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Grapefruit SEED extract may be fine to use in the water instead. I would suggest though removing the bark and making sure it's extremely clean, and depending on the size of the branches, either putting them outside for a week or so to dry (must be nice and hot outside!) or in the oven...

Thank you! You are so helpful thak you again!

So using wood from pine trees seems to be a bit tricky. What about munching on just the pine cones? Is there the same concern about sap?

Pine cones are fine if you clean & dry thoroughly.They sell pine cones as bird toys. ------Yogi

I'm not entirely sure about pinecones to be honest... I know when I was in elementry school, we took pinecones, covered in peanut butter and then rolled in seeds... however, to be honest I don't know about otherwise... I'm sure they can be cleaned and disinfected to be used as toys, probably in the same way as you would the branches... and I know that birds can also be fed the pine seeds...

jeco wrote:Whats it all mean?
head bobbing
shoulder fluttering
fluffing up
screaming when I leave the room
His name is Musica and he is definately a morning person

That's all normal sun behaviour. Head bopping is a happy thing.
Shoulder fluttering? My female does this & it's (if I have what yours does right) a bonding, mate behaviour. I discourage this as it can lead to more extreme breeding mate behaviour.

Fuffing up could mean anything but if he's healthy & happy I'd say he's just getting cosy.

Screaming when you leave the room should be ignored. It is an attention thing. They are loud & they do scream when you enter & leave the room. It's a communication thing that needs to be addressed, depending on the nature of the scream. It can be curbed.

I would get the bird DNA sexed because I'm certain the fluttering is a female, not male thing only.

Looking through videos... wasn't sure if I had it or not... but at the very end of this video, Charlie somewhat "flutters" his wings. He's not DNA sexed but I'm pretty sure he's a male by his behaviors...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yUz6X4R3FY

I'll see if I can get a better video of it... but Charlie hates the camera!

I don't know about your conure. The wing fluttering I was refering to was also a little different than what yours do. I only just saw a slight minimal flutter.

My female flutters (I know she's a female) & it's a lot more than that which is a typical hormonal breeding behavoiur for her. She's also a sun conure so maybe it differs between conure species too.

I can't necessarily say that I've seen female breeding behavoir... I've been trying to get a good video of Charlie fluttering his wings but he hates the camera... and I know it's not necessarily a breeding thing due to the fact that when he's eager to get somewhere he'll flutter his wings... the more eager that he gets the more vigorously he flutters his wings... but he never opens his wings more than 1/4 of the way...

As I said I only know about the sun conure, not any other conure. I don't know what one you're videoing but I'm refuring to the female sun conure breeding behaviours. This I know about, not other conures.

Understanding Your Birds
Body Language
by Theresa Jordan

One of the most important aspects in creating and maintaining a
successful relationship with an avian companion is the ability to
understand your bird's vocalizations and body language. Birds learn
to communicate with us through sounds, behavior and actions. Using
their body language and vocalizations they can tell us when they are
happy, content, frightened, sick, hungry, tired, angry, or ready to
be held and cuddled. The ability to communicate is a vital element in
any relationship, and it is of utmost importance that bird owners
learn to interpret the meanings of their birds sounds and behaviors
in order to successfully tame, train, and provide them with the very
best of care.

While the actions of one particular bird or species do not
necessarily mimic the meaning of the same action in all other birds,
we have found there to be a general similarity in the actions and
meaning of some basic avian behaviors. If your bird exhibits any of
the following behaviors, try to ascertain exactly what your feathered
friend is trying to tell you, and respond (or refrain from
responding) accordingly.

* Flashing/Dilating Pupils *
Flashing, dilating pupils can be a sign of aggression, excitement,
nervousness, or pleasure. Pay close attention to other behaviors that
accompany flashing/pinning pupils in order to correctly ascertain the
reason for this particular behavior. In a bird that is exhibiting
additional aggressive behaviors such as tail fanning, this behavior
means Back Off!. If you persist in attempting contact, you may get a
nasty bite for your trouble. Your bird may also be exhibiting this
behavior in response to another bird, animal, or human in the
vicinity that is disliked.

* Barking *
Even in a household without dogs, some birds will bark in excitement,
during a chatter session, or in an attempt to display their dominance
over their cagemates or other birds in the household.

* Growling *
An indicator of aggression, growling is sometimes accompanied by
dilating pupils and raised feathers on the back of the neck. It
generally means that a bird does not want to be approached. In these
cases it is best to retreat and wait for the bird to calm down before
attempting any contact.

* Purring *
Very similar to the growling sound, but not usually accompanied by
dilating pupils. Bird's body is usually relaxed and feathers are
fluffed up. This behavior indicates contentment.

* Tongue Clicking *
Rapid clicking of the tongue against the beak which generally means I
want to be friendly, I won't hurt you. This invitational behavior is
most often seen in cockatiels and cockatoos.

* Beak Clicking *
Beak clicking is a sharp, consistent clicking sound used when a bird
feels threatened, or is protecting a particular object or space.
Often accompanied by neck stretching and sometimes the raising of a
foot, it is a signal that the bird is defending territory or
possessions, and is trying to ward off the intruder. Approaching a
bird exhibiting this behavior will most likely result in a nasty
bite.

* Beak Grinding *
This is similar to the sound of a child grinding his teeth at night,
and is a result of a bird scraping the lower mandible against the
upper mandible. It is usually a sign of a bird feeling secure and
content. This will often be heard after your bird settles in for the
night, right before he drops off to sleep, and sometimes during
sleep.

* Beak Wiping *
We've observed three separate reasons for this activity. When done in
the presence of another bird, it is usually an attempt to tell the
other bird that it is intruding on personal territory. When done
while alone, it usually indicates one of two things: the bird is
trying to dislodge something stuck to his beak, or the beak wiping is
a displacement aggression activity. Displaced aggression means that
the bird cannot perform the activity he would like to and is
aggravated, which he displays by wiping his beak on another object.
We've observed this particular cause and effect in a jealous Amazon
who is over-bonded to his male owner, and never fails to bite the
owner's wife when given the opportunity. Whenever the bird is caged
and observes acts of affection between the owner and his wife, the
bird commences beak wiping and aggressive behavior.

* Biting *
With young birds, there is often a teething stage encountered where
the youngsters will beak almost everything it comes in contact with.
A bird's beak is filled with encapsulated nerve endings, and is used
to experience sensation, texture, taste, resilience of objects, etc.
In these instances, the beaking cannot be considered as biting but as
experimentation. Beaking of human fingers, which may lead to biting
later, can be gently discouraged by redirecting the bird to an
appropriate toy or other approved chewable item.

With older birds, biting is obviously the most definitive form of
showing displeasure. Biting birds do so for a reason. The bird may be
feeling threatened, frightened or startled. Birds will bite during
display; to protect their nest; or when the owner is doing something
the bird disproves of. Birds may also bite their mate or beloved
human in an attempt to protect them. A bird's instinct is to flee
when faced with an intruder, and in an attempt to encourage his mate
to flee, may bite at the owner as a way of encouraging this. Biting
can also be caused by displaced aggression; when unable to bite the
desired object, your bird will bite the closest thing at hand. When
encouraging a bird to step up onto your hand, do not misunderstand an
open beak aimed at your hand as an attempt to bite. Birds almost
always test a perch before stepping onto it to ensure its stability,
and will touch his beak to your hand before stepping onto it.

* Whistling, Singing, Talking *
These activities are usually indulged in when the bird is feeling
safe, secure and content in his surroundings. Expected times are
during the early morning hours when the sun rises, and at dusk when
the sun is going down, but also occur anytime the bird is feeling
especially exuberant and happy!

* Sneezing *
Birds sneeze for the same reasons we do: dust, nasal irritation,
small bug or down feathers up the nasal cavity. Some birds will
sneeze if this behavior has been positively reinforced. If the
sneezing is accompanied by nasal discharge, your bird should be seen
by an avian vet.

* Regurgitating *
When done in the presence or in close proximity to a human, it
normally means that the bird has chosen you as it's mate, and wants
to feed you! This action is also sometimes performed on a favorite
toy or other object. Bonded birds show their affection for each other
by feeding each other, and accomplish this by regurgitating food.
This activity consists of bobbing the head up and down to bring up
food from the crop, and depositing it into the mate's mouth. This is
also the manner in which parents feed baby chicks.

* Chattering *
Loud chattering or crowing is usually heard at dusk, when bird(s) are
settling down for the night. It is believed to be an attempt to make
their presence known to other birds, or possible to re-establish
relationships among the flock. Soft chattering is often how a parrot
amuses itself, and is normally a sign that the parrot is feeling safe
and content. This muted chatter is also heard when a bird is
practicing speech; words and phrases can sometimes be heard if you
listen closely.

* Craning the Neck *
This is simply a bird who is trying to see what activities are going
on around him! Usually accompanied by a distinct widening of the eyes
and the body being held very still.

* Head Snaking *
Characterized by the snaking of the head from side to side in a fluid
motion. Appears to indicate excitement, a quest for attention, or be
a display behaviour. My severe macaw, Bo, performs a similar activity
where he jerks his head around at a 30 degree angle and looks at me
sideways. He will hold this position until I jerk my head in a
similar fashion. He then responds by jerking his head in the opposite
direction, and again holding that position until I respond! It has
become an enjoyable game to him, and he will do this when he is
trying to get my attention.

* Jousting/Beak Fencing *
Jousting and beak fencing in some species (most notably Amazons) is
thought to be related to sexuality; in others it is thought to be
simply a form of play or rough-housing. Birds will pretend to attack
each other and grab each other's beaks. This is excellent exercise
and birds appear to have a great deal of fun with this activity. This
behavior very rarely ends in any injury, and is often followed by
mutual preening.

* Lowered Head *
A bird who is pulling his wings in close to his body, has his head
lower than the perch and sometimes bobbing slightly, and is leaning
forward with quivering or flapping wings is getting ready to take
flight. This behavior is often displayed when a bird is questing for
attention, and will often attempt to fly to you if you do not give
them the attention they are seeking.

A bird that is standing still with his head lowered/tucked in front
of you, with head feathers puffed out, is probably asking to be
scratched! As opposed to the similar aggressive posture (see Crouch
Stance below), a bird that wants to be scratched or is asking for
attention will be relaxed in posture, whereas the aggressive stance
will be distinguished by tension in the body and the slight elevation
of the nape and back feathers, but not the head feathers.

* Panting *
A panting bird is overheated, overexerted and uncomfortable. Birds
that are not used to flying and have re-grown their flight feathers
will often do this when they take their first few flights. If you
notice a non-flighted bird panting, make sure that your bird's cage
is not sitting in direct sunlight for extended periods, and be sure
to provide plenty of fresh water regularly.

* Preening *
Preening is the activity that a bird conducts to keep his feathers in
top condition. It consists of running feathers through their beaks
from the base to the tip to straighten and clean them. Some birds
have oil glands at the base of their tails, and will take some of
this oil and run it through their feathers, creating a sheen and
protectant that repels water instead of absorbing it. Preening is
also a social activity; birds will preen one another to remove
feather sheaths that they cannot reach by themselves. Birds may also
attempt to preen their humans hair.

Preening should not be confused with feather biting or plucking. A
feather-biting bird will bite his feathers and snip them off at the
base, close to the skin or directly at the feather follicle. A
plucking bird will pull and pluck the feathers out completely.
(Plucked feathers will grow back more quickly than those that have
been cut off at the base.)

* Wing Drooping *
This is normal in younger chicks who have not yet learned how to hold
and tuck their wings in. Likewise, birds who have just been bathed or
misted may hold their wings down while drying. If neither of these
situations is applicable, the bird may be overheated and attempting
to cool itself, or may be feeling poorly. Drooping wings accompanied
by sitting on the bottom of the cage is indicative of a sick bird.

* Wing Flipping *
This is a sharp, flicking movement of one or both wings and is
usually indicative of annoyance or displeasure. Another cause of wing
flipping could be that one of the feathers is out of place, and the
bird is flipping the wing in an attempt to realign it before
preening. In this case, holding the bird aloft on your hand and
slowly dropping your hand a few inches will encourage the bird to
flap its wings, and will assist in realigning the feather.

* Wing and Body Quivering *
Quivering wings usually indicate fear, nervousness, uncertainty, or
distrust. Birds displaying this behavior should be spoken to softly
with a reassuring tone of voice before attempting to initiate
contact. A quivering of the entire body, and especially the abdomen
where you can see the abdominal feathers shaking, is usually a normal
attempt to adjust to a marked change in the temperature of the
environment.

* Wing Drumming *
Wing drumming is wonderful exercise for birds. This activity is often
observed when birds are released from their cages after a long period
of confinement, or in the morning when first taken out of the cage.
Often they will stand on the top of the cage at the front edge and
drum their wings, sometimes so strongly that they elevate themselves
a few inches or even take flight.

In some species wing drumming is also a warning that the bird is
protecting its territory. Invading birds who ignore this warning are
often chased by the drummer with his beak open and ready, and/or
bitten.

* Display Behavior *
This behavior is characterized by a ruffling of the head feathers,
fanning of the tail, wings extended in full display and a very
distinct strutting walk. It is easily identifiable in Amazons and
Cockatoos, and is sometimes accompanied by dilation of the pupils,
head bobbing, and loud vocalizations. Cockatoos (and other birds with
a crest) will also throw their crest feathers up while in display.
These behaviors are usually brought on by attempts to attract a mate,
or as a show of territoriality. Attempts to handle a bird displaying
this behavior should be avoided as it will almost always result in a
severe bite.

* Marching *
a) Toward person or another bird with head down: -- This aggressive
behavior is designed to frighten the intruders into leaving.

b) Toward person or another bird with head up: -- This behavior
usually denotes pleasure in the human's or other bird's presence, and
can be taken as an invitation to play, preen, or pet.

* Perching *
On one foot: Shows that a bird feels comfortable in his surroundings
and secure in his environment. A secure bird will sleep with one foot
tucked up to his abdomen and his head turned around and tucked into
his back feathers.

* Crouch Stance *
A bird that is crouching with his head down and pointed forward, tail
feathers flared, body feathers ruffled or hackled, and exhibiting
pupil dilation is one angry fellow! DO NOT approach a bird who is
exhibiting this behavior, as it means, I am big, mean, and mad; if
you come any closer I will bite you!

* Defensive to the Death *
Birds that feel extremely threatened but cannot fly or otherwise
escape will roll over onto their backs, with claws extended and beaks
open to bite. This behavior emulates I will fight you to the death.
Often seen in Amazons.

* Tail Bobbing *
Tail bobbing, in and of itself, is not necessarily a sign of
sickness. Some birds bob their tails while they are talking or
singing. If the tail bobbing is evident only while your bird is
inhaling/exhaling, then it could be a sign of sickness.

* Tail Fanning *
This behavior is characterized as an aggression indicator, and
denotes definite displeasure. A bird that is fanning his tail is
upset and angry, and this behavior is a prime indicator that a bite
will almost certainly follow if you continue the activity that caused
the fanning. This could be as simple as an unfavored person
approaching the cage, or a contact activity that the bird has tired
of.

* Tail Wagging *
This generally is a sign of contentment and happiness, especially at
seeing a favorite human, or during an especially enjoyed activity.
Consists of a quick wag of the tail feathers back and forth.

* Stretching *
Like humans, birds stretch to relieve tension. This is especially
important for them since they spend so much time on their feet. Birds
will stretch one foot and the opposite wing at the same time, which
improves circulation and refreshes muscles.

* Quaking *
Being a quaker breeder, I have to throw this one in. Quaking is
species-specific behavior exhibited by baby quakers who either have
not weaned yet or have recently weaned. (Some people say this is
where the name Quakers originated). This behavior consists of almost
continuous head-shaking, sometimes accompanied by the wings being
flapped rapidly while held close to the body, (not extended out in
the usual manner).

Another similar behavior is the head bobbing, which birds do when
they are hungry and want to be fed. This behavior is exaggerated to
an almost frenzied manner when being handfed, and sometimes makes the
handfeeding formula fly everywhere except in the bird's mouth!
Quakers normally outgrow this behavior by the age of 2-3 months, but
will still sometimes exhibit it occasionally as adults when they
become over-excited or are feeling especially vulnerable.

This list is far from complete, as there are many more behaviors that
are not only species specific, but individually specific also.
Hopefully this list will alert you and assist you to become more
aware of your bird's body language, to learn what each behavior means
for your particular bird(s), and ultimately lead you down the path to
an enriched, rewarding relationship with your avian companion(s) !

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