upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi Y'all.
I have a few different questions about my sun conure, Baby Boy. He's a 6 yo rescue. I've had him for 4-1/2 months now, and he's my first experience with a bird.
1- I know full body stroking can stimulate romantic notions. What about around the beak? The side of the beak?
2- Is "mouthing" my finger romantic behaviour?
3- When a bird lovingly regurgitates does he usually swallow it? I'm pretty sure he's regurgitating, but he's not spitting it out. (Gawd that sounds awful!)
4- He's molting, I guess. He has a separate sleep cage, and I'm pretty sure he mostly just sleeps in there. I never hear any activity. The feathers are on the bottom of that cage, not in his day cage. Is it normal to molt just at night? (No bald spots, btw.)
5- Could his recent romantic behaviour be associated with the molting?

Well, I think that's all for now.

Thank you in advance for all the help!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/ ... hingit.jpg

In the wild, birds usually have seasons for molting and getting sexual. Weather changes are the primary triggers for both. In our climate-controlled homes, there are fewer triggers. When we first turn the heat on in the fall, it often triggers a molt, but it seems common for our birds to molt gradually year-round.

Baby Bird's behavior seems completely normal to me, although I don't know conures as others here do. Yogi and her friends will be along soon to give you more help. Meantime, you might find the information in this related thread helpful:

viewtopic.php?t=44176&highlight=

Paca

Oh my, that's funny. I just looked at the post you referred. I guess it must be the season, eh?
Baby has never liked my DH, so it didn't seem to mean much when he got more aggressive recently, but now that I think about it, his blood thirsty-ness has stepped up a notch.
Thank you.

First thanks for your vote of confidence but I have to admit sometimes your questions just floor me. You guys are getting curiouser & curiouser.

First----Unless you are positive your bird is a male ---don't assume it is. My 8 year old Pattie who was assumed by everyone including a couple avian vets and a breeder to be male,presented me with eggs last year. Female birds will also get aggressive and masterbate---so don't go by that either.This too shall pass---not soon enough but it will pass. Don't beak wrestle with the bird at hormone time as this often part of the mating ritual.Mouthing your finger is generally a feeding response in babies but in an older bird it is possibley a mating response or just playfullness. Regurgitation is often re swallowed --thank goodness. I've had it shoved in my mouth ---it's huge compliment but YUCK.Also it seems as though lately my friends birds are exhibiting extra strong breeding actions including firstime egglaying between 6&7 years.

The husband can work with the bird in a nuetral room giving it treets and generally bonding . Sometimes it works and sometimes not. The favored person should not be around while training.If a rescue is needed(fall behind the couch etc--)---let the husband do it and make a fuss over the bird .Get out if you can before the bird spots you.

Hope this helps or at least gives you a bit more confidence-----Yogi

Hi Yogi.
I'm mostly trying to keep my DH away from Baby. He's never given the bird any chance to acclimate to him. By chance Baby took to me instantly, and even so we're still getting comfy together. And my DH can be rather imposing. It's not because he's big, he just has a large personal bubble, and he doesn't even know he's crowding people. Or birds, in this case. Does that make sense? It's not that he's physically closer than the next guy, it just feels that way.
I'm not really assuming Baby Boy is a boy. Having a gender reference makes it easier to talk about him is all. Day to day I doubt it matters in his care. Does it matter during this hormonal time? Would my tending to him be different? (Assuming he doesn't lay any eggs, of course, which would change nutritional needs.)
I will cease the "beak wrestling" immediately. No problem. I figured as much, but didn't want to admit it.
You don't think there's any relationship to his current behaviour and his molting?

The care of your bird would the same with the omission of any petting etc that triggers off sexual behavior, Head scritches are fine. Stay away from under the wings,back ,tail areas or anywhere that makes your bird get a little 'antzy'

You can keep up your interaction with your bird----talking,singing or any games you play and maybe your husband will absorb some of it by osmosis.

Birds get very uncomfortable when they are molting, Feathers trying to fall out can get prickly and annoying and pinfeathers can be irritating and itchy. Ever had a heat rash.? I imagine that's how the bird feels. Of course he's grouchy and testy. You can make him a bit more comfortable by spraying him or frequent baths. I like to spray with I part drinkable aloe juice (or aloe jel)to 4 parts warm water.It is soothing to the skin and good for minor irritations. You can get the aloe in health or vitamin stores. Our local Walmart used to sell it in the drug dept for like $9.00 a gallon but doesnt carry it anymore. For a few bucks you can get concentrate that will last a long time. If you google aloe you will find many uses .----Yogi

Thanks again, Yogi. Yer a champ.
DH has a foster cockatoo, and the two of them are thick as thieves. He's usually pretty good with critters. He's just a bit, uh, alpha.
No scritching under the wings either? Jeeez.
And we do interact a lot in other ways. I've learned that he doesn't even need a treat to do tricks. At least not for every rep. He just likes showing off and hearing "good boy."