Adult Green Cheek? or Baby?

[Dr.Darkness]

Hey, so I'm a first time bird owner and I've settled that a green cheek conure would fit perfectly into my lifestyle. I found a breeder near me, and he has adult green cheeks and babies. I've heard that getting a younger one is better due to it actually bonding with you. I just wanted to get a bit more information or experiences from other people! Thanks!

 

[IndySE]

It depends on whether or not you can meet the babies ahead of time. If location is too far to travel, then I recommend a baby as they're more likely to adjust to your lifestyle. But if you can meet in person and are chosen by an adult green cheek, then all the better ! Their personalities are better set after puberty (about 2 years old). Babies can sometimes have a huge switch after puberty.

 

[Jen5200]

I would agree with Indy. I got all of my conures as adults, and I love the fact that I got to skip puberty and the possible personality changes. But I did get to meet all of mine before taking them home to see if we got along and were good matches.

 

[BoomBoom]

I would agree with Indy. I got all of my conures as adults, and I love the fact that I got to skip puberty and the possible personality changes. But I did get to meet all of mine before taking them home to see if we got along and were good matches.

I was just about to post this when I saw the thread title. Adult conures (at least suns) tend to be much more mellow and stable after their puberty stage. You get to skip a lot of the hormonal rage between the age 2-3 (if your to be bird is like mine). So adults have their definite pros.

 

[noodles123]

You mentioned fitting in with your lifestyle, so I wanted to make sure you had read all about Teflon/PTFOA/PTFE (and how it is hidden in many things). It poses a deadly risk when heated..irons, ironing boards, coffee makers, curling irons, space-heaters, blow-dryers, rice-cookers, cookie-sheets, pots/pans, popcorn makers, drip-trays, bake-in-a-bag oven meals etc....5 minutes of these fumes and your bird can be dead...

Also, checking to make sure you understand that you will only be able to use avian-safe cleaners if you get a bird (nothing standard unless you stick to vinegar and water--no lysol, no bleach, no mr. clean, no scrubbing bubbles, no windex..the list goes on).
Pretty much ANYTHING with a scent can really hurt (or kill) a bird----perfume, hairspray, nail-polish, paint, gasoline, carpet cleaner, fabreeze, deodorant, cologne, smoke....etc etc etc

 

[Dr.Darkness]

Thank you all for the advice. I've been wanting a Green Cheek forever, so i have been doing a lot of research. So yes, I know about the fumes, it has driven me paranoid, but thank you for the advice anyways I will contact the breeder to see if he would allow me to go see the adults and babies.

 

[noodles123]

If you get a baby, there are pros and cons. When adopting, I chose an older cockatoo because, while there is A TON more work and time during the bonding process, you are less likely to get nailed with surprise personality changes post-sexual maturity (but you are more likely to be HATED initially----INITIALLY--and with birds, this could be months).


The thing is, I am used to people treating me with initial mistrust/hatred etc as I teach teens with behavioral needs lol ....I swear I am not a mean person.
It could be beneficial to feel that initial bond that often accompanies baby birds, but just realize that it may shift over time..That doesn't mean you can get rid of the bird.
No one should get a parrot if the thought of being disliked is a huge turn-off, as all parrots have mood-swings and rough patches...And yes, it often feels very personal, like a big slap in the face.

...Babies can pick up all sorts of bad habits from inexperienced bird owners (petting in sexual ways, too much attention etc etc) but they also tend to shift their preferences at puberty----much like human children rebelling against their parents. This can be VERY upsetting for people who thought they had a bond with their bird. Then again, older birds also come with a ton of baggage, and a lot of that is VERY hard to undo.



Obviously, all forms of ownership can be done, but it can get really rocky on either path, so make sure if you do this, you are in it for the "long-haul" (and expect to feel hated at some point) lol.

 

[Plasticgoat2012]

For gcc I would suggest baby. Unless you have the time and patience then go for an adult. Although there would be some distinct personality changes or behavioral issues after puberty, you just have to work on this aspect rather than a whole range of other issues. If you are getting an adult, it all depends on the previous owner's care on how the adult had developed to how it is presently.