Sun conure behavior question

[Brandenburg]

Hello! I just recently began reading this newsgroup (BTW, I'm loving
it...I'm learning so much from everyone!). Anyway, I also recently
purchased a 4 1/2 month old sun conure (about 4 days ago). He was
still being handfed completely when I got him. So, we are weening now.
He is a good eater....loves fruits and veggies....learning to open
seeds....not thrilled with pellets, but he tries.

My question is this: why is he bobbing his head all the time? It's
kind of a slow, constant nod. Occasionally, he stops, but I don't know
what makes him stop (or start, for that matter) What does this mean?
Is he hungry? Cold? Is something wrong with him? Or is this normal?
He does it all the time. When he sits on my shoulder, when he sits on
his cage, etc.

Also, I just thought of another thing to ask. I'm not sure he is
sleeping at night. What I mean is he doesn't perch at night. At least
not that I've seen. He hangs on the side of the cage. (not upside
down, like a bat or anything) Is this normal. He seems to not like
any of his perches. He has one of those rope-type perches, the two
standard types that came with the cage, and one of those dark wood ones
that start with an "m", I think. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sit
on one, except when I put him on one, then he just moves or jumps to
the bars.

Anybody have any ideas? Suggestions? Is there something wrong with
him? Or am I doing something wrong or NOT doing something that I
should? Please help! (Sorry this is so LONG!)

Becki & Name-seeking Sun Conure

[Mark Klebanoff]

:>My question is this: why is he bobbing his head all the time? It's

:>kind of a slow, constant nod. Occasionally, he stops, but I don't know
:>what makes him stop (or start, for that matter) What does this mean?
:>Is he hungry? Cold? Is something wrong with him? Or is this normal?
:>He does it all the time. When he sits on my shoulder, when he sits on
:>his cage, etc.

:>

In most birds, head bobbing is a soliciting behavior. He's excited and happy
to

[Amy Young-Leith]

In article <4pffpu$c...@sjx-ixn6.ix.netcom.com>,
Brandenburg <rone...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
[...]

>My question is this: why is he bobbing his head all the time? It's
>kind of a slow, constant nod. Occasionally, he stops, but I don't know
>what makes him stop (or start, for that matter) What does this mean?
>Is he hungry? Cold? Is something wrong with him? Or is this normal?
>He does it all the time. When he sits on my shoulder, when he sits on
>his cage, etc.

There are a few possible explanations but my guess is that he sees you as
mommy and is trying to illicit a feeding. Now this doesn't necessarily
mean he's HUNGRY... but it's a major bonding event, and he wants to share
it with you!

Older birds will regurgitate food for their "mates." Most of us with
birds who do not have feathered mates end up being the recipients of this
grand gesture. *grin* The process includes a lot of head bobbing.

My sun conure (now about 7 months old) will do this all the time. If he
gets to your lips and so much as barely gets a hint of wetness or a crumb
of food he starts headbobbing like mad. He will also do this if you blow
in his face (which he loves, so much for it being a disciplinary
measure).

>Also, I just thought of another
thing to ask. I'm not sure he is
>sleeping at night. What I mean is he doesn't perch at night. At least
>not that I've seen. He hangs on the side of the cage. (not upside
>down, like a bat or anything) Is this normal. He seems to not like
>any of his perches. He has one of those rope-type perches, the two
>standard types that came with the cage, and one of those dark wood ones
>that start with an "m", I think. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sit
>on one, except when I put him on one, then he just moves or jumps to
>the bars.

Watch where he hangs... at night he probably goes up high. You may want
to take a perch and place it high up in the cage. Leave just enough room
for the bird to perch without hitting it's head; I bet he'll go there.

During the day watch him; is he hanging on the side of the cage closest
to the most humans? My conures always do this when in their cage... it's
part of the "Oh look at me! Caged like an animal! Aren't I cute?
Please let me out!" ploy.

amy

[Michael Lachtanski]

aly...@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu (Amy Young-Leith) wrote:

>In article <4pffpu$c...@sjx-ixn6.ix.netcom.com>,
>Brandenburg <rone...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

[Text Deleted]

> >Also, I just thought of another
>thing to ask. I'm not sure he is
>>sleeping at night. What I mean is he doesn't perch at night. At least
>>not that I've seen. He hangs on the side of the cage. (not upside
>>down, like a bat or anything) Is this normal. He seems to not like
>>any of his perches. He has one of those rope-type perches, the two
>>standard types that came with the cage, and one of those dark wood ones
>>that start with an "m", I think. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sit
>>on one, except when I put him on one, then he just moves or jumps to
>>the bars.

>Watch where he hangs... at night he probably goes up high. You may want
>to take a perch and place it high up in the cage. Leave just enough room
>for the bird to perch without hitting it's head; I bet he'll go there.

My Sun Conure hates the rope type perches, but he loves the Manzanita
wood perches. He also does NOT sleep up high in his cage. He only
goes to the top perches to eat. He carries his food from his dish up to
the top perch, eats it or drops it, and then heads back down for another
piece of food. He also LOVES to sleep inside things, so I bought him a
nestbox and put it on the bottom of his cage in the corner. I open
the roof of the box as an entryway for him, and he sleeps in there
every night. Of course, he chews on the nestbox, so it becomes
structurally unsound in a couple of months and I have to replace it.

>During the day watch him; is he hanging on the side of the cage closest
>to the most humans? My conures always do this when in their cage... it's
>part of the "Oh look at me! Caged like an animal! Aren't I cute?
>Please let me out!" ploy.

>amy

Sun Conures form very close bonds with their owners, and ALWAYS want
attention, so this is probably true. Now that you own a Sun Conure, you
will truely understand where the term "birdbrain" comes from, as they
seem to do some of the strangest things.

Good Luck with your new little buddy,

Mike Lach (ml...@cup.hp.com)

[IBowl2Much]

rone...@ix.netcom.com(Brandenburg)
writes..

>Also, I just thought of another thing to ask. I'm not sure he is
>sleeping at night. What I mean is he doesn't perch at night. At least
>not that I've seen. He hangs on the side of the cage. (not upside
>down, like a bat or anything) Is this normal. He seems to not like
>any of his perches. He has one of those rope-type perches, the two
>standard types that came with the cage, and one of those dark wood ones
>that start with an "m", I think. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sit
>on one, except when I put him on one, then he just moves or jumps to
>the bars.

My maroon bellied conure hasn't slept on his perch in the entire year
we've
had him. He too has many different sized perches to choose from, but has
chosen the side of his cage instead. He tucks himself into the corner
behind
hi "birdie buddy," which he absolutely loves, and just hangs there. Funny
little
critters aren't they?

Good Luck,

Sharla and "Kermit"

[John Vaudo]

In article <4pil9f$5...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>,

ibowl...@aol.com (IBowl2Much) wrote:
>rone...@ix.netcom.com(Brandenburg)
>writes..
>>Also, I just thought of another thing to ask. I'm not sure he is
>>sleeping at night. What I mean is he doesn't perch at night. At least
>>not that I've seen. He hangs on the side of the cage. (not upside
>>down, like a bat or anything) Is this normal. He seems to not like
>>any of his perches. He has one of those rope-type perches, the two
>>standard types that came with the cage, and one of those dark wood ones
>>that start with an "m", I think. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sit
>>on one, except when I put him on one, then he just moves or jumps to
>>the bars.
>

my duskys like to sleep on the side of the cage also. my cherry head sleeps on his perch. Different strokes!

[Jeff Pack]

In article <4phupd$q...@hpax.cup.hp.com>, ml...@cup.hp.com says...

> He also LOVES to sleep inside things, so I bought him a
>nestbox and put it on the bottom of his cage in the corner.

Take some newspaper, and tape it into a tunnel. Our SUn Conure
loves these, all you see is his little butt sticking out, as he burrows
into the roll, and tears up the newspaper...

[blit...@gmail.com]

I have a sun conure and 2 budgies. I got the sun conure when he was 6 months old and he is now 9 and a half years. He has had the same cage up until a few months ago. I bought him a bigger one and I was going to give his old one to the budgies.
My question is since he has had the old one for so long if I give it to the budgies will he try to get back into it or will he leave it alone?