Nanday Conure

[Zorro's DAD]

Thanks Monica. I saw a perch with an food dish attached. That might be just what I need. I did leave the door open for several hours, and he is getting better at being near the open door.

Earlier today, he placed one hand on my figer to get to a treat. Then he nipped my fnger but only gently.

I think this approach will work if I keep at it.

Thanks again!

[Lynjupiter]

Give Zorro time and he will eventually come out on his own. You are doing all the right things, not forcing him, offering treats. A new home can be a scary thing to a little parrot. Lots of attention and consistency will go a long way.

I have two nandays Zorro and Diego. In terms of the noise thread.
I have one sun conure, two nandays and three quakers along with an assortment of other parrots. The sun conure tops the chart on being the loudest, She is so shrill it is hard to ignore her, in being loud the longest the quakers take it. They just scream and talk and talk and scream ALLLLLLL day long. I sometimes wonder how they breath when they never stop talking.
The nandays are moderate. They are not as shrill as the sun though they can be loud. They are not as all day noisy as the quakers.

The best advice here was to find an adult nanday and hear it sound an alarm call. Most nandays end up in rescues because of their screaming. They are also extremly intellgent and learn quickly how to manipulate people by screaming.
Lynda

[Zorro's DAD]

Thanks Lynda. I've noticed the manipulation but I have him beat on that note. When he gets too loud, I ignor him & he quiets down quickly.

[Zorro's DAD]

Zorro continues to get noisier and I'm a little frustrated. Idon't know what to do. If I ignor him, he will quiet down after a while, but sometimes he just will not stop. I did manage to get him out of the cage a few times, but he still will only step up after he is out (which is usually a fight)

I guess I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing, so I'm taking it slow. He's loveable but seems very skiddish. He wants attention but doesn't seem to know how to get it.

If anyone has a plan that can help, I'd appreciate a few tips.

Thanks

[Monica]

Just sitting near his cage, talking to him, reading, etc may very well help. You could look into the Kitchen Sink recipe (look in recipe section!) and make 1/4 of it at first, and see if he'll accept this... Conures don't normally scream unless they want something or their needs are not met. It might be easier on you both if he comes out on his own, and maybe have some goodies waiting outside the door for him!

[Lynjupiter]

With the noise, nandays tend to be super noisy if over or under stimulated. If it gets to bad look at his enviroment. Is his cage near a window where he can see things like predators , people and cars going by? When a predator/pet ( dog or cat) is in the room? Do you have small children who play loudly?
When is he the noisest? If it is when he is alone try leaving a radio or TV going. Make sure he has lots of fun wood and leather toys to chew up, paper to shred, pinatas to destroy.

Keep working on building trust. Forcing him out of his cage is trust breaking. If you keep working with him like Monica suggests he will come out on his own someday soon because he will trust you. When he does have, a special treat ready to give him along with lots of attention. Pretty much the same advice Monica gave.
Also keep your hand movements slow. Fast moving hands really scare skittish birds. Good luck. You are doing the right thing. It just takes time and paitence.
Lynda

Originally Posted by Zorro's DAD

Zorro continues to get noisier and I'm a little frustrated. Idon't know what to do. If I ignor him, he will quiet down after a while, but sometimes he just will not stop. I did manage to get him out of the cage a few times, but he still will only step up after he is out (which is usually a fight)

I guess I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing, so I'm taking it slow. He's loveable but seems very skiddish. He wants attention but doesn't seem to know how to get it.

If anyone has a plan that can help, I'd appreciate a few tips.

Thanks

[birdsnthings]

He is noisy for attention. You can't jump for the bird every time he screams. I usually find the Nandays to be vocal first thing in the morning. My friends Nanday stayed with me for about a month. She was the first bird that was fed in the morning. Charlie got food, she quieted down. She may have been vocal a couple of times during the day but it wasn't bad.
Alice

[Zorro's DAD]

Zorro is pretty quiet in the morning. I've started to notice the "good morning" squak. I guess he's noisiest late in the afternoon. The neighborhood birds get noisier & now that it's warmer, the windows are open. I live alone with no kids in a faily quiet area & have no other pets, so my guess is that on days when I'm away from home for hours, he may be noisier. I think I'll leave the radio on from now on.

I've taken the advice of hanging out with him for hours & leaving the cage door open. He seems to be quieter when I do. I no longer acknowledge his tantrums. I just go about business as usual. I talk to him, encourage him to take treats from my open palm. (I sometimes get a nibble on the finger but never a bite)

He has voluntarily stepped out 2 times. I'll take your advice and continue to let that be the plan.

I did buy him a new toy, but for the first day, he would not even go to that side of the cage. He loves his rawhide & wood and sleeps next to it like it's a teddybear.

Thanks for all the help. I think if I'm patient, he'll be fine. It just might take a while.

[Lynjupiter]

Sounds like you are doing just fine . It may take a while but the time you spend now will be so well rewarded. Once you win Zorro's trust and his heart you will find your self with a wonderful companion. With a good healthy diet and proper care Zorro will be with you much longer then the average dog or cat. He can live up to thirty years. Makes the few months spent training him look like nothing.

I forgot to mention the normal amount of screaming for a parrot. What would classify as noisy and what would be normal. Normal is screaming two or three times a day for about ten minutes give or take a few minutes.

When you come home from work he is saying I am so happy to see you! All my birds scream when my hubby and I come in the door. We have to make our rounds greeting everyone before they settle down. You might want to spend a bit of extra time when you first get home with him. Give him a special treat from your fingers. The radio will help also.

Keep up the great work Jim.
Lynda

[Zorro's DAD]

Thanks Lynda. I've gotten used to the welcoming squak and he seems to get very excited but settles down quickly after I come in.

I have a security system that beeps when it's disarmed. He starts squaking the second he hears the beep, seemingly knowing that I will be there shortly.

He does squak a lot more than 10 minutes 3 times a day, but he doesn't come out of the cage yet. When I walk by the room, he will call to me as if to let me know that he is there. Late in the day, he seems out of control. Right before bedtime, there is little that I can do to quiet him down.

He had been better about contact. He now takes treats right out of my palm.

I think once he is better about coming out of the cage, he'll quiet down. I'll be able to keep him closer for much of the day.

Thanks for all your help.

Jim