Shy sun conure

[RowanF]

The other day I got my first sun conure from a breeder. He's currently a juvenile and he's somewhat tame. He likes to climb on my shirt and sit on my shoulder and he'll take food from my hands, but whenever I approach him with my hands he'll run away. If I try to get him to perch on my finger by pressing against his stomach he just hangs upside down from his perch. What are some methods I should use to let him get more used to me?

[Cage Cleaner]

Hahaha that sounds exactly like mine. She isn't afraid of being picked up by her body, though. Take him out and make him feel happy outside of his cage. When he learns that his way of coming out is by stepping up, he'll want to step up.

[dohcsvt]

Yes, definitely make time outside the cage fun for him. Also, when he is outside of the cage do not only have him step up to go back in, if he associates it that way he won't want to step up. Have him step up to visit another romm or to have a snack with you. These little guys are balls of fun and so smart and endearing. Good luck!

[evaleen]

um, you could try approaching his cage with your hands behind your back first. then once your near the cage, slowly bring one hand out to scratch your face.
while u do that, slowly bring out the other hand in a closed fist and place it near the cage.
birds feel less threatened when the hands are closed or busy "preening".
and move one hand at a time. (the get overwhelmed trying to focus on both hands at the same time and panic)

that'l hopefully get u through the approaching-the-cage part!

as for getting him to step up, have you tried bribing him?
(place his treat just behind the hand on which he is supposed to step up on. so that he has to step on your hand to get the treat)

besides, your conure sounds really friendly so it wouldn't take long for him to WANT to step up if you provide more one0on-one quality time outside the cage!
(hope this helped...)
good luck! and congrats on your new fid!

[Kirsten]

Skittles was totally shy at first! I actually started by keeping my hand open with food in it and steadily moving closer until he was comfortable. I also used a pencil to train him to step up and kept him close to my hands without touching him. That bit of training alone helps to build trust that will go far in the long run. It won't happen instantly. It took Skittles a couple of weeks before he was confident enough to let me touch him with my hands regularly.

Now as soon as I get home sometimes Skittles will run to the perch closest to his cage door and say, "Step up!" It's like, the only actual words he says. Try not to keep your Sun on your shoulder TOO often. I made that mistake and am still trying to keep Skittles from constantly biting my neck. Like someone on this forum told me awhile back, "the shoulder is a PRIVILEGE!"

Congratulations by the way!

[liz]

Myrtle was very afraid of hands. I don't know what all happened to her before got her. I had to keep my hands behind my back. She did like to talk nose to beak. So that is how we got started.

[RowanF]

Interesting, thanks for the advice. I'm seeing some improvement, I can now get him to step up onto my finger, I just have to prod him a little. I'll definitely not let him stay on my shoulder as much either, that's pretty much the only place he'd want to go before. Hopefully he'll continue to get used to me with time.

[RowanF]

I had a couple more questions. Should I keep his wings clipped while he's in the process of becoming tame so he's not always flying away? How long should I expect it to take for him to become fully used to me? How do I handle him if he runs away from me unless I put him on my shoulder?

[liz]

Clipping makes them insecure and fearful.

[RowanF]

You're sure? The breeder recommended it.