Christina

I'll probably end up clipping her until she settles down. I might wait until after the spring, let her hormones come down and see if she settles in a bit more before I do that. It's good to hear that they can (hopefully will) settle down.

From what I have learned about her (her name is Tookie), she was the woman's bird, but Tookie spent most of her time with the lady's teenage son. The woman would be the one to take Tookie and place her back in the cage...every time. I figure maybe Tookie associates me coming to get her with going back into her cage. Although, she will draw blood if I even let her step up onto my hand from her cage to take her out. We have made some progress...I compeltely backed off of her, and just let her adjust, and now she only flys at me in my son's bedroom. I've stopped shaking her off, and just place my hand on her back and this seems to stop her biting me (although, sometimes I'm pretty quick and duck the attack and she flys back to my son :ohmy: ), then when she isn't biting me, I hand her back to my son. I'm trying to show her first off...she can't keep me out of the room, second off, I won't hurt her, and I won't put her away...we can live in peace, we don't have to be friends but we do have to tolerate each other. Although, to be truthful, she is cute as a button. I really like her despite her bad attitude. I agree with the passing her around. I'm not a "collector" of birds. Allot of foster homes end up with ALLOT of birds, they just don't want to pass them on, I have not had that tendancy at all...but this little bird is tugging on my heart strings. Perhaps its her obvious desire to want to love someone (in this case my son), she just tries so hard to love him, and have him love her, she devotes all her time outside the cage to sitting with him. At any rate, I haven't even posted her up for adoption, although, I have some great pics of her, that would have her adopted in a heartbeat, I can't bring myself to put her out there yet. I don't know if I will. Thanks for the advice, anything else you can think of that I can do for her, let me know. Oh, she doesn't play with toys and won't eat anything other than her mixed seed she gets. I don't think she has ever seen anything to play with or eat other than her seed. She will eat at the dinner table with us. She had to be barred from that for a little while until she stopped flying at me in the kitchen, now she stays put and is welcome to eat with us. Sooo bribery isn't working with her. Although, I give her fresh veggies everyday..and a hot breakfast and a hot dinner, she still won't take it and eat it, unless she sees us eating it. Big sigh...she needs sooo much work. Poor thing.

First, let me give you a little background. I have a nanday conure that I am fostering. I am told she is around 7 years old (she had layed some eggs so we know she is a she). She went from her first home for several years to a foster home, where she stayed for about 3 months, then she came to my foster home. She is fully flighted. She has been with us for about a month. She is a mean little brat. She flys at me to bite me. She seems fine with my son and my husband, although, she has just recently started to bite my husband. She LOVES my son. He can hold her wings out for examination, hold her upside down, cradle her, kiss her. She sits with him for hours and grooms his eyebrows and kiss his face, its an amazing connection. For all you conure specialists out there...here are my questions: 1. Is her aggresive behavior normal for a conure? I am getting mixed signals on this, I posted on an exclusive nanday conure site I found and the best advice they gave me was not to shake her off when she is biting like a vampire. They all seemed to say their conures could be very aggresive toward people they don't like. I'm thinking it could be she is molting, nesting (she goes under my son's dresser and shreds paper), nervous in her new environment. 2. When introduced to new environments, is it natural for a conure to be overly aggresive like she is? I'm fine with her not liking me, I can respect her space, but she is terrorizing me with her flying/biting. She is the smallest bird in the house and has me running! :unsure: I don't want to clip her wings, as this is a new place and I don't want to add undue stress to her. 3. In your experience with conures, if given a stimulating, conforting environment, will she settle into at least just ignoring those of us who she has deemed "unacceptable". 4. Is there anything different I should do for a conure that I wouldn't do for my ag? I like her, she is just as cute as a button, and if she would just stop trying to draw blood, I would pay her adoption fee and keep her. I am hoping its just a nervous nesting behavior. That she feels my son's room is her territory and with her nesting instincts is acting in a "normal" way at this point. That the overly aggresive behavior will diminish as the season changes. What are your opinions and thoughts?

I bought a Caique from Petco (before I knew better, it was my first bird). Poor little thing was sick from the day we brought her home. I would NOT buy any bird from a huge store like that. I would look for a breeder or a store like BMustees. I paid top dollar for my caique, and spent triple that keeping her alive for the year she was with us. Yes, she only lived a year and by had respiratory problems the whole time. She was worth every penny, but I would pass on the Petco bird. JMHO.

Congratulations! How old is Elmo? Finnigan is 9 months this month and she has only said "Wheedle Whee". That is what I say to her when she does complicated whistles I can't mimick. She doesn't seem very interested in any other words yet...despite that my blue and gold says "hello" about 100 times a day. I figured for sure she would be all over that!:ohmy:

Congratulations! How old is Elmo? Finnigan is 9 months this month and she has only said "Wheedle Whee". That is what I say to her when she does complicated whistles I can't mimick. She doesn't seem very interested in any other words yet...despite that my blue and gold says "hello" about 100 times a day. I figured for sure she would be all over that!:ohmy:

I believe this guy is just a troll and saying stuff he purposely knows will upset everyone. What a jerk.

Congrats! I agree with all the info already given. Very exciting stuff!

I would call a pest control place. We have one that I felt confident with, as they have parrots and understood all my concerns and were very careful about their work in the birds room. We live in Florida so pest control is a must, not an option. PS...I'll take bugs over that cold weather any day Hanna_Rae! :-)

Finnigan also has a short high perch in her cage. I also put alot of her toys in front of her perch, so its kind of secluded. She likes that very much.

I think its a great idea.

That is sooo funny! I don't eat a snack at night (usually ice cream) because it isn't good for finnigan and she expects me to share! She also shares dinner, which is fine, until she starts tossing the stuff she doesn't like off of my plate! Wait, I thought it was still my dinner. :ohmy: I spend my evenings feeding, exercising, training and cleaning up after her and my B&G. You would think it would be become a pain, but I don't mind at all. Everyone thinks my husband and I are nuts but we enjoy these birds more than anything. They give so freely with their love and trust that how could you do anything else?

I have a TAG. Finnigan is only 8 months old now, but I have had her since she was 2 months old. She is a good family bird but has her preferences to her favorites and has no problem expressing them. I get the impression that his an overall AG trait more than CAG v. TAG. She whistles and carries on, not much talking yet. Although, she did say something funny this morning. She has a funny little whistle that she does, that I can not duplicate, so I say "Whiddle Whee" in response. She did her whistle this morning and before I could respond, she said.."whiddle whee"! It was very funny. She is still young to talk so I can't comment on that but I don't believe she will have any problem, if she chooses to speak, considering that she pops out with a few random things every now and then. She has an opinion about everything and a fearless little attitude. She has a big bird attitude in a little bird body. I think although, you hear that TAG's don't pluck as much, who can really say, they are not as popular, so not as many fingers in the pie to say how it tastes, so to speak. I think from listening to most of the people here, both the CAG and the TAG have very similar dispositions and its the individual personality that really makes your bird. I would make my decision based on size, and looks if you really want to narrow it down...otherwise do what it seems others on the forum have done, go where they both are and make your choice based on chemistry. I do love my little TAG and would trade her for nothing. She is packed with personality and is making a fine member of our family. I definelty recommend TAGs as a great avian family member.

I have a TAG. Finnigan is only 8 months old now, but I have had her since she was 2 months old. She is a good family bird but has her preferences to her favorites and has no problem expressing them. I get the impression that his an overall AG trait more than CAG v. TAG. She whistles and carries on, not much talking yet. Although, she did say something funny this morning. She has a funny little whistle that she does, that I can not duplicate, so I say "Whiddle Whee" in response. She did her whistle this morning and before I could respond, she said.."whiddle whee"! It was very funny. She is still young to talk so I can't comment on that but I don't believe she will have any problem, if she chooses to speak, considering that she pops out with a few random things every now and then. She has an opinion about everything and a fearless little attitude. She has a big bird attitude in a little bird body. I think although, you hear that TAG's don't pluck as much, who can really say, they are not as popular, so not as many fingers in the pie to say how it tastes, so to speak. I think from listening to most of the people here, both the CAG and the TAG have very similar dispositions and its the individual personality that really makes your bird. I would make my decision based on size, and looks if you really want to narrow it down...otherwise do what it seems others on the forum have done, go where they both are and make your choice based on chemistry. I do love my little TAG and would trade her for nothing. She is packed with personality and is making a fine member of our family. I definelty recommend TAGs as a great avian family member.

When my husband wants to tease me...he says Finnigan is a just a pigeon! Grrr! I tell him its okay, my pigeon is smarter than his blue bird!

That is funny about Bella. Finnigan and I have reached a mutual understanding regarding the make-up drawer...I have an extra tube of mascara that she can have (top on tightly) whle I use my tube. No lipstick (she can get the top off too, don't ask me how I know that!). She has a little basket that she sits on the handle and she swings around on it like a jungle gym. I tickle her under her wings and blow raspberries on her belly and she squeals and carries on. Once she let go just as I stepped back so she could take a little break and she fell into the bottom of the basket (its lined with fluff and newspaper on top of that, so it was a safe) she stood up and looked at me like "why didn't you catch me?"! Completely offended that I didn't catch her.

Did she start plucking when you got sick? AG's are very sensitive to our moods and health. I'm sure if you are sick and thereby perhaps stressed over financial matters as well as health matters, could Angie be picking up your stress level? Just a thought as it sounds like you have everything else pretty much covered for her...I think its a general statement that they are unhappy when they begin plucking, when mostly there are underlying reasons. What do you think?

Can you guys get imported birds? I did some research just recently as we were offered a position in Australia...we turned it down as you can not import birds into Australia (not even pet birds). I suspect this is due to the bird flu. I know they are listed on the CITES as okay, but if you call the embassy, they currently have a ban on importing birds. The same with New Zealand, we could have gone there too. I'm sure that is why they are sooo expensive. Good Luck.

That is what worries me the most Abdullah, are stories like yours. But I also have to agree with Danmcq...its better all around for them to fly.

Okay, well, just ignore this post....I should have read more before posting. Sorry!

I know this is a very personal decision and it has been discussed before but, with Tink's escape and subsequent return, I thought it was timely to bring up again. What does everyone think about flighted v. clipped? I belong to a macaw forum and the "experts" there, are all in favor of clipped. We started letting our b&g's wings grow out, and his confidence grows each day, he can make flights now without being winded that before would exhaust him. It seems to be very good for him on a physical and mental level...but I do worry about him "flying away". Shalung and Tink had such a good relationship and even she, when presented with freedom, chose that over her "flock". Was it on purpose? Was she just too frightened to come back? Was she just confused? What are the pros and cons?

I'm sooo glad Tink is back. It was soo upsetting to know that that had happened.

I made my own nets which my birds love. I used the sissel rope from home depot, it was like $6 for a roll. I got a book of knots and went to it. It's not as pretty as the ones you buy...but my birds don't seem to care. :-) You can do alot with your imagination without spending a small fortune. hula hoops, wrap them with rope (cotton or sissel) and its another hanging play area. You can combine two hula hoops to make a giant atom for them as well.

http://shanlung.livejournal.com/71760.html Soooo sad! {Feel-bad-0002006A}

Harley, macaws are wonderful birds. They are, however, completely different in personality than greys. I do not have a severe but understand that you must have a strong will and alot of patience with these little dynamos. A smaller macaw with a large macaw personality. Here is a link to an article which gives the basic description of each macaw. Keep in mind this is basic, we all know how different out individual birds are. http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww45e.htm Here is another link to a macaw forum...these people know their birds...so jump on and ask some questions, they will offer alot of personal insite into the species that you can't get from an article. Most of the people on there love their severes and have nothing but wonderful things to say about them. http://www.birdsnway.com/boards/mt/mt.cgi I'm sorry about Harley and wish you luck in your search for a new companion.