Dilemma between baby CBC and yearling GCC or 7 year old Jardine

[novembergypsy]

I'm pretty uncertain of which bird to go with, or even if I should let them go and wait a little longer. Here's the situation. I have decided to add a parrot to our family (that's me and my six year old). Though I'm flexible, the species I'm most interested in are a Crimson Bellied Conure, a Caique, a Green Cheeked Conure, a Meyer's Parrot, or a lovebird. I was hoping to rescue an older bird rather than buying a baby, but there is very slim pickings in my part of upstate NY as far as rescues go (which is a real shame since I'd also love to volunteer).

I found a bird store about two hours from me which has some heartbreakingly adorable baby Crimson Bellied Conures and Green Cheeked Conures. I'd love one, especially the CBC! They are still in the process of being weaned, and then I'm sure they'll go quickly. I also found a year old GCC on Craigslist who has some behaviors (apparently can't tolerate other birds, which means I'll have to stick to one bird), but is charming sounding otherwise. I'm a bit concerned about her health. She has rather rough feathers and a flaky beak in the pictures. She's about two hours away. The Jardine is also on Craigslist, but is older like I wanted and is gorgeous and comes from an owner who seems to have really worked with her.

I am not sure about buying a baby, but I want a crimson belly badly! They are my top choice aside from a Caique which I can't find. The green cheeks owner seems nice and really wants me to take her, but she seems a bit rough in her understanding of parrots (the cage she will giving me with the bird is wayyyyyyy too small which I can fix, but she also seems to think that the bird will "never bite" because she has never bitten her, which is naive, and again, the poor thing doesn't look healthy. I'm just not sure that spending the same on a year old bird who hasn't been handled the way I would instead of a baby of the species i know i want makes sense. I hate to say no but I'm not sure. And the Jardine sounds great and seems really well cared for, but I'm scrambling to know about them because I hadn't considered one till she came along. She has all kinds of mimicing down which is fun, but is also supposed to be highly affectionate, which is my number one desire in a bird


Any tnoughts? Please??

 

[novembergypsy]

Hmm...didnt ask my question clearly?

 

[JerseyWendy]

The only thing I can tell you is to go with your heart. You've repeatedly said you'd love to have a CBC (the most), so why not give one of those babies a go? I understand you would prefer to get a bird that is looking to be rehomed, but since you said the pickings are rather slim, .... there's always the CBC babies.

 

[Flboy]

The Jardine is quite the bird! Very playful, loving, and a little quieter than the conures. And their slightly larger size makes them seem less fragile. When my daughter worked at the pet store, the Jardine and Caique were her buddies. Between those two, Jardine!

 

[novembergypsy]

Thanks guys! I'm actually planning to go visit with the Jardine in the next couple days. I like what I'm finding out about them (except concerns about their one-person tendencies and inclination to bite randomly...which I believe I could handle , not wanting that to happen to my daughter though)...but I'm very drawn to the rest of the species' inclinations. )And this little girl sounds sooo sweet. Plus, she's just adorable in her pictures. A face to face meeting is the next step. The GCC,however, I've decided to pass on. She just doesn't feel right and some of what her owner says about her doesn't match up (saying she is affectionate but doesn't like to be handled, for example). I feel bad. I hate saying no since she seems to want me to take her badly, but it needs to feel right. I'd love to run my own bird sancuary someday, but can't do it today.

I'm also going to peek in on the CBC baby again. Choices are soooo hard. Argh!!

 

[ForteBebe]

You can't go wrong with a conure! I love my GCC and a neighbor has a CBC. Just the sweetest birds. My girl was from a pet store (impulse buy lol) and she turned out fantastic! I do highly recommend NOT getting a bird from a pet store, however.... She was way too expensive and most of the time they have behavior issues. Have you looked on BirdsNow.com?

 

[novembergypsy]

Oh, yes, I've checked birdsnow several times. There just isn't much going on in my area. I will say, the bird store I'm talking about (Birds Unlimited in Webster NY) seems to have high reviews and to be well thought of. I take comfort in that. But for sure, buying from a pet store was *not* the way I intended to go when I started this trek. There is always the option to wait, and I still may do that...but the Jardine and the CBC are SO sweet

 

[Flboy]

Pet shops.. Not all the same! Where my daughter worked, they always had the birds out hanging with them. The other one in town, name has pet and co in it, different story. The GM dislikes birds and it shows. Fortunately, one fantastic employee, the bird lady, makes all the difference for their birds! Also, Petco prices their birds very high, Sun-$699, GCC-$450. Daughter's shop, Sun-$450, GCC-$325.
My JoJo came from a feed and grain store, only reason they have birds is because the owner loves them. She saved JoJo's life! She took him in as a rescue, completely featherless! JoJo is in every way, awesome! Poop trained, fairly quiet, learning to play, and as the trust builds, cuddle bum. He has history with being constantly groped, lived for months in an open bird pit, so is very panicky over feeling trapped by the way he is held. As long as I respect this, he is great! Just re associating what being held means, and building new memories!

 

[Kalel]

Novembergypsy,

I know exactly how you feel! I'm sure no matter which one you choose will be a good choice. Obviously, you're a bird lover and for us I think we sometimes wish we could take them ALL home! I know I feel that way sometimes. As long as you choose one that you feel good about, I'm sure you and the bird will be happy. And if you still have a nagging feeling to go out and get four more birds LOL. I think that's a symptom of MBS that I feel often but force myself to resist! Good luck!

 

[labell]

Well I will weigh in that at 7 years old the Jardine is going to be what you see is what you get. Meaning that if the bird takes to you and you to her then it's pretty solid as far as her staying that way. I would go check her out, with older birds it really is kind of a they choose you situation and you will know right away if she is the right bird for you.