Do cuddle huts encourage nesting?

[EllenD]

Skittles: Actually, the mating between Green Cheeks and Sun Conures is quite common, it's not at all rare, and they are called "Sun Cheeks". If you simply Google "Sun Cheek", you'll see hundreds and hundreds of them. They are actually becoming a parrot "species" all their own in the breeding-world, right along with "SunDays"...I've seen many, many ads on Craigslist and on breeder sites like BirdsNow and BirdBreeders.com for "SunCheek" babies, and they're becoming very popular...

It's sad, as parrot hybrids are starting to become quite similar to the "designer" puppies that are so popular, and that sell for thousands of dollars, like they are some special, rare type of dog breed, when in-fact they are simply, well, "mutts". Many years ago when I still bred birds actively, i bred Green Cheeks, and I had many, many inquiries about hand-raised, baby "Sun Cheeks", and even though I never bred Sun Conures myself, I did my best to try to educate people on why buying parrot hybrids such as the Sun-Cheeks wasn't a good idea, but people are going to buy what they want to buy, and the unscrupulous breeders are going to breed what sells. And that sucks...big time.

I don't know what the status of Sun-Cheeks in the wild are, I'm sure they exist, but in the pet-trade, at least in the US, Sun-Cheeks are extremely popular and plentiful...

 

[EllenD]

Here's a link to what most Sun-Cheeks actually look like; I'm not sure that photo above is actually a Sun-Cheek, as it actually looks like a regular Yellow-Sided Green Cheek to me....Most Sun-Cheeks look like the photos in this link, and there are different "dilutions" and "red-factors" within the Sun-Cheeks...

prices of The Feather Tree

 

[EllenD]

Sorry, these links will take you right to the photo of different Sun-Cheeks.

http://www.feathert.com/images/47k.jpg

 

[Rozalka]

EllenD hybrid beteen sun and GCC hasn't any name. Suncheek isn't a hybrid but a combination of 3 GCC mutations: dilute, cinnamon and yellow sided

 

[EllenD]

EllenD hybrid beteen sun and GCC hasn't any name. Suncheek isn't a hybrid but a combination of 3 GCC mutations: dilute, cinnamon and yellow sided

That's what we have always called them, "Sun Cheeks". Been calling them that for years, at least within their breeder's circles...And that's exactly what came up on the Google pages as well...

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

EllenD, what Rosalka was saying is that Sun Cheeks are actually a green cheek mutation, not a hybrid. They’re really a combination of the dilute, yellow sided, and cinnamon mutations. Go to the first link that you posted, then click on the link below the picture that says “Suncheek Conures” and you’ll read that Sun Cheeks are not a hybrid, but a color mutation.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

OOH, I want! I want! lol. I have so badly wanted a pineapple green cheek but haven't gotten one due to my living circumstances and the situation with Skittles. I may have to say sun cheek instead! lol.


Truthfully though, the ONLY factors I consider with regard to species when getting a new fid are behavior/temperament, average lifespan, size and needs and accommodation. To me, coloring of the fid is irrelevant. In all honesty, I'm more likely to pick the most 'boring' one simply because of that reason. I didn't choose Skittles because of his coloring, it was his reaction to me that sold me. Sadly, I think FAR too many people choose plumage over everything else. To me, the right 'connection' and behavioral chemistry SHOULD be the most important. Having said that, I still want a sun cheek! lol

 

[Rozalka]

EllenD hybrid beteen sun and GCC hasn't any name. Suncheek isn't a hybrid but a combination of 3 GCC mutations: dilute, cinnamon and yellow sided

That's what we have always called them, "Sun Cheeks". Been calling them that for years, at least within their breeder's circles...And that's exactly what came up on the Google pages as well...

Like I and FlyBirdiesFly said: suncheek = cinnamon yellow sided dilute = pineapple dilute so all of these photos which you shared with us aren't hybrids but GCCs. On the net I was searching for some photos of sun X GCC hybrid and they aren't common. One of them I posted in this thread in other post

 

[LeslieA]

.... Having said that, I still want a sun cheek! lol

"Having said all that.." and I assume having read all that, you seem to contradict yourself. Which is the truth: plumage or not?

It appears that plumage DOES matter to you! Get a "Strawberry Sundae," major red factor Sun Conure instead.

 

[beetory]

Those birds are beautiful omg.

But to original poster, I just wanted to say to thread very lightly with those feelings of not wanting to "kill" the eggs because my conures successfully mated a few months ago and from the moment I saw my Darling's swollen belly making her first egg it was really stressful, time consuming, and expensive. My conures are being excellent parents but I've heard many times from the professional breeders here about how that is not always the case. I love the babies that were born from their eggs but I think if I had the chance to go back and boil her eggs or replace them with fake ones I would have.

I've had so many scares already with them thinking that they are dead, dying, or sick. During Darling's entire egg laying process I was constantly watching her and making sure she was okay, alive, and not egg bound and when I wasn't home I was calling my family to make sure they checked in on her often throughout the day. So many things can go wrong and you have to prepare so much to make sure you at least feel ready to take over raising them if they do lay eggs and those eggs do hatch.

My experience was completely accidental, I never wanted my conures to breed, and I was really dumb to provide them with nesting materials and a box. I felt guilty too at the thought of killing fertile eggs but I don't think it's something I should have gone through with before knowing all the things that would happen.

My babies are thriving right now and are very healthy and active, but not all clutches are that lucky. With any future eggs my Darling lays I'll definitely replace them with fake ones so she loses interest. It's just not worth it. I don't want to lose her to something that can be avoided and discouraged.