Considering getting a GCC and want to be prepared

[turnnburn]

Hello All
I am considering getting a Green Cheek Conure and would like to be as prepared as I can be....so I joined this forum as a first step...secondly I ordered some Harrisons High Potency pellets, and researching good fruits for my future pet...

My uncertainties are as follows:

I have a three season room that gets a lot of sunlight...is it ok to keep the cage in there in the warmer months ( I live in Wisconsin) and move the cage in the colder months or is moving the cage a no no?

What are recommendations/opinions as far as wing clipping? To do or not to do...my fear is my feathered friend will fly into a window and hurt himself...

In cage birdbath...is this ok or completely useless?

Any other recommendations on cage accessories/toys would be very helpful

 

[jiannotto9492]

1) Check how warm your room gets. Too much sunlight and heat could cause your bird to overheat.

2) This is a preference. I personally clip my bird's wings to prevent any injuries.

3) Take the bird into the shower or spray him with a clean water bottle. Odds are the birdbath will turn into a water bowl.

4) Get as big of a cage as you can afford/keep. Keep it clean and vinegar wash it and any toys that goes into it. Get plenty of rope toys and wood toys for it to chew on. Get a foraging toy for it to forage for food as well.


Tip: Focus on veggies instead of fruits. Fruits contains sugar and captive birds that eat fatty foods tend to be overweight. Fruits and seeds are great in the wild since they're always flying.

 

[Ann333]

Agreed with the above post.

If the room temperature is comfortable for you it will usually be comfortable for your bird.

My breeder allowed my bird to learn to fly as a baby then clipped his wings before he came home with me.This was for my comfort being as he was my first bird. Now 8 month later he is in his first molt and i am letting them grow out again so he can fly. This worked well for me and i feel confident that we are bonded well and understand eachother well enough to be successful with him being flighted.

Pumpkin doesnt have a bird bath, but his water dish is large enough for him to dip his body into and he bathes himself.This is his perferred method of bathing, he hates being sprayed. I also have a perch in my shower for him to join me. But again he doesnt like getting wet in the shower, he just enjoys being near me and the high humidity helps with his current molt. He sits in there and preens his pin feathers.

Conures are very active birds and need very large cages. Pumpkins cage is marketed toward medium sized birds such as african greys. So it is a large cage for him and he uses every inch of it inside and out. Make sure to shop around and get the largest cage you can afford, just keep bar spacing in mind.

Pellets are great especially if your new baby has been weaned onto them or already converted to them. They can be stubborn and not want to eat new foods. Veggies are also very important. Pumpkins diet consists of 1/3 pellets, 1/3 cooked bird food, and 1/3 mixed veggies.

As for perches most cages come with dowel rods, which are okay as long as you have other perches. Get a variety: rope, natural wood, pedicure perches, different textures and sizes, etc.

I dont have a snuggle hut for him, but i do have a rat hammock, and he absolutely LOVES his hammock. Just check for frayed edges.

Some of Pumpkins favorite toys are bamboo shredding toys! He loves to rip them to tiny pieces and make a huge mess. He also loves small wicker toys that he can destroy.

Finally, make sure you have a lot of time to spend one on one with your new bird. GCC are love bugs and want nothing more than to be on your shoulder and playing with you. YOU are his favorite toy/perch. They are very easy to take with you from room to room or when your doing chores because they realy cling onto you. Pumpkin hold onto my shirt so well that no matter what im doing he doesnt fall off. They want to be where the family is, as part of the action. They wont be happy alone in a cage in a quiet room unless it is bedtime. Very active, very opinionated, very loving, very stubborn. Great choice!

 

[turnnburn]

Thank you both so much for the input! I work mostly from home, so the quality time together will be there : ) The cage I am looking at is 72"h x 48 x 48...so hopefully he or she appreciates the space.

I am very excited for our new addition-but being very patient to make sure everything is ready before we 'jump' in...

Again-thank you very much for the info

 

[jiannotto9492]

Agreed with the above post.

If the room temperature is comfortable for you it will usually be comfortable for your bird.

My breeder allowed my bird to learn to fly as a baby then clipped his wings before he came home with me.This was for my comfort being as he was my first bird. Now 8 month later he is in his first molt and i am letting them grow out again so he can fly. This worked well for me and i feel confident that we are bonded well and understand eachother well enough to be successful with him being flighted.

Pumpkin doesnt have a bird bath, but his water dish is large enough for him to dip his body into and he bathes himself.This is his perferred method of bathing, he hates being sprayed. I also have a perch in my shower for him to join me. But again he doesnt like getting wet in the shower, he just enjoys being near me and the high humidity helps with his current molt. He sits in there and preens his pin feathers.

Conures are very active birds and need very large cages. Pumpkins cage is marketed toward medium sized birds such as african greys. So it is a large cage for him and he uses every inch of it inside and out. Make sure to shop around and get the largest cage you can afford, just keep bar spacing in mind.

Pellets are great especially if your new baby has been weaned onto them or already converted to them. They can be stubborn and not want to eat new foods. Veggies are also very important. Pumpkins diet consists of 1/3 pellets, 1/3 cooked bird food, and 1/3 mixed veggies.

As for perches most cages come with dowel rods, which are okay as long as you have other perches. Get a variety: rope, natural wood, pedicure perches, different textures and sizes, etc.

I dont have a snuggle hut for him, but i do have a rat hammock, and he absolutely LOVES his hammock. Just check for frayed edges.

Some of Pumpkins favorite toys are bamboo shredding toys! He loves to rip them to tiny pieces and make a huge mess. He also loves small wicker toys that he can destroy.

Finally, make sure you have a lot of time to spend one on one with your new bird. GCC are love bugs and want nothing more than to be on your shoulder and playing with you. YOU are his favorite toy/perch. They are very easy to take with you from room to room or when your doing chores because they realy cling onto you. Pumpkin hold onto my shirt so well that no matter what im doing he doesnt fall off. They want to be where the family is, as part of the action. They wont be happy alone in a cage in a quiet room unless it is bedtime. Very active, very opinionated, very loving, very stubborn. Great choice!

Snuggle huts are one of those things that should be avoided. Too many cases of birds getting caught up in them or becoming hormonal due to their shape.

 

[turnnburn]

Agreed with the above post.

If the room temperature is comfortable for you it will usually be comfortable for your bird.

My breeder allowed my bird to learn to fly as a baby then clipped his wings before he came home with me.This was for my comfort being as he was my first bird. Now 8 month later he is in his first molt and i am letting them grow out again so he can fly. This worked well for me and i feel confident that we are bonded well and understand eachother well enough to be successful with him being flighted.

Pumpkin doesnt have a bird bath, but his water dish is large enough for him to dip his body into and he bathes himself.This is his perferred method of bathing, he hates being sprayed. I also have a perch in my shower for him to join me. But again he doesnt like getting wet in the shower, he just enjoys being near me and the high humidity helps with his current molt. He sits in there and preens his pin feathers.

Conures are very active birds and need very large cages. Pumpkins cage is marketed toward medium sized birds such as african greys. So it is a large cage for him and he uses every inch of it inside and out. Make sure to shop around and get the largest cage you can afford, just keep bar spacing in mind.

Pellets are great especially if your new baby has been weaned onto them or already converted to them. They can be stubborn and not want to eat new foods. Veggies are also very important. Pumpkins diet consists of 1/3 pellets, 1/3 cooked bird food, and 1/3 mixed veggies.

As for perches most cages come with dowel rods, which are okay as long as you have other perches. Get a variety: rope, natural wood, pedicure perches, different textures and sizes, etc.

I dont have a snuggle hut for him, but i do have a rat hammock, and he absolutely LOVES his hammock. Just check for frayed edges.

Some of Pumpkins favorite toys are bamboo shredding toys! He loves to rip them to tiny pieces and make a huge mess. He also loves small wicker toys that he can destroy.

Finally, make sure you have a lot of time to spend one on one with your new bird. GCC are love bugs and want nothing more than to be on your shoulder and playing with you. YOU are his favorite toy/perch. They are very easy to take with you from room to room or when your doing chores because they realy cling onto you. Pumpkin hold onto my shirt so well that no matter what im doing he doesnt fall off. They want to be where the family is, as part of the action. They wont be happy alone in a cage in a quiet room unless it is bedtime. Very active, very opinionated, very loving, very stubborn. Great choice!

Snuggle huts are one of those things that should be avoided. Too many cases of birds getting caught up in them or becoming hormonal due to their shape.

I am not able to reply to your private messages, but the cage that I am looking at is this one:

Yaheetech Wrought Iron Parrot Bird Cage Playtop Cockatiel Macaw Cockatoo Birdcages (68"(Black)) at LuckyPetStore.com

my husband didn't know the exact measurements off the top of his head, turns out he was a bit off : )

I really do not have a time frame of when I will be getting one, but am thinking along the two to three week mark...

 

[jiannotto9492]

I would avoid those Yaheetech cages. They're knock offs of the Prevue and are made cheap. Also they advertise it as non-toxic but that could just be them saying it is.

You could get away with a cage like this. http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Products-Wrought-Hammertone-3151BLK/dp/B000FRV3M2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_199_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=02JPYG08M3YA0EH8M3QS.



I personally have this cage.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KMQCOSS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00


Regardless where you get the cage from and what cage do yourself a favor and give the cage a vinegar wash.

Yes they're a little more expensive but they're great cages. Some other brands to look at are King, Avian Adventures, and California Cages along with Prevue.

Make sure your bar spacing is at most 3/4" however 1/2" is preferred for a GCC.

 

[Ann333]

Agreed with the above post.

If the room temperature is comfortable for you it will usually be comfortable for your bird.

My breeder allowed my bird to learn to fly as a baby then clipped his wings before he came home with me.This was for my comfort being as he was my first bird. Now 8 month later he is in his first molt and i am letting them grow out again so he can fly. This worked well for me and i feel confident that we are bonded well and understand eachother well enough to be successful with him being flighted.

Pumpkin doesnt have a bird bath, but his water dish is large enough for him to dip his body into and he bathes himself.This is his perferred method of bathing, he hates being sprayed. I also have a perch in my shower for him to join me. But again he doesnt like getting wet in the shower, he just enjoys being near me and the high humidity helps with his current molt. He sits in there and preens his pin feathers.

Conures are very active birds and need very large cages. Pumpkins cage is marketed toward medium sized birds such as african greys. So it is a large cage for him and he uses every inch of it inside and out. Make sure to shop around and get the largest cage you can afford, just keep bar spacing in mind.

Pellets are great especially if your new baby has been weaned onto them or already converted to them. They can be stubborn and not want to eat new foods. Veggies are also very important. Pumpkins diet consists of 1/3 pellets, 1/3 cooked bird food, and 1/3 mixed veggies.

As for perches most cages come with dowel rods, which are okay as long as you have other perches. Get a variety: rope, natural wood, pedicure perches, different textures and sizes, etc.

I dont have a snuggle hut for him, but i do have a rat hammock, and he absolutely LOVES his hammock. Just check for frayed edges.

Some of Pumpkins favorite toys are bamboo shredding toys! He loves to rip them to tiny pieces and make a huge mess. He also loves small wicker toys that he can destroy.

Finally, make sure you have a lot of time to spend one on one with your new bird. GCC are love bugs and want nothing more than to be on your shoulder and playing with you. YOU are his favorite toy/perch. They are very easy to take with you from room to room or when your doing chores because they realy cling onto you. Pumpkin hold onto my shirt so well that no matter what im doing he doesnt fall off. They want to be where the family is, as part of the action. They wont be happy alone in a cage in a quiet room unless it is bedtime. Very active, very opinionated, very loving, very stubborn. Great choice!

Snuggle huts are one of those things that should be avoided. Too many cases of birds getting caught up in them or becoming hormonal due to their shape.

Some people use them with no problem. Again just watch for frayed edges. As for the hormones I haven't had a problem, but again I have a hammock not a hut.

 

[jiannotto9492]

Agreed with the above post.

If the room temperature is comfortable for you it will usually be comfortable for your bird.

My breeder allowed my bird to learn to fly as a baby then clipped his wings before he came home with me.This was for my comfort being as he was my first bird. Now 8 month later he is in his first molt and i am letting them grow out again so he can fly. This worked well for me and i feel confident that we are bonded well and understand eachother well enough to be successful with him being flighted.

Pumpkin doesnt have a bird bath, but his water dish is large enough for him to dip his body into and he bathes himself.This is his perferred method of bathing, he hates being sprayed. I also have a perch in my shower for him to join me. But again he doesnt like getting wet in the shower, he just enjoys being near me and the high humidity helps with his current molt. He sits in there and preens his pin feathers.

Conures are very active birds and need very large cages. Pumpkins cage is marketed toward medium sized birds such as african greys. So it is a large cage for him and he uses every inch of it inside and out. Make sure to shop around and get the largest cage you can afford, just keep bar spacing in mind.

Pellets are great especially if your new baby has been weaned onto them or already converted to them. They can be stubborn and not want to eat new foods. Veggies are also very important. Pumpkins diet consists of 1/3 pellets, 1/3 cooked bird food, and 1/3 mixed veggies.

As for perches most cages come with dowel rods, which are okay as long as you have other perches. Get a variety: rope, natural wood, pedicure perches, different textures and sizes, etc.

I dont have a snuggle hut for him, but i do have a rat hammock, and he absolutely LOVES his hammock. Just check for frayed edges.

Some of Pumpkins favorite toys are bamboo shredding toys! He loves to rip them to tiny pieces and make a huge mess. He also loves small wicker toys that he can destroy.

Finally, make sure you have a lot of time to spend one on one with your new bird. GCC are love bugs and want nothing more than to be on your shoulder and playing with you. YOU are his favorite toy/perch. They are very easy to take with you from room to room or when your doing chores because they realy cling onto you. Pumpkin hold onto my shirt so well that no matter what im doing he doesnt fall off. They want to be where the family is, as part of the action. They wont be happy alone in a cage in a quiet room unless it is bedtime. Very active, very opinionated, very loving, very stubborn. Great choice!

Snuggle huts are one of those things that should be avoided. Too many cases of birds getting caught up in them or becoming hormonal due to their shape.

Some people use them with no problem. Again just watch for frayed edges. As for the hormones I haven't had a problem, but again I have a hammock not a hut.

See some people trust them some, like myself, don't. I personally am not a fan of them due to all of the stories I've heard. Once again up to the owner. If I could find something where it wouldn't envelope the bird or have to worry about frayed edges or getting caught in the hooks I'd have one.

 

[Ann333]

Just do research on any cage you're looking at. Read customer reviews before buying one. You don't need to get an expensive brand name cage to get a great cage. I think your original cage looks good. I've never used that brand personally so do your research. Good luck!

 

[Ann333]

Snuggle huts are one of those things that should be avoided. Too many cases of birds getting caught up in them or becoming hormonal due to their shape.

Some people use them with no problem. Again just watch for frayed edges. As for the hormones I haven't had a problem, but again I have a hammock not a hut.

See some people trust them some, like myself, don't. I personally am not a fan of them due to all of the stories I've heard. Once again up to the owner. If I could find something where it wouldn't envelope the bird or have to worry about frayed edges or getting caught in the hooks I'd have one.

All bird toys and accessories should be checked regularly for wear and tear. It's a normal part of having a fid... they destroy things, not just hut, but anything they can get their beaks on. Things WILL need to be replaced.

 

[jiannotto9492]

Some people use them with no problem. Again just watch for frayed edges. As for the hormones I haven't had a problem, but again I have a hammock not a hut.

See some people trust them some, like myself, don't. I personally am not a fan of them due to all of the stories I've heard. Once again up to the owner. If I could find something where it wouldn't envelope the bird or have to worry about frayed edges or getting caught in the hooks I'd have one.

All bird toys and accessories should be checked regularly for wear and tear. It's a normal part of having a fid... they destroy things, not just hut, but anything they can get their beaks on. Things WILL need to be replaced.

They definitely do. I do daily checks and cleanings of everything.

As for the Yaheetech I've seen bad reviews on different forums where they are indeed of cheaper quality. Also when you can get a brand name that there's more information on for $20-$50 more it is on the safer side to avoid a knock off company.

 

[Ryno]

This is the cage I have for Keelin, he enjoys it, although he spends most of his time in the perch I built him.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=271385550848&globalID=EBAY-US