Behavioral differences between hand-raised and parent-raised

[jparrothead]

Harpmaker, Thanks for the kind welcome--I am glad to be here!

[jparrothead]

So I am in the middle of day 3 at home with this little guy and I really cannot believe how well this is going. My little Green Cheek Conure is the quietest bird I have ever had in my life--having had a canary, finches, parakeets, and a cockatiel (I also had a bad, but brief experience with a re-homed two year old Dusky Conure that had terrible habits, unfortunately).

Having 'worked' with this bird for three days at about an hour each time (punctuated by breaks) I could tell this was a sweet, hand-tamed, well-adjusted young bird--and parent raised to boot. That it has stayed so consistently so far--and I know it is early--amazes me.

Pajarita, you mentioned the endearing trait of GCC's napping up in your clothing--today, he/she spent 20 minutes AGAIN in the crook of my elbow in my green sweatshirt (that looks a bit like the Snuggle Hut!) and had me gently rub the neck and face and head, puffed up the whole time, and moving its head around for me to get different areas, and closing its eyes blissfully. After that--plus, some earlier time of step-up/treat-getting--he/she settled back in for a nap in the snuggle hut!

Perhaps the undisturbed dark sleep is helping here too, but I think I am very very lucky to have been chosen by this bird. Working from home, I think I can give just the right amount of attention during the day--without over-doing it and making the bird over-dependent. And I need to wait for the first loud squawk or screech--it has yet to come--but I need to be wary to not inadvertently 'reinforce' it as a means of getting my attention.

But after knowing the bird a week and having it home for three days, I can hardly believe how well this is going! And I will knock on wood as soon as I hit send on this post!!!

[Pajarita]

Well, I don't want to be the party pooper here but they always behave when they are babies and when they first come to us so don't let the 'change' catch you by surprise. Also, I would not train so much so soon, you are risking flooding and, if the bird reacts negatively to it, you will have to start from minus instead of plain zero so be patient, wait a couple of weeks more for the training and use this time to create a bond of just love between you two. Parrots timetables are not the same as humans'...

[Harpmaker]

In line with the original question in this thread...
One tiny advantage for hand-raised birds: I had to give Corsair anti-inflammatories the week after I brought her home. She objected to being tipped onto her back until she saw the syringe. Then, to my surprise, she calmed down and took her medicine like it was her favorite treat. I made the connection later, but if you have to give a bird meds before it is used to you, it is probably easier for you and less traumatic for a hand-raised bird.

[jparrothead]

Thanks Pajarita, and no, I don't think you're being a party-pooper at all. Although on Day 4 things STILL seem too good to be true, I was hoping for a healthy dose of reality, and expect issues--some big--to eventually arise. I am encouraged by my GCC's behavior so far--hand-tamed, friendly, very cuddly, and very, very quiet. I am hoping that these are good signs for the future.

I'll take your advice on 'building the bond' now. Since s/he is tame, there really is not much I 'must' do right now, as it seems to like praise and treats from me.

One thing I have been thinking about is introducing it to a flight suit. I have read that the earlier in life they are familiar with them, the easier it is for them to tolerate them. Since regular outdoor flight exercise is something I intend to do, I really would like this to succeed. I have been wondering if I should purchase a flight suit now, and start acclimating it (placing it near near the bird, putting treats on it so it knows it is harmless, etc) and then later (a month or so) begin the process of putting it on it.

[Scotty]

Ohh that article from Greg Glendell on hand raising is really interesting and to me it makes perfect sense to let the parents raise the bird to feel normal and stable.

Congrats too jparrothead on the conure, and by the way I've had a GCC for about a year and 9 months and she's 2 years old and GREAT!

GCC's are very playful, almost dog/cat like. My BeBe will love to roll over onto her back and I wrestle around with her on her back.

I hear people always talk about this nippy thing, but from what I can tell it's just that they like to play and chew, like a puppy does. There are times they do like to wrestle around and play a little rough, this is something you'll have to learn.

The GCC is so intelligent, just remember this is a big parrot in a small body, so treat it the same, with love and attention!

Oh and make sure lots of people spent time with the bird so it doesn't start bonding to one person, that is where I've seen BeBe get nippy, but soon overcomes it, then if you see your bird starting to get nasty towards someone, you can over come it quickly by allowing that person to spend more time with the bird.

BeBe will act nasty towards my family sometimes, and I see now, it's only the birds way of saying HEY you don't play with me, sort of like a kid acting up, but once you spend the time, the kid starts acting nice again. After all how is a bird suppose to tell you, that you aren't being nice to it and giving it time? Well it nips at you is what I see...

Oh and as far as noise, don't worry a GCC is not loud, this isn't a Macaw, LOL... But they will yell for your attention, so if you don't want to give it, then teach the bird you only come around when it's quiet, meaning if you step out of the room, don't come back until the bird is quiet for 10 mins in the beginning, then slowly increase it. Soon your bird will realize it needs to be quiet to get your attention...

CHEERS

[jparrothead]

Scotty,

Thanks for the great post! There was a lot of information in it, and i really appreciate it!

As this thread is about differences in behavior between a hand-raised and parent-raised parrots, I feel bad if I have taken it in a different direction. But I'll take it right back to it!

I have been interacting with my GCC for a week now--3 days in the store for lengthy visits and the rest in my home and it steps up, learned fast (in the store) to accept head/neck rubs, is very cuddly, and is trainable with treats.

The conventional wisdom, which I had believed to be generally correct, that parent-raised birds made less-better companion birds compared to hand-fed/raised parrots--at least initially--does not seem to hold, at least in my case, at least right now (and yes, I know it is still very, very early). That is not to say that parent-raised birds are 'better' than hand-raised birds, but only that you CAN find sweet, friendly, tamable parent-raised birds.

When I first heard that this bird was parent-raised I was worried and did my homework. But I think I can say that people (as folks here always say!) should consider the individual bird and see how tamable it is, how friendly is, how shy or scared it may be and not necessarily be considered that the parrot was parent-raised.

At least from this experience, this parent-raised Green Cheeked Conure is great--so far!

And Scotty, I am glad to hear that at two years old, things have worked out well with yours--I need to hope that I can be as good a caretaker--and maybe as lucky?--as you have been!

[Scotty]

Let's face it, they are birds and a mother should raise it's baby, it's natural and it's normal and I'm starting to believe it's the best way.

Of course the breeder should be right there sitting next to mom and baby during the growth so the baby gets use to a person near it.

Remember birds are individuals, take them each one at a time...

The GCC is not a difficult bird to own or raise, just give it some love and attention and you'll be fine, of course the more the merrier, and they love to do tricks for treats.

Here's what BeBe can do;

Rollover
Playdead
Turn around
wave
Flight recall, fly on call to me

BeBe also talks a little and when I ask her to give me a kiss she will kiss me.

I also say give me a kiss and smack my lips and she make a clicking smacking sound too.

LIke I said BIG parrot small body, but a heck of lot easier to maintain!

CHEERS

[jparrothead]

Scotty, I think that is right, and agree that having the 'human' around at the right time is very helpful too. From a health perspective (immunities, digestion etc.) it makes sense for parent-raising babies, but it does not seem to be a detriment to handleability or tameability, again at least in my GCC's case.

Those are great tricks! I remember when I first started thinking about a parrot a long while back that I didnt care to train it to do 'tricks.' I just wanted a friendly, tame, social and lovable bird.
But this forum and other smart places (like Michael's book) made me realize that 'trick-training' isnt just about showing off or saying that your bird can do all sorts of tricks--it is about spending quality, thoughtful and challenging time with the bird--for its own sake as much as my own.

So yes, at the right time, I hope to be able to make my little GCC do some of the tricks BeBe can do--and I definitely want to get him/her flying.

I kept her cage open for the first time today and s/he was able to climb and enjoy her play pen--but she also 'flew' over to me (s/he's clipped from the store) a few times, almost making it.

I am trying to decide when best to introduce a flightsuit/harness. I have heard that the earlier it is introduced to a flightsuit, the easier it will be to adjust it to it. Also, I cannot, unfortunately have a completely free-range/flight home. Though at times, while I am around, s/he will be able to fly over to me. The real deal is going outside and even to the beach with it.

Like Pajarita said, for these first few weeks, I should really focus on forming the bond (it seems largely built!) and making him/her comfortable--but then I am ready to really start training and getting her/him to flight!

[Scotty]

Forming the bond happens in many ways, holding and preening, meaning to the bird, you petting and kissing it, showing your affection, playing soft and rough, just sitting on your shoulder hanging out, and of course tricks.

Yes the tricks aren't to have a show monkey, it's to also stimulate the bird, keeping it amused and mentally challeneged since they need new mental stimulation, this can really work those little brains, hehe...

Oh boy, I've been working 3 weeks on BeBe with a flight harness, so don't expect to get a GCC into any flying gizmo anytime soon. I'd love to see someone get a GCC into anything in less than 2 weeks, LOL... Maybe Mike could, hehe...