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GCC Training?
Topic Started: Jun 27 2009, 01:20 PM (106 Views)
kevdiggity	Jun 27 2009, 01:20 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 11 Group: Member Member #864 Joined: May 25, 2009 Gender: Male # of conures: 1 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Kevin W. Location: Provo My Conure/s are: Green Cheeked	(I apologize in advance if this has already been covered somewhere else in this forum!) So we brought Desmond, our little GCC home a little over a month ago (here's his page: http://s11.zetaboards.com/Conure_Crazy/topic/7157507/1/ ) and he's the best. He follows us around everywhere if we put him on the floor, he loves taking baths (for the most part) and of course he loves getting tickled on his neck, the only thing that he does that worries us is that he loves to BITE OUR TOES! We're not sure if this is a defensive measure or not; at first we thought he was playing, but I'm pretty sure with the ferocity he attacks our toes (and the way his feathers are all flared) that he's not messing around. So, I'm not really sure how to "punish" him (for lack of a better word) . . . or I guess the word is "train" huh? Usually we tell him "NO" and put him back in his cage, but I'm wondering if it's bad to have his cage be his "time-out" spot, you know? What do you guys do to train your birds? I'm sure this is not just a simple answer . . . Anyway, I am not sure what to think but I don't want him to stick with any bad habits, so any advice you guys could give us would be much appreciated! Thanks again! -Kev & Rach & Desmond
conure58	Jun 27 2009, 04:20 PM Post #2
Administrator Posts: 4,739 Group: Admin Member #20 Joined: November 19, 2006 Gender: Male # of conures: 2 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Mark Location: Central Texas My Conure/s are: Kahn (Brown-Throat) & Summer (Sun)	My Sun (Summer) started attacking my feet/toes about 3 or 4 years ago. She's now 16, so I don't know what made her decide after so many years that feet are her enemy. I haven't really tried anything to stop her, other than keeping her off the floor. Fortunately, she rarely goes on the floor and she won't fly down to attack my feet.. I wish I had an answer other than trying to keep Desmond off the floor.
Dusky Lover	Jun 27 2009, 06:18 PM Post #3
Moderator Posts: 1,157 Group: Staff Member #817 Joined: April 6, 2009 Gender: Male # of conures: 2 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Phil Location: Western , Connecticut My Conure/s are: Conrad the Dusky , Sunny the Sun Conure	Toe Biters , That could possibly hurt a bit i assume .......... lol ........
kevdiggity	Jun 27 2009, 07:19 PM Post #4
Advanced Member Posts: 11 Group: Member Member #864 Joined: May 25, 2009 Gender: Male # of conures: 1 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Kevin W. Location: Provo My Conure/s are: Green Cheeked	Yeah, it's kind of a bummer, I don't know if we can somehow stop that behavior, my wife just had him on the couch next to her (and her feet were up on the couch) and he declared war. That little bum! So we covered her feet in a blanket to protect them . . .it's interesting, because it's not that he's mad with me or my wife at all, because after we picking him up to defend our feet, he has no beef with us, he just hates feet! I'm now thinking of maybe biting HIS feet to show him how it feels . . .
kermits	Jun 27 2009, 11:55 PM Post #5
moderator Posts: 1,116 Group: Staff Member #608 Joined: October 26, 2008 Gender: Female # of conures: 1 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: jackie Location: York Yorshire England My Conure/s are: green cheeked	Kermit is the same with toes he hates them, i put slippers on
Dusky Lover	Jun 28 2009, 03:50 PM Post #6
Moderator Posts: 1,157 Group: Staff Member #817 Joined: April 6, 2009 Gender: Male # of conures: 2 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Phil Location: Western , Connecticut My Conure/s are: Conrad the Dusky , Sunny the Sun Conure	Thats pretty funny Biting his feet to show him how it FEELS .... lol Let me know how it works out { Just Kidding } , but maybe if you have socks on , that will help prevent your toes from being bitten . I know for a fact Conures beaks are pretty strong ! See if socks on help prevent the biting .
~birdybea~	Jun 29 2009, 08:59 PM Post #7
Bird-a-holic Posts: 220 Group: Member Member #326 Joined: January 14, 2008 Gender: Female # of conures: 1 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Belinda My Conure/s are: Zoe - cinnamon gcc; Savvy - yellowsided gcc	My Zoe is a toe biter too, and socks don't help. I just stick my feet under a pillow usually, and she forgets she was cranky and goes about her business.
kevdiggity	Jun 30 2009, 07:29 AM Post #8
Advanced Member Posts: 11 Group: Member Member #864 Joined: May 25, 2009 Gender: Male # of conures: 1 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Kevin W. Location: Provo My Conure/s are: Green Cheeked	Thanks everyone for replying, good to know that it's a common thing among conures, sounds like I just need to keep Des away from my feet!
conure58	Jun 30 2009, 10:13 AM Post #9
Administrator Posts: 4,739 Group: Admin Member #20 Joined: November 19, 2006 Gender: Male # of conures: 2 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Mark Location: Central Texas My Conure/s are: Kahn (Brown-Throat) & Summer (Sun)	It makes you wonder why some decide that toes are the enemy though. And I know socks don't make a difference with Summer either. She seems to know there's toes in there.
Bird_Lover	Jun 30 2009, 07:17 PM Post #10
Silver Member Posts: 536 Group: Member Member #293 Joined: November 29, 2007 Gender: Female # of conures: 2 I'm a conure: Owner My name is: Hannah Location: Minnesota My Conure/s are: Orrin--Peach Front Conure, Rylee--Sun Conure	Ooh, that can't be very much fun for either of you! I've never had any problems with this in the past, but these are some things that I though of that might help you both. Can you tell if he is being aggressive or just playing? By putting him in his cage, it could have the opposite effect that you are looking for (any form of punishment doesn't usually work with birds). Try redirecting his behavior with a toy--maybe a stuffed sock? Make certain that the sock isn't getting ingested though. Praise him with treats, pets, or something special when he isn't attacking your feet. Often times, us humans fail to notice the normal/good behaviors our birds do, and forget to reward them. By praising him when he is already good, it will help him to know what is right and wrong. When he does bite your feet, try not to react too much. When my peach fronted conure Orrin went through a biting phase, I over-reacted at first. This only made him see me as a "human squeaky toy." He continued to play this really fun game (to him anyway!) until I stopped reacting, and helped divert his unwanted behavior so I could praise him for the good. If he still isn't stopping, even with redirection, he may need some time out. Just like little kids can get over stimulated and excited, he may need a few minutes to cool down. Place him on a playstand or in his cage (with the door open), and ignore him until he cools down. Speaking calmly and softly can help too.
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