swnymph@riki.berkeley.edu (Sabrina Wilson) (06/07/91)
I have a 2 year old green cheek conure who has lost his sunny personality due to, I suspect, not getting enough attention. When I got this bird he was 6 months old, and although he had been hand fed, he sat for 2-3 months in a cage at the bird store, and so was a biter. I slowly worked him into not biting me, then to not biting other people, but at that time I was sick and so was home all the time. Since then I have had ample time for him until the last 3 months in which school projects followed by finals AND moving have given Jellybean a lot less attention... Now he bites people occasionally, and attacks his towel every time I or my boyfriend walk by his cage. He also runs away if I put my hand down towards him - I can trick him into getting on my sleeve and once he is off his cage he acts reasonable. I want the bird that would lie on his back in my hand back! Does anyone know if this is going to be a permanent problem whenever things get busy? Is he going through an adolescent "phase"? I feel so guilty that he doesn't get enough attention, and so frustrated when he bites me, that I have twice advertised to sell him in the hope that someone more patient or with more time would treat him better... Is it hopeless to get this bird to be a sweetie again when I don't have the time I used to? Thanks in advance! -Sabrina