Conures - Are they for me?

[Pennyrose]

Hey everyone,
I'd just like to say first off that I'm sort of new to the bird world/community, so apologies for any info I've missed out on or anything in general.

I've owned two birds in the past personally, with a family history of keeping birds, and only recently did I lose my beloved Cockatiel- she was a huge part of my life, still is, still an amazing bird (and really proved to me how beautiful they are). Obviously the house feels empty without a birdie keeping me on my feet, so I've been looking into different birds and stumbled upon the conure(s), specifically the green cheek.

Basically, I'd love some info from owners just on behaviour and general care? It's one thing to read about them but another to get some personal experiences.

I have quite a large budget, already a cage left over- toys are no issue, diets in the middle of being planned out and I have quite a laidback schedule to put forward to a new arrival. Currently I own a lazy spaniel, keep a rabbit and a few rodents here and there. The cage would be located in my bedroom with some new noises such as the vacuum, my voice, the radio and such. I live with my family, so chitter chatter would be another thing to get used to as well.

I'm looking for a bird that would really be interactive, a generally good temperament and quirky characteristics. Obviously I'm aiming for birds around the same size as a Cockatiel ranging also to a conure- I don't care about tricks nor if they can speak, I'm more the sort of person who enjoys a little companion. Would they be too feisty for me or have anything that some owners can't handle? Or possibly pick up bad habits?

I've been nipped before and can handle it, though I'd rather not tread into bird territory where I could get a nasty/vicious bite constantly or even rarely (though I'd love suggestions on how I should handle a nippy bird? I've heard some say 'don't react at all' while others are claiming to react with a strict 'no', clarification would be wonderful). Nips for me are more like pecks, I'd imagine a bite would draw some form of blood? Is that possible/common with conures? Possibly an ongoing problem that owners find hard to deal with? Although I know that any bird might, I'd just like to know a bit more in depth. Thanks all.

Considering all of this, should I stick with cockatiels who might meet my criteria, or be a bit more exotic with a GCC? So, pros and cons, suggestions to any others that might interest me? I'm all ears!

Note:
If I was also to bring home a conure, how would anyone on here usually go around getting them used to their new environment and owner without becoming too overwhelmed? I'd love to hear some personal experiences on how you dealt with 'training/taming' your conure?

 

[Misscazzy]

I grew up around birds as well, and cannot offer a huge amount of experience with GCCs, although i can tell you i'm 3 months into having the cutest little baby EVER, Cheerio. Honestly, he completely stole my heart, and I would love him even if his little behavioral outbursts continue.

Let's try to go in order.

Based on the description of the kinda little buddy you're looking for, a GCC might just be the perfect fit. They're a lot quieter than, say, larger conures or bigger Parrots like Amazons or Toos, thus far I've found Cheerio to be quieter than the Tiel(s) my mom always had. He is still a baby though, 6 months old, so he hasn't really gotten to go through all the phases. I'm only speaking from my current experience.

Cheerio is a very smart little bird. He is talking already, after only being with us a few months, he has learned to say Cheerio, good birdie, tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk, and seems to be attempting a few other phrases we say to him. A Note on this point, though, GCCs voices are low and gravely, so nothing they say is ultra audible. I'm still working on integrating scratches into his life, and that seems to be going okay. He is molting, currently, though, so he's a teensy bit testy.

The biggest thing I can tell you about the difference between a tiel and a GCC is the beak. A cockatiel has a small sharp beak, and a GCC has a hook bill. Cheerio hasn't really bitten me, but he chews on my fingers constantly. When he goes at it too hard, i'll give him a little bounce and a verbal. He learns quickly what is and is not acceptable pressure. Sometimes when he goes too hard he'll break a layer or two of my skin, but never has he drawn blood. It isn't a huge problem for me, but it might be for you. It's been more frequently now that he's in full molt, all covered in itchy pins, poor fella, but session to session with him, he gets better with it by the end. You'll find out what will be the best negative enforcer, and what will be the best positive enforcer for training once you're actually with your bird.

The last thing I wanna tell you about having Cheerio is that he is a velcro bird FOSHO! He always wants to be with me. He gets super excited when I come home from work and let him out to play. He tries to run back up my arm to keep from going back into the cage when it's birdie bedtime.

In conclusion, I'm super happy that the hilarious little GCCs stole my heart at the pet store, because I've never loved a pet so much. (We went there with the intention of getting a budgie, originally...) From my experience, they are funny, cute, happy, spunky little birds. They definitely live up to their reputation of being full sized parrots in a little body. Cheerio and I learn and laugh together every day, and even though i've only known him a few months, he's the best buddy i've ever had.


-Melissa & Cheerio


p.s. if there's anything else you'd like to know that i didn't say, i'd be happy to try and help!

 

[StarryIllusion]

p.s. if there's anything else you'd like to know that i didn't say, i'd be happy to try and help!

Hi hope the op doesnt mind me jumping in this thread. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions as you seem pretty approachable and have had other birds before.

I'm looking into getting a parrot in a year or two and am still hung up on species. I was wondering is Cheerio an excessive shrieker? All birds shriek I know but I always found with cockatiels they screech endlessly just for the sake of it. Not because they want something or are bored but just because. Does Cheerio do that?

Also probably a daft question but I've only ever had budgies myself, does he poop a lot? What I mean by that is do you toilet train them to go in one spot or do they do it so occasionally that it isn't much of a thing. Because I can't imagine that people just live with poop everywhere but I don't know how you would train a bird not to.

Does he like other people or is he a one woman bird?

Is he hard to take care of?

I know that he is just one bird and you can't generalise a species but the only people I know with parrots have african greys and a grey would be miserable living in a poky flat. So I have no prior experience of them at all.

Thanks for any advice you can give me and for taking the time to read a newbies questions.

Llu xxx

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@Pennyrose

Let me start by saying all birds deserve the same amount of love, time and attention. But I have found, in my own experience, that certain species are more reciprocal than others. I had a budgie that was my best friend for 11 years. But I've owned dozens of budgies over the years and only a few were VERY interactive with me. I know some will disagree with this assessment, which is why I am speaking only of MY experiences.

As for cockatiels, I have not owned as many. Back in 1995, I had a bad first experience with a cockatiel and was immediately turned off. The following spring I was put in a situation where I really didn't have any choice but to take a couple tiels in (at least not a choice I could live with). One of those tiels, I still own today and she is a sweetheart. But she's also over 20 years old and not as interactive as she was when she was younger.

Back in 2011, when Peaches really started to show her age, and begin to withdraw, I became lonely. So I bought a conure. I wasn't looking to buy one. I was looking at getting another tiel in a few years. But not at that time. But then I found Skittles, by chance and everything changed.

Now, enough about me - I just wanted to give you a 'little background'.

I, like you, don't care a whole lot about 'tricks or talking'. It's great if they do - but I prefer a more 'natural' bird that develops it's own personality on it's own. I find that to be the most authentic.

I've only ever owned one conure, my sunnie Skittles. But based on my experience and what I've read on this forum - conures, in general, are great "companion birds".

I don't think you could go wrong with a green cheek. I've never owned one but many on this forum do and I've read countless posts about what great 'companions' they make. I can't speak directly about those so I'll leave that to those who can. I'll tell you what I know of suns.

Suns are just as good companions as green-cheeks. BUT, I have found that there are two behaviors with suns that seem to be universal and may be a turnoff to some. Suns, are loud. There is no getting around that. They have an ear-splitting screech that many may not be able to handle. I've had birds so long that I can tune it out. In fact, complete silence is what bothers me. Now, having said that - not all suns are noisy. Some are noisier than others but ALL are loud. Secondly, suns can be VERY 'clingy'. In fact I haven't read a single post of a sun conure owner on this forum who has a sun that is not.

I can say this - if you want a bird that will follow you EVERYWHERE and never leave your side - and you can deal with LOUD screeches, then consider a sun. From what I know of green cheeks, they are VERY cuddly and not as loud as suns.

As for noisiness, I don't think that's a species trait - more an individual bird trait. Skittles is rather quiet, luckily. He makes more 'froggy noises' and 'kissy noises' than anything else.

In closing, I'll just say this. I don't think you can go wrong with any conure. They are the perfect step up from tiels. About the same size. They all make great companions. It's just a matter of which species would be the 'best fit' for you. That's really a decision you have to make.

But I will say, I think "misscazzy" is correct in her assessment that a green-cheek is the perfect fit. I'd just encourage you to thoroughly research each species of conure so you know before you get the bird that it's the right species.

@starryillusion I do know this. Tiels poop a LOT. Peaches poops about every three minutes. Skittles poops about every ten minutes. Skittles is potty trained. I've read numerous stories of suns being potty trained (not using the actual toilet) but rather knowing where to poop and where not too.

 

[JellyBean]

My two cents....

JellyBean - my first bird - is a green cheek; he is the most loveable, cheeky, affectionate and crazy creature! Super smart.. He doesn't screech, talks quite a bit, is VERY social - loves other people. He can be nippy at times, somewhat territorial about his food but we are working on that... He just loves being with me - everywhere - including the shower - lol! I don't have experience with other parrots but I really do LOVE my little Bean!!

 

[Misscazzy]

p.s. if there's anything else you'd like to know that i didn't say, i'd be happy to try and help!

Hi hope the op doesnt mind me jumping in this thread. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions as you seem pretty approachable and have had other birds before.

I'm looking into getting a parrot in a year or two and am still hung up on species. I was wondering is Cheerio an excessive shrieker? All birds shriek I know but I always found with cockatiels they screech endlessly just for the sake of it. Not because they want something or are bored but just because. Does Cheerio do that?

Also probably a daft question but I've only ever had budgies myself, does he poop a lot? What I mean by that is do you toilet train them to go in one spot or do they do it so occasionally that it isn't much of a thing. Because I can't imagine that people just live with poop everywhere but I don't know how you would train a bird not to.

Does he like other people or is he a one woman bird?

Is he hard to take care of?

I know that he is just one bird and you can't generalise a species but the only people I know with parrots have african greys and a grey would be miserable living in a poky flat. So I have no prior experience of them at all.

Thanks for any advice you can give me and for taking the time to read a newbies questions.

Llu xxx

Cheerio isn't potty trained yet, but he's learning. Gccs, from what I've gathered, scream when you aren't paying them enough attention. Cheerio knows when it's time to change his water, and when it's paper change day, and he will let me know if I'm running late. He doesn't scream just because, ever. And he is my best bud!

 

[StarryIllusion]

p.s. if there's anything else you'd like to know that i didn't say, i'd be happy to try and help!

Hi hope the op doesnt mind me jumping in this thread. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions as you seem pretty approachable and have had other birds before.

I'm looking into getting a parrot in a year or two and am still hung up on species. I was wondering is Cheerio an excessive shrieker? All birds shriek I know but I always found with cockatiels they screech endlessly just for the sake of it. Not because they want something or are bored but just because. Does Cheerio do that?

Also probably a daft question but I've only ever had budgies myself, does he poop a lot? What I mean by that is do you toilet train them to go in one spot or do they do it so occasionally that it isn't much of a thing. Because I can't imagine that people just live with poop everywhere but I don't know how you would train a bird not to.

Does he like other people or is he a one woman bird?

Is he hard to take care of?

I know that he is just one bird and you can't generalise a species but the only people I know with parrots have african greys and a grey would be miserable living in a poky flat. So I have no prior experience of them at all.

Thanks for any advice you can give me and for taking the time to read a newbies questions.

Llu xxx

Cheerio isn't potty trained yet, but he's learning. Gccs, from what I've gathered, scream when you aren't paying them enough attention. Cheerio knows when it's time to change his water, and when it's paper change day, and he will let me know if I'm running late. He doesn't scream just because, ever. And he is my best bud!

How are you doing that if you don't mind me asking? Potty training him I mean? I've only ever trained a dog and I can't see that working lol

 

[Misscazzy]

How are you doing that if you don't mind me asking? Potty training him I mean? I've only ever trained a dog and I can't see that working lol

You can see and you get to know the booty wiggle that means a bird is about to poop. What we do with Cheerio, is when he is wiggling his tush like hes going to poop, we move him abruptly to his portable playstand. He will sit there for a little bit, then he'll do his business. Then we give him lots of praise and a treat. He isn't 100% there, a little slow on the uptake with this , but he is getting better. He will make a move to get back to his playstand if he is with Adam or myself, and will poop there. Like I said, he isn't 100% there yet, he still needs practice, but he is getting there! We are so proud of him too <3

 

[Mimsy01]

There is a few training videos on youtube for potty training. To start, when opening the cage to let them out you just wait for them to potty, then praise, then treat then they come out of the cage.

Most conures don't want to poop on their people and some may even have issues pooping in their cage, so make sure to encourage that so they don't try and hold it! Foo we've been working on pooping on play stands! She goes in her cage, but play stands she wants to poop off the side of and I put a rug down where she normally goes. On her humans she will stay forever if given a choice and we have to pay attention to when she needs to go, cause she will hold it way way too long if we don't get her to a poop place.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I've noticed that with Skittles.

I can't offer much advice on training since he was already potty trained when I got him.

But I agree with what Mimsy said. Using praise and treats are the ideal ways of proper training.