Adoptive Male and Female Sun Conure - biting problem

[e4ofhearts]

Hi Everyone,
We have just adopted a male and female sun conure. The only thing I know about them is that they are 5 and 7 years old. The female has layed eggs, but the previous owner just threw them out That is all I know.

We have only had them for 8 days. The first couple of days they seemed fine. Step up was no problem. One of them even flew to our shoulder and stayed till we put him/her back in the cage.

They are very aggressive now. Biting has become a HUGH problem now. We cannot even put out a finger for "step up" without getting nipped or bit real hard. We have enticed them with food they love and that has not worked. They will reach over and bite as soon as the finger comes out.

I did not want to give up on the "step up", and every time I would receive a bite I pushed into it as I have read. This only frightened them into their cages and they still bit.

Once we finally get one of them off the cage, after receiving a few bites, he/she is so sweet. They are wonderful apart. We can actually pet them and keep training the "step up" while we have one of them. Then we do the same for the other in a different room. NO problems what-so-ever. But once they are back together it all starts over.

Should we separate them into their own cages?? Would this stop the biting?? Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Sarah88]

yeah it sounds like they are being super protective of their "nest" seperating them (keeping them next to each other but in different cages and allow some playtime together) may help with this aggression or maybe you could try just giving them treats for now without having them step up just so that they associate you with good things and then after a little while if they calm down some then start up again with the step up? this is what i would try but then maybe someone with more experience may have some different advice

[Monica]

Sounds like the honeymoon is over!!!!

You may want to consider stick training, and having a perch or two on the outside of the cage with a treat cup, and enticing them out with treats, then handling them, or having a gym next to the cage with a treat cup!

[e4ofhearts]

Thank you, I will try both of these suggestions. Hopefully, they will react in a good way