My "new" Conure

[Kypt]

Hi, I'm new here. I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks, and last week I picked up a GCC.

He was living with a girl who decided she couldn't keep him anymore. He's 15 months old. He's warmed up to me and my girlfriend very quickly. She had him on an all seed diet, but he's been transitioning over to pellets nicely.

We are not new to birds entirely. We had a Budgie (Sprite), but he died recently from something the vet could never figure out.

One question...he likes to chew on my hair and I was wondering if this is ok. I would think the chems in the shampoo would end up making him sick. I'm not sure how much of that stuff sticks around once you rinse it out.

Here's our new friend (Bindi):

[TJ Relic]

I wonder that myself, because Rigel is constantly preening my hair. I make a point to not use any hair products beyond shampoo, but I do use Head and Shoulders which is kind of "medicated."

[Valo's Moirana]

valo sometimes tangles around in my hair, and i let him. however, i don't use any hair products besides shampoo which i rinse out thoroughly.
i wouldn't let him do it excessively

congratulations to the new family addition

[kellywess]

My two little ones preen my hair. The only time I do not allow them to do it is when its wet. Careful though they can get tangled up. My little Blue Crown managed to get my long red curly hair wrapped around her neck. She panicked, it started choking her... we ended up just cutting some of my hair to free her. Congrats on your new little "cutie." Those little conures are chock full of personality.

[prettypenguin]

We've switched to all natural shampoos and cleaners all around because we have 4 birds in a small area. I also try to avoid anything with avocado oil. my grey tiel doubles as a hat most of the time. Congrats on your conure- I love those guys! good looking out on the rehome front! By the way, budgies are prone to tumors and they can go quickly from these. Sorry about Sprite, I know it's hard to lose a friend.

[Courtzrocks]

Nice little one you have there, my green cheek loves chewing my hair too, but she snaps it off so I get a hair cut every time shes on my shoulder..look down and there's snapped off hair all over my shoulder lol.

[TJ Relic]

Originally Posted by prettypenguin

We've switched to all natural shampoos and cleaners all around because we have 4 birds in a small area. I also try to avoid anything with avocado oil.

Are these natural cleaners of baking soda and vinegar that you make yourself, or a commercially available "natural shampoo" product? I've recently looked into it for Rigel's health. I've gone to using baking soda and vinegar for pretty much all my household cleaning. Its so much cheaper and gives me less fumes. I am just not sure if it will control the itchy/acne scalp as well as my current Head&Shoulders/Cetaphil combo, though.

[Shun Azhriaz]

Bindi's a beauty! Right now I'm trying to convince Tingo, our sun, that he does not want to tunnel into my mouth and --Arrgh! Now he's sticking his beak up my nose!

[Zoe's Mom]

Originally Posted by Shun Azhriaz

Right now I'm trying to convince Tingo, our sun, that he does not want to tunnel into my mouth and --Arrgh!

I thought Zazu was the only bird that tried this. Glad to know he isn't as nuts as I thought..lol

[AnimalNut]

Not totally bird related here but related to TJ relic's message..... If you have a problem scalp-- I certainly do in the winter, it bloody well hurts-- I have discovered thru research and trial and error that most mass produced shampoos make the problem worse. I found that when I swithed to PARABEN and dye free shampoo the problem decreased significantly. Try a paraben free product like Nature's Gate. And usually, shampoo does not adhere to the shaft of the hair so no harm to the birds. if they gnawed your scalp on the other hand.... And cider vinegar rinses (squirted directly on scalp then rinsed out) are awesome for rebalancing scalps.