New Jenday conure.. Please HELP!!!

[Sinbad311]

Hi,
I brought my new Jenday home today. He's really lovely. I put him in his new cage and wasnt too impressed. After an hour or so he stopped scrambling around the cage and settled on his perch. I began feeding him through the bars and I felt we were being to bond...silly me for thinking that.

As soon as I left the room he screamed (really scared the kids).
He settled again. So after a couple of hours I decided to open the roof of the cage and let him come out in his own time which he did. And I was feeding him apples while he was outside the cage.
But for the life of me he wouldnt go back in. I tried treats, stick(which he ran away from), and by hand, which he tried to bite. I pulled away which I know I shouldnt have done, but its a reflex action. Then after about an hour he just hopped back in himself when he was ready.

So what do I do? Did I run before I could walk? Should I have left him for a day or two in the cage? And the screaming, how can I keep that to a minimum?

Please help,, as I feel getting this parrot wasnt one of my better ideas..( i'm not quitting just worried its not going to work)

Thanks in advance

Simon

[shadowsmom]

Hello,
I hope you will be prepared for the absolute LOUDNESS of Jenday's. I would just leave him in his cage for a few days, just so he can get used to everyone. He's probably really scared right now. You will have to build up trust with him. Some birds learn to trust quickly, some...not so quickly. You can always sit next to him and talk or read to him. Also, feed him treats through the bars. Do not pay more attention to him now, then what you are going to in the future. They will scream for your attention...do not go to him when he is screaming, wait until he quiets down and then go and praise him. Lots of patience right now is the key.
Sometimes there isn't too much you can do for the screaming. Mine always screams in the morning, when I get home from work, and in the evening. Lola is a little 'hormonal' (and molting) so she is my little screaming monster. Their shrill screams can be quite mind blowing.
I hoped I helped a little and I'm sure someone will be along shortly to chime in :)

[Ashling]

Don't worry so much! He sounds like a perfect little baby. He is acting exactly as any baby parrot would in a new home! shadowsmom is right- let him get adjusted to his new cage for the first couple of days so that he sees it as a source of food, water and rest- his home. While he's adjusting, sit and talk softly to him (or read lol, another good idea :) When he screams, ignore it and leave the room if possible- no eye contact either. Wait 5 minutes after he's finished screaming, go back in and praise him for being quiet, take him out, treat him, scritch him etc.
Mmmm as you know, you shouldn't pull away when bitten, but who can help it with a hard biter! When he's good and doesn't bite, praise him lavishly, and when he isn't good put him down and ignore him. It shouldn't take long for him to come out of his shell! Make sure he has lots and lots of toys to play with! :D

[Sinbad311]

Thanks Ashling.. the thing is I havent been able to pick him up yet.. but its early days yet I suppose... I not sure about the way i have the cage setup.. Any tips on where to put things inside the cage?

Ta

[ccg]

I would put his perch near the top of the cage and somewhere that he can turn around without hitting his tail feathers on the sides or toys, and provide lots of toys he can chew on and destroy. His food and water dishes should be about the middle of the cage.

What size is the cage? Do you have a picture?

[Sinbad311]

I'll post a pic asap. Personally I think it my be a little too small, but previous owner who breeds birds assured me it was fine.

[Sinbad311]

Here is a pic of my cage as promised.. Any input is greatly appreciated

[parrotpainter]

I agree, give him time to settle down and trust you. Our jenday is the sweetest cuddliest of all the fids....and loudest! Our jenday screams when he hears someone speak as if he's joining in on a conversation, but quickly quiets down, and just listens in. The cage you have shown is a little on the small side, the top perch may need to get moved down a little so he doesn't have to crouch, but if he gets out of his a lot during the day or you can leave the cage top open all day, he might be fine. He needs to be able to spread his wings. Larger is always better. Also, I don't know about anyone else's jenday, but ours seems to almost empty a food and water dish every day and they are not little ones (thinking about putting macaw size bowls in his cage) so please check the food and water everyday with the size you have. Even though our jenday has a large cage for his size, outside of the cage and near a human is where he ALWAYS wants to be. Putting him back when it's time is never an easy task. In time your jenday will trust you and be a sweet and cuddly and you'll wonder how you lived without him.

[jenseits]

If you can go bigger with the cage, I definitely would. The bigger the cage, the more interesting you can make it. The more interesting it is, the more he'll enjoy cage time. The more he enjoys being in his cage, the easier it will be in the long run to get him to go back inside.

Go as big as you can afford

I think quite a few people here have this cage: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/...5673420831.jpg

Since he's still so new to your home, give him time to adjust. It's hard to predict how he'll behave a couple of weeks from now once he's settled in and comfortable. Just don't teach him now that screaming gets him attention by running back to check on him every time he yells. The rest you can start teaching him in a little while.

Being owned by a parrot is a big responsibility, but it is sooo worth it. Just hang in there (and read, read, read stuff on this board - so much good info) and don't stress out too much.

[DarwinTheSun]

I agree the cage is too small. If you can get him a bigger one I am sure he would appreciate it! My sun uses his whole cage (23 x 34 x 41 interior) and I wish I could even get him something bigger! That way you can put lots more toys in there too. And that ball toy you have is great, but be careful to watch that he doesn't chew it open (like my sun does) because the little bell inside is dangerous.