Hand taming my GCC

[Jamie1989]

Hi, firstly just to say I am new to bird ownership and Rory, my Green Cheek Conure, is my first parrot. I bought him just over a week ago and he is 14 weeks old and was parent reared, the breeder I bought him from also clipped his wings as they advised me this was best to help tame the bird.

For the first couple of days I left him in his cage and sat with him speaking to him so he could get comfortable and adjust to his new surroundings. At first he didn't eat too much but now he enjoys eating his seed mix along with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. He allows me to put my hand in his cage to change his water / food bowls and to clean him out, but if ever I offer him a treat from my hand either in the cage or through the bars he runs off from my hand. I really want to start target training him as well as step up, but is this possible if he will not accept rewards off me? Do you have any tips which will allow him to let my hand near him?

Also he has a 'cosy hut' which he loves spending time in, but he seems to spend most of his day in there, is this normal? (just concerned he may be hiding in there); and also he makes a purring noise kind of like a cat, what does this mean?

Thanks, I'm new to parrot ownership so have lots of questions!

Jamie

[heyihaveaparrot]

First of all, congrats on the new bridy!

I loved getting my GCC, but they take patience at first. Mine spends A LOT of time in his cozy hut and it is not because he is hiding. He just likes it because of the warmth and it makes him feel secure.
it's great his wings are clipped, if they aren't, it can make them feel a bit more wild and dominate. Start but opening the cage door, and just sitting with him. Don't force treats or your hand at him. eventually, work your way up to offeriing your hand at the outside of the cage, and offering him a treat. It took me about a month or maybe less to get my little guy to step up! And once you get him to do it, go slowly. Practice a lot and use the command "up" or "step up." I mean, you could use any command you want, but...
There are actually many helpful youtube videos about training a bird to step up. Watch some of those, be patient, and have a good time with your bird!

Just remember don't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do, he is very new to his surroundings, and to you!

[cml]

Welcome to the forums jamie and heyihaveaparrot! Hope you will enjoy it here, discussing birds is very interesting.

I do have something I want to bring up though, primarily for the benefit of the original poster of this thread.

it's great his wings are clipped, if they aren't, it can make them feel a bit more wild and dominate.

Clipping is a very debated topic, but I sincerily believe that its detrimental and damaging to birds. Parrots clipped at birth may have a lessened mental development, as they are not able to practice and experience everything that comes with flying. For all animals, us included, movement is very important in our growing up, and contributes to brain development.

That they are more wild and dominate if not clipped is completely wrong though, debate aside. This I take it is something you base on your birds and old hearsay? It's true that in the parrot world the old norm was clipping, and a belief in dominace theory. It's not true however, as all parrot owners with unclipped birds will tell you, and we have many here on the forums who came here with clipped birds not knowing better, and later let their birds regain flight with huge benefits, such as lessened aggression, less screaming, more stable parrot etc.

A clipped parrot is forced to do what YOU want, not what IT wants. With a flighted parrot you need to work to get them to do what you want, through training and positive reinforcement. That will make your bond much stronger, and the parrot will actively choose to behave in certain ways in opposite of being forced to.
Clipped birds more often displays aggression, as they cant do what their instinct tells them to in scary situations, which is to fly away. Instead they may revert to biting.

Also, the safety argument is non-valid, I've seen countless of stories on how clipped birds flew away in a gust of wind. It's very heart-breaking to read.
A unclipped parrot can also fly away, but will be safer in its home environment as they can fly about, avoid things and fly out of trouble. The argument that your home may not be safe for a flighted parrot is not valid either, because then its YOU who havnt modified your home enough to be parrot proof. It's definetely doable, and you dont even have to make it look parrot proof. You can still have a very human looking home .

I hope you dont take offense from this long post, but I consider it ESSENTIAL for the OP to read this, and do their own research. Clipping is not something I can stand by to see reccomended without offering a healtier and much more humane alternative.

Please read this article for more info on clipping:
http://trainedparrot.com/clipping/

Just remember don't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do, he is very new to his surroundings, and to you!

This is absolutely correct and great advice !

Again, welcome to the forums, both of you!

[heyihaveaparrot]

Well, I suppose clipping is a personal opinion...but honestly, I have heard from many people who know what they are talking about say it makes your bird much less aggressive if they have their wings and nails done. It is because they feel more dominate then you do.

For my bird, I have his wings clipped BECAUSE it is much safer. Why do you think tons and tons of people get their birds wings clipped? not just for fun, because there are good logical reasons.

Thank you for the greeting, and for sharing you opinion!

[cml]

Well, I suppose clipping is a personal opinion...but honestly, I have heard from many people who know what they are talking about say it makes your bird much less aggressive if they have their wings and nails done. It is because they feel more dominate then you do.

For my bird, I have his wings clipped BECAUSE it is much safer. Why do you think tons and tons of people get their birds wings clipped? not just for fun, because there are good logical reasons.

Thank you for the greeting, and for sharing you opinion!

Many of the "knowledgable people" in the parrot community are ill informed and uneducated in modern parrot care. Most have their knowledge from a time when people didnt know much about parrot care, and one did the best they could with what information was at hand.
I really urge you not to listen to such people, but rather start researching yourself and forming your own opinion from that. Just because "it's always been done that way", doesnt mean that its the best way to do things.

I know of no reason that makes it safer for a bird to be clipped that does not originate from humans not wanting to adapt their homes to a parrot safe standard. It's a convienance, thats all.
Did you read the link I posted? Michael brings up some points on why claiming clipping is good is a myth, please do read it with an open mind!
Here it is again: http://trainedparrot.com/clipping/

Dominance in birds has been dispelled as a theory, its OLD thinking from people who dont know better and/or havnt educated themselvs during their time with birds. Please refer to this (deals with both myths about height dominance and dominance overall in birds):
http://www.naturalencounters.com/images ... Martin.pdf
But I implore you to do your own research as well. Google is a good place to start!

Also, dont leave just because I offer you a different opinion to what you are used to, but instead stick around and take the oppurtunity to ask people with flighted birds how they deal with that, and why they made that choice etc .

You are most welcome to the forum!

[Graeme]

Well I'm another who believes birds should be flighted, they are a happier bird.

It sounds like it may take some time for your bird to trust you and get used to it's suroundings, do you allow the bird to move around out of the cage?

You say he is not accepting treats, maybe it is something he may not like enough. You could try putting a selection of fruits in a bowl, then watch closely when he is eating and take note of the one he eats first and what leaves. Then use that as your treat, you could also try it with a selection of nuts or dried fruits.

You may find this very helpful

http://www.theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=227

[mrbowlerhat]

Sorry, I of course don't want this thread to transform into a discussion about clipping only, but I have to say that was very well written, cml, and I 100% agree with everything.

Anyway, good luck with your GCC, Jamie1989! Do keep us updated.

[cml]

Sorry, I of course don't want this thread to transform into a discussion about clipping only, but I have to say that was very well written, cml, and I 100% agree with everything.

Anyway, good luck with your GCC, Jamie1989! Do keep us updated.

Unfortunatly both the OP and heyihaveaparrot havnt been online for a while, I suspected it (I refer to my own thread about new members, but didnt see a way around it here as clipping was reccomended to another person rather than just something they personally believe in), but I really tried writing it in a way that would make them do their OWN research and form an opinion from that. Even more so the first post than the second.

I do hope that heyihaveparrot comes back, but the OP I think wont as he hasnt been online for a long time.

[mrbowlerhat]

Oh! Yeah, I notice now he's only posted once, and quite a while ago. Too bad really!