Hello!

Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I have two 12 week old GCC named Phoebe and Finnigan. I’m a first time bird owner so I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible in this community. I have so many questions and can’t wait to connect with more bird parents... nice to meet you! (The picture is of Finnigan, Phoebe is still a little camera shy!)


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Welcome to the forum!
Here are many conure parronts, we will help you with your questions

Hello and welcome! He's/she's adorable!!! This community is amazing (great to find other bird people!) I am going to post a really long post for you because you are a first-time owner. Birds are so unique and a lot of pet stores etc just don't tell you this stuff, so bare with me. If you know it already, ignore it, but please do read it! Happy to have you here!!! Do you have them housed together or separately? I ask because as they grow sexually mature, this could pose an issue (even if nest-mates/brother and sister).

Since you are a first-time owner, I am also posting this (because it's stuff you may or may not know, but definitely need to know). If you already know it, disregard.

I am going to write a ton here because it sounds like you are very new to this and there is a lot to learn. I don't mean to overwhelm you!

One really important thing when keeping a pet bird in the house is that you cannot use scented products or chemicals/fumes in your home (even things that smell nice to us(---things like smoke, perfumes, air freshener, standard cleaners, vaping, burning food, incense, cigarettes, glue, paint, window sealing kits, polishes, aerosol sprays etc can harm your bird's sensitive respiratory system (which is not the same as mammals'). Using products that heat or are heated which contain Teflon/PTFE/PFCs = very very dangerous. These products off-gas and can kill a bird in under 5 minutes. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs are most commonly found in the kitchen (pots, pans, cookie sheets, drip trays, air fryers, popcorn poppers, baking mats, crock pots, toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, waffle irons, electric skillets etc. They can also be found in space-heaters, curling irons, blow-dryers, straighteners, heat lamps, heat guns, irons, ironing board covers etc. These fumes have killed birds through closed doors and on separate floors of a home, so you should replace your cookware with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. You may be thinking-- well, I have used them before and my bird is fine, but they kill very inconsistently and it depends on what you are cooking, the age of the pot/pan, the specific bird etc. There was a member who lost many of her birds from a pan she had literally used for years...then one day, her husband cooked an egg (without burning or overheating) and many of them died, while the rest showed signs of respiratory distress.

You will need an avian-safe cleaner to use within your home (both on the bird cage, but also, around the house). Again, chemical cleaners cannot be used in the home unless avian safe. F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate) is a great, avian-safe disinfectant. Other (less effective) options include products such as "poop-off", white vinegar + water, grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda etc. Peroxide is also fairly safe for disinfecting places like your bathroom, but you do not want your bird to come into contact with it.

Some foods are toxic to them--avocado, coffee (even decaf), caffeine, rhubarb, alcohol, onions/garlic/leeks/chives, mushrooms etc. Salt is also very bad for them, as is most human food. They love it, but it's not healthy.

They should not just eat seed--you will want to feed lots of washed fresh vegetables. Fruit is fine in moderation, but too much can lead to obesity and behavioral issues due to sugar. I feed my bird a mix of high-quality seed (no sunflowers, no peanuts) and pellets (in addition to fruit/veg). Fruit pits are toxic, as are apple seeds. Corn cob and certain nut shells (if swallowed in big pieces) can cause blockages, so you should be very cautious if you give your bird nuts in the shell. Peanuts can harbor aspergillosis, and should be avoided altogether (even they you often see them marketed towards parrots).

It is important to make sure that your bird's toys and cage are made of safe metals. Stainless steel is safest. They can get metal poisoning from playing with or mouthing objects made of unsafe metals.

They need a set amount of sleep each night (at least 10 hours) and the largest cage you can manage with lots of different perches. You want to avoid the totally smooth/round ones as they can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Never place a cage near drafts and never allow cool air to blow on a bird. They are sensitive to drafts and any temperature shift greater than 10 degrees can cause a shock to their system.

They need lots of safe toys and safe wood to chew. Not all wood is safe, so don't just assume you can give them any kind you want.

They hide illness and so you have to watch them to make sure they are eating normally and pooping normally etc. You should try to find an avian vet (certified avian) if at all possible and take your bird AT LEAST 1 x yearly for an exam. An avian vet is NOT the same as an exotics vet who sees birds--- so if a certified avian vet is available within a few hours of where you live, you will want to set up care.

All parrots can easily confuse the relationship with their human for a sexual one. You don't want this to happen, even though it seems sweet at first. Stick to petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sexual) and do not allow your bird to play in shadowy places, like boxes or under furniture, as these spaces are similar nesting sites and are hormonal triggers. NO SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS!

Food and water should be replaced daily--- wash the containers daily. Never leave wet food out for more than a few hours (as it can lead to bacterial growth). Never try to medicate a bird via drinking water and never add vitamins to water. Vitamins can be over-dosed easily and harm a bird. Plus, when you add things to water, it makes it impossible to know how much they have gotten and it also encourages bacterial growth. Sometimes it can prevent them from drinking adequately if they don't like the flavor of whatever it is you added.

These birds have the intelligence of a 4-year-old human, but they are wild animals (not domesticated like dogs). This means that they see the world (and humans) in a very unique way and so you must learn about their behavior in order to prevent problems (screaming, plucking etc). They need lots of time out of their cage daily and a lot of interaction (at least a few hours). At the same time, you don't want to spend TOO much time with a bird of they will become overly dependent and not know what to do with themselves when you go to work etc.

Finally, baby birds are ALWAYS sweet compared to adult birds. When your bird hits puberty, expect that it will exhibit some annoying and problematic behaviors (much like a teen). A through knowledge of behavior and setting expectations at an early age will make your life easier when that time comes, but do prepare yourself and expect that things will not always be so smooth-sailing. Think about a baby human compared to a teen...

I am sure there is more...but that is a basic overview of caring for birds.

Here is an excerpt from another post (which you may want to reference when shopping/ calling about Teflon:
The most insidious is the Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs because you have to call the company to verify that anything that heats or is intended to be heated does not contain these substances ("PTFE free" doesn't mean PFC free and so there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there to make people buy what seems like healthier cook-ware, even though it still contains a version of the same chemicals). Also-- these chemicals can be woven into fabric, mixed into metal during the moulding process, applied as a powder, applied as a clear-coat, or mixed with a colored coating. You cannot assume that you will be able to identify them visually, so, when you call, you must provide all abbreviations and full names + spellings of each chemical compound (and then they usually give you "the run around" for a week or so IF they ever answer your questions at all---because sometimes it's a "trade secret"). It's all very sketchy and DuPont (manufacturer of Teflon) claims that off-gassing only occurs at really high temperatures, but there have been numerous documented/scientific and anecdotal reports of birds passing away at temperatures in the 300 F range (and again, it kills through closed doors and on different floors).
FYI- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
A perfluorinated compound (PFC)
Teflon (a common brand-name of non-stick cookware containing these chemicals)

10- 12 hours nightly for sleep, so if you get up at 6 and make a bunch of noise, you will wake the bird up (even if they are still covered). If they wake up at 6, bed should be between 6-8. You want to keep it around the same time if possible (because that's how it is in nature).

Food- I leave a high quality mix of pellets and some seed in my bird's cage (no peanuts, no sunflowers, avoid fillers like corn etc)..Fruit/veg daily (more veg than fruit if at all possible--and not too much fruit). Citrus and fruits high in vitamin C should be given in extreme moderation because they can cause "Iron Storage Disease" (for a cockatoo, 1 small tangerine slice 1-2 times a week was okay, according to my vet). She gets something interesting/ cooked (no salt or sugar or unsafe spaces-- like a grain) 2x daily as well but she is picky as heck, so you have to watch it because some birds will fill up on one thing and not get proper nutrients or they will eat too much and become obese.


OH-- something I didn't mention in my last post-- stainless steel is really one of the only safe metals for them. Research the heck out of your cage and make sure that if it uses a powder-coating it is truly non-toxic. Birds can get metal poisoning from playing with sketchy toys (many made in China do not adhere to best practices) and just mouthing things like money, bolts, locks etc can cause toxic impacts...A man I know allowed his bird to play with un-used toothbrushes and (unbeknownst to him) there were small copper bits that held the bristles in place-- this nearly killed his bird even though the bird didn't actually swallow the pieces. The bird had to have chelation therapy. Similarly, many tapes and glue adhesives (including those on paper-towel rolls etc) contain toxic levels of zinc.

[mention]noodles123 [/mention] Thank you so much! The pet store that I got them from said that they think I have a boy and a girl, but couldn’t be positive. Is that something I should get confirmed? I do have them in a cage together because they were when I got them. Do you think it would be better to have them in separate cages? I was worried it might cause too much stress.

I did do a lot of research about cookware,chemicals,fragrances etc. but I appreciate it!

Right now I’ve been giving them the seed mix they were eating at the pet store and I’ve been trying new veggies to see what they like - so far carrots are a clear favorite! I will be picking up a pellet mix this weekend to try switch over to. I was giving them some fruit every morning before I learned that was too often. I will only be doing it once a week now, I hope it hasn’t had any negative effects on them for treats I’ve been using sunflower seeds.

I have two rope perches and two wooden perches in their cage right now. It’s only been a little over a week so I didn’t want to buy too much without doing research first. I have three different toys that I’ve been rotating (two in the cage at once) every few days so they don’t get bored while they’re locked in there. I do have a tent in there.... Phoebe actually just went inside yesterday for the first time. The store we got them from said they needed it but I’m learning more and more every day that they didn’t know as much as they let on. You think it would be a better idea to get rid of the tent?

Thank you so much for the information and I’m sorry for all the questions! I still have so much to learn and I want to be the best bird mom I can be


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kathleen_13 said:

[mention]noodles123 [/mention] Thank you so much! The pet store that I got them from said that they think I have a boy and a girl, but couldn’t be positive. Is that something I should get confirmed? I do have them in a cage together because they were when I got them. Do you think it would be better to have them in separate cages? I was worried it might cause too much stress.

I did do a lot of research about cookware,chemicals,fragrances etc. but I appreciate it!

Right now I’ve been giving them the seed mix they were eating at the pet store and I’ve been trying new veggies to see what they like - so far carrots are a clear favorite! I will be picking up a pellet mix this weekend to try switch over to. I was giving them some fruit every morning before I learned that was too often. I will only be doing it once a week now, I hope it hasn’t had any negative effects on them for treats I’ve been using sunflower seeds.

I have two rope perches and two wooden perches in their cage right now. It’s only been a little over a week so I didn’t want to buy too much without doing research first. I have three different toys that I’ve been rotating (two in the cage at once) every few days so they don’t get bored while they’re locked in there. I do have a tent in there.... Phoebe actually just went inside yesterday for the first time. The store we got them from said they needed it but I’m learning more and more every day that they didn’t know as much as they let on. You think it would be a better idea to get rid of the tent?

Thank you so much for the information and I’m sorry for all the questions! I still have so much to learn and I want to be the best bird mom I can be


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Click to expand...

My PERSONAL opinion is that they would be better in separate cages, but there are those who would disagree and yes, it could cause some stress if you do separate them (AGAIN, NOT ALL WILL AGREE WITH ME HERE). The thing is, when they bond and then reach sexual maturity, they could make babies (which is generally very complicated and often tragic). It is going to be your call, but if it were me, I would separate them sooner than later just because I wouldn't want the headache down the road, but yes- it probably will upset them a bit initially to be separate..just depends...but the longer they are together, the stronger their desire will be to stay that way. Even if you do separate them, you will still need to keep an eye on them if they are out at the same time because they could potentially fight or mate...and gender will play a role...Even same- sex birds can become sexual but the risk of fertile eggs in negated in such circumstances (while the risk of egg-binding etc) remains.
yes- you will want to have their genders confirmed because that will impact their medical risks. Birds want to nest and have babies and even a pair of females can get hormonal together and start laying infertile eggs. A male and a female (even siblings) will mate and get hormonal as they mature and those eggs could hatch, leaving you with a massively complicated mass (especially due to inbreeding). Females can become egg-bound from laying eggs (even if a male doesn't fertilize them) so it is important to know genders--especially when you have 2...but even if you only have one (as it is very easy to make them hormonal by petting the wrong way or providing shadowy spaces etc)
Also- it is often harder to bond with birds when they already believe they have a mate (but there are exceptions)

You are smart to keep feeding them what they were eating (as birds are stubborn and have starved when undesirable food is pushed on them without alternatives). You DO want to get them on a pellet if at all possible, and definitely keep exposing them to safe veggies etc. Fruit is fine in moderation. If they like sweet things, you could try Zupreem (the tropical blend with all of the colorful pellets-- yes, it isn't perfect but it's still decent). In an ideal scenario, you would stick to something with no added colors or sugars, but my bird hardly eats her pellets as it is, so start them off with an easy pellet if you find that the others are too bland...There are better brands than Zupreem, but it is still way better than a diet of seeds alone. I would mix seeds and pellets when you first introduce it--- they can still have some seeds, but you don't want that to be their only source of food...at the same time, you don't want them not eating enough because they hate pellets and you cut off seeds, so it is a balancing act for sure.


In terms of perches, you want the wooden ones to be non-uniform in shape. It is important that they not be totally smooth. You will be fine as long as you do not keep smooth perches long-term. Rope perches can be dangerous if you birds chew on them or if they become frayed. They can get tangled up or ingest the fibers but it depends-- that is why you have to be very vigilant.
Parrot Wizard has a bunch of decent perches but they are a bit pricey at times --I buy mine from him custom-made, but some people (with the tools and access to safe wood) make their own--it is juts easier said than done to find safe wood for birds.

Sunflower seeds in EXTREME moderation-- they are like crack to them, so yes--- if it is for occasional treats or training, but you don't want to give too many.

YOU DO NOT NEED A TENT!!!! THEY ARE WRONG...I cannot believe they told you that. 1. They are dangerous, 2. they create a nesting climate and hormone issues...Just because they like it doesn't mean they need it. Yes, I would remove it --especially because your birds well be less upset by the loss of the tent the sooner you get rid of it.

So glad you researched perfumes/chemicals/teflon! Lots of people don't, so well done!

Welcome to you!

[mention]noodles123 [/mention] What age do they start to become hormonal? I am going to look into getting another cage. Would it be okay for the cages to be beside each other still? I will definitely get them DNA tested, I can’t believe how little information I got from the store! I asked about what food was bad for them and she said they could have anything but avocado... that’s when I started learning just how little she knew. Phoebe, who they guessed is a girl, is always hanging out in dark places. She will come out and play and train with me but she prefers to be under my bed. I thought this was just because she’s still warming up but do you think she could be hormonal?

I’ve placed an order from some new toys, the perches you recommended, and a pellet mix! I also took the tent out of the cage. Is there an alternative I could give them for comfort?

Luckily my boyfriend did have a conure when he was younger, so that is why we knew how sensitive their lungs could be!


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They are sexually mature at about 1 year (GCCs) but the hormones kick in before that slightly- https://www.beautyofbirds.com/greencheekedconurebreeding.html (FYI- NEVER provide a nestbox just because you think your bird might lay eggs-- it mentions them and I want to clarify that a nest-box is like buying a newlywed couple a house in the suburbs in the 1950s-don't provide one unless you WANT eggs).
If you cover at night, there is really no need for any additional comfort (even though, as humans, we like to think that they need beds etc). They are perfectly happy on a perch unless they have been habituated to something else, and that can easily be unlearned. Birds are programmed to seek dark spaces-- the older they get, the more they seem to do it. A really really young baby could do it for security maybe? The thing is, as much as they seem to like it, they don't NEED it..and they are fine w/o it once they adjust.

Being in the same room and in a different cage could either work, or not work lol. It's a gamble, but in my opinion, at least it prevents mating --but they can still be interested across a room---so it isn't a cure-all...and they are probably attached...but I would just not want them alone in the same cage (again- there are those who would tell you that this has worked for them...sooo) Birds are always tricky--I would not want them mating (that is my biggest thing-- because then you have babies who also need cages)...but they can get sexually frustrated depending on the scenario, so just keep that in mind too. That having been said, the more hormonal stimulation they have, the more likely the frustration.I want to emphasize that this is a judgement call, but I want your eyes to be open to the idea of your birds mating when they get older and all that that entails--it isn't as easy as providing a bird house lol. I never want to deal with that (personally). If you do, just plan ahead so that you don't end up in over your head.

Welcome!
You're already getting a sample of the wonderful information and encouragement available available.
I'm glad you're here.

Welcome Kathleen, Phoebe, and Finnigin, thanks for joining. Conures are an extremely prevalent parrot amongst our members.

Hello Kathleen and welcome to the forum!