behavior questions for a Green Cheek

[kidsbird475]

So we've had our little GCC for a couple weeks now. She has a nice big cage with toys that she climbs all around. We also built a big play gym for her. She seems a little defensive of her cage which isn't a big deal but when we bring her out and put her on her gym she climbs to the top and eventually jumps off and tries to come over to who ever is in the room. She prefers to climb on the person and have her neck rubbed. How do we get her to play on the gym? It has many toys and ropes and stuff. Lots for her to amuse herself with yet she doesn't like it. ???

[Mare]

It sounds like she likes cuddles! :). I have cockatoos and they won't stay anywhere but on their person, either. Maybe just be patient and keep putting her up there, just keep trying...?.. Hopefully someone with GCCs has more advice than I. :)

[PlaxMacaws]

So we've had our little GCC for a couple weeks now. She has a nice big cage with toys that she climbs all around. We also built a big play gym for her. She seems a little defensive of her cage which isn't a big deal but when we bring her out and put her on her gym she climbs to the top and eventually jumps off and tries to come over to who ever is in the room. She prefers to climb on the person and have her neck rubbed. How do we get her to play on the gym? It has many toys and ropes and stuff. Lots for her to amuse herself with yet she doesn't like it. ???Birds typically prefer feeling safe and secure. They often consider their cage to be their personal domain and sanctuary... which would explain the slight cage aggression you've mentioned. However, most birds as well enjoy the company of their flock mates -be they feathered or human- so may seek out those whom they view as filling that role. Thus, your GCC may feel both a bit insecure and somewhat lonely when left alone on the playgym.

[Lady]

Aww. I've noticed when my Lady gets a new toy or stand she is not to quick to think it is safe. I usually keep it in the area she spends most of her time in. Little by little and day by day I move it ever so closer to her (when she is covered) and carefully watch for a reaction. I also tend to go to it myself and play around with it so she can see that it isn't going to harm me. Maybe have who ever is in the room sit or hang out close to the stand and see if she will stay on it longer rather than move away from it. I'm even wondering if perhaps there is a particular toy on it that she may be unsure of.

[spiritbird]

Hello. Are there any places to put treats on the stand?

[kidsbird475]

Thanks for the comments.

Its only been a few weeks but we do sit by the gym in hopes she will stay on it and play. We've given treats to her on it and put things on the base for her to play. She has climbed all over it because we have set her down on various area of it. I'm not so sure she's afraid of it. She always climbs to the top and jumps off and comes to us.

[spiritbird]

GCC love to be active and play. It sounds like that is what she is doing.

[Albert]

Yeah, stick pine nuts in the ropes and elsewhere on her play gym. Do that a few weeks, she'll love being on it.

[kidsbird475]

I'm hoping she learns to like it but she dosn't seem to want to stay on it. She tries to get to the person in the room and pecks on their arm until they rub her neck and cheeks. Its cute for a little while but she has to learn to occupy her time with her own activities on her gym. She's very persistent about getting rubbed.

[Mare]

Kidsbird475,,I'm following along this thread. When you learn the "secret", let me know :).

I hate to say this but..the only way you may get relief from all this attention,,will be to get another bird..ugh..I said it and may be chastised for it, , it is true.. none the less.

[Penny]

How old is she?

[Sucre]

Actually, it may be just a conure thing. My 3 could care less about toys and such unless they are inside their cage. Once that door is open, they are right on top of us. Occasionally one will take flight and do a tour of the house, but they come right straight back to myself or my husband. If either of us leaves the room, all but one will hitch a ride, and the only reason he doesn't is because of a botched up wing clip. I think they are a lot like toos in this respect. They have a huge flight cage, filled with toys and boings and ladders and bridges and they play together all day long on the toys, but when out of the cage, they are Velcro birds. I have one that wants to be inside my shirt, and she will go sound asleep inside there. The other two bounce back and forth between my husband and myself, climbing all over us. Conures are snuggle babies, for sure. They love their humans.