, it
has still been transported in a weird carrier, and it has gone from the
safety of all it’s known to a new environment and new people. Speak gently
to your new baby and move in a slow, soothing manner to keep it from getting
more frightened. If the baby is biting at you, it's not being aggressive;
it's frightened and acting defensively.
Regardless of your baby being shipped or delivered, it might not want to
come out of its carrier at first. Open the door and the baby should walk out
on its own. If it doesn't, try tilting the opening up a small amount as
birds naturally want to be on the highest area and into the light. If your
baby is excessively frightened, you might want to gently use a towel and
place your baby in its new cage so it can feel a perch under its feet and
feel more secure. Cover the back and top of the cage with a towel, leaving
the front open and uncovered. Keep yourself by the cage and continue to
soothingly talk to your bird until it settles down. Let your baby see your
face and hear your voice so it can get to recognize that you're a 'Good
Thing' and not a scary monster. If your bird is curious coming out of the
carrier, calmly ask it to step up and handle it for a few minutes, then put
it into its cage so it can check out its new home and drink some water.
For the first few days, place food in several places around the cage; in a
food cup, on the floor of the cage, add spray millet here and there. These
are areas I place food in weaning cages and your baby will remember that and
feel more secure as it adjusts to your home and you. Chunks of fresh corn on
the cob, grape halves and apple slices as well as a bit of dry seed are
usually winners. If your baby won't eat anything but dry seed for a couple
of days, don't panic. It's getting used to everything and is eating comfort
food. Once it settles in and you become buddies, then you can stop the seed
eating. It really won't take very long.
If you're
concerned, DO NOT hesitate to call or email me. That's what I'm here
for! You didn't think I was going to leave you without any support, didja?
;)
The Cage:
This will be
your baby's home, so it's best to think "bigger is better". Sure, a Sun
Conure fits fine into a Cockatiel cage, but Conures are very curious and
active birds and the more room your baby has, the happier it will be and the
more it will be inclined to entertain itself when it needs to. Inside your
cage, you want to have several toys (I usually buy 5 toys per bird and keep
3 inside the cage, so I can cycle them out so they don't get boring),
perches – rope is fine and natural wood is best, differing diameters is good
for giving foot workouts, decent sized food cups - locking is best,
especially with Conures - they'll pull them off if they can't fasten
securely, and a decent sized water cup. I personally dislike water bottles -
but that's your decision. Keep in mind that any water cup you have will turn
into a bath tub sooner or later (sooner with Conures!) and your bird will
need its water changed several times a day if possible.
Food:
Your baby will
be weaned on fresh foods, some pellets and very little dry seed. One of the
main items I use for all my birds, including my weaning birds is freshly
sprouted grains and beans. You can't beat them for power packed nutrients! I
also feed fresh greens like spinach and kale, all manner of safe fruits and
veggies and a small amount of pellets, seeds and nuts. Please do not feed
your baby a primarily seed diet. It's not good for them at all. Would you
eat fast food 3 times a day, every day of the week? It would soon kill you.
Same goes with seeds for your baby.
The First Week & After:
Scenario 1:
You might be thinking to yourself "Oh god, I thought I
was getting a friendly bird!" the first, second, even third day. Your bird
may be nippy, it may hate to be touched, and it may hide in its cage. This
is called the settling in time. Patience. It takes about 4 days for your
bird to return to the happy, loving, curious baby that was sent to you.
Also, make sure your baby gets enough sleep - at least 8-10 hours of dark,
quiet sleep a night. A cranky, sleepy bird is a confrontation waiting to
happen.
Scenario 2:
Unlike scenario 1, this is what happens to those who start out with a first
week of a loving, curious, affectionate baby. Experienced bird owners like
to call this "The Honeymoon is over" period. That sweet darling is now
biting and fluffing up and rolling its cute little head at you. It even
hissed! The advice I give in either scenario is the same (and btw, if
you were the bird owner in scenario 1? Scenario 2 is coming for you too!);
Patience. Your baby is testing the perimeters of your relationship! Just
like any kid! Be loving but firm. Set the limits; don't let your bird set
them. This bratty period will pass once your baby realizes you're not going
to give into his every demand and behavior testing and tantrum. This may
require some time outs or a stern look and "No Bite!” It will pass if you
lovingly discipline your baby as he grows. Like I said, just like a kid.
Spring Lovin':
Even your baby is going to feel
'that time of the year'; Breeding Season. Oh, it usually won't be sexually
mature, but that doesn't mean it won't have some hormonal outbursts - think
of teenagers. Usually youngsters don't react much, but some do! Most of my
birds get sexually mature between 2 and 5 years. However, Green-cheeks can
be sexually mature at 8 months old! Be prepared for spring and a couple of
weeks of behavior changes. Lessen the amount of light it gets by a couple of
hours and don't pet it on back, tail and under the wings for a few weeks and
you should be able to ride this season out fine. Your baby will soon return
to your sweet friend.
