I Think My Sun Conure Is Stressed.. help?

[PoppcornSun]

Hello, Im Kati.

I Have A Few questions about my sun conure's behavior..
he has been violently chewing up his FAVORITE latter.. He has never showed any aggression towards me, my family, his toys, and other pets. i am worried that there is more to it than him just having a bad day. Stressed? Sexual maturity? I really need some answers.

Barron's Books are helpful, but i would much wrather hear from experience, and from real people with the same problems.

i do not think he is -old- enough for sexual maturity, but who knows?

please and thank you

-Kati.

[jenseits]

Hi Kati,
is it possible he's just having FUN? My sun conure will get in these crazed moods when he'll chew his wooden toys to bits, but he's just playing. While I wouldn't stick my finger near him while he's doing it, I wouldn't call it aggression.

[angelicarboreals]

Can you define "violently chewing"? Conures are known to chew on their toys, as many birds do. I have seen my sun conure destroy a half inch thick toy in the matter of a few hours, it is a way for them to stay busy and to express behaviors that they would normally exhibit in the wild. Birds will chew on their toys (sometimes even chew them into little shards), if he is not showing violence towards you or you family I am not sure why this would be a distressing behavior for you.

As mentioned, if your conure is beating up on a toy I would not try to interfere as you may get a nip from his excitement, but this is quite normal behavior for any age conure.

[PoppcornSun]

Hello Again.
I Didnt Mention One Of The Most imortant things, i guess..
I used to open his cage door, and he would hop right onto my hand, he would be so excited when i walked by.

i went out of town for a few days.. i understand that in the wild, and being domesticated, birds think of you as their mate. when a mate leaves for even 2 or 3 days, they think you died. so they move on. could that be it??

im really sorry to not add all the details right away. but i guess im not thinking straight. sorry.

so, could he be mad at me?

he is not showing affection lately, when i open his cage, he just gets irritated.

doesnt want to come out. he likes the new treats im trying by lafebers, but he still isnt willing to come out for the past few days.

[gbird]

How old is your bird? How long have you had him/her? What kind of interaction do you have with her? What is your normal routine with her/him, and how has that changed.

i understand that in the wild, and being domesticated, birds think of you as their mate.

Birds do not become domesticated like cats & dogs in captivity. They are instinctually wild. Yes they choose you as their flock mate, but they always remain birds. You have to let them be birds, and you can't force anything on them. Let them move at their own pace.

I would suggest taking it slow. Leave his cage door open for him, but then just walk away a bit. Let him come out on his own. Could something have frightened him while you were gone?

[expressmailtome]

Is it possible that your bird is reaching sexual maturity? This could explain a drastic change in behavior.

Matt

[PoppcornSun]

Thanks for all the replies...
He is ALMOST a year old,
I hand Fed And raised him..

He was fine until i got back.

he would be so talkative and always was out of the cage.

now, everything has changed.

:(

[PyscoFalcon]

He could just be sulking.
If I go away for more than a day then Merlin screams get worse and she's not back to normal talking playing self until she's given me a really good bite!

[Young]

While you were gone, did you have anyone watch over him. Were they there all the time or just pop in to do feedings.

[Laura65177]

Who looked after your sun when you went away?

Maybe he will turn back to normal if its just a wild rampage like others have said.
Treat as you would everyday and see how that goes.