Do male GCCs make nests?

[Bobo]

My family members report seeing TJ, my pinapple conure, making strips of paper and tucking them in his tail. I'm aware this is what parrots do when they want to make a nest, but to my knowledge TJ is a male (according to his previous owner, he was DNA tested). I thought only females build nests? Could TJ indeed be a female or is this behavior often found in males too?
Thanks!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Well, DNA doesn't lie. LOL. Skittles was DNA tested too, and he is a male.

But birds 'share' in their nesting. They take turns sitting on the eggs, they take turns hunting for food etc. So it would only make sense that they would take turns building a nest. I don't think it's necessarily 'gender-specific', except for laying the eggs.

 

[Bobo]

The owner also told me TJ was purchased from a breeder, but lack of any hatch certificate, ID band and receiving him in a Pets Mart carrier implies otherwise.

Thanks though! I won't determine he's a she unless he lays eggs

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I just re-read your post and I have a question. Did you actually 'see' the DNA certificate? For Skittles DNA, what happened was the vet I take him too took a blood sample and sent it to a DNA lab in Cali to be tested. They do the test, certify it and send the result back to the vet along with a DNA certificate. The vet then contacted me with the results and sent me the certificate. That's how it 'should' be done.

Skittles had a band on his foot that matched his health certificate that I got from the pet store.

Personally, I would not trust a mere verbal confirmation from a former owner of a parrot. They're opinion may be well intended, but absent any specific proof, IMO, is unreliable.

 

[BoomBoom]

Personally, I would not trust a mere verbal confirmation from a former owner of a parrot. They're opinion may be well intended, but absent any specific proof, IMO, is unreliable.

Indeed, this. When I had my bird DNA tested, I asked for a copy of the lab report verifying his sex. If you paid extra for it, it's within your right to expect a copy. If not, and knowing his sex is important to you, visiting the vet would be necessary. There are also the home DNA kits but I have no experience in those.

 

[SilverSage]

I have never seen this behavior in gccs, even when breeding. I have seen it in lovebirds though, I wonder if he actually learned it from another bird.

Just because someone breeds birds does not in any way mean they are responsible enough to think of record keeping and band their birds or provide certificates. And without banding it is hard to be certain they bought the bird that had been sexed. It only costs about $20 if you do it yourself and is very worth it.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Parrots are GREAT mimickers. Peaches used to fill my med box for me, she would try to 'help' it was the cutest thing.

Skittles is a major mimicker of noises he hears. So it would only make sense that they might copy another bird. It could also just be instinct.

Sometimes parrots just do things for the sake of doing them.

A few years back, I caught Peaches 'hiding' her discarded feathers behind one of her toys. I have no idea why she was doing it, but it was adorable.

 

[darbysplace]

My family members report seeing TJ, my pinapple conure, making strips of paper and tucking them in his tail. I'm aware this is what parrots do when they want to make a nest, but to my knowledge TJ is a male (according to his previous owner, he was DNA tested). I thought only females build nests? Could TJ indeed be a female or is this behavior often found in males too?
Thanks!

i am also interested in knowing this. my male conure,
Darby is shredding paper and making a nest in the bottom of his cage. i have to clean it constantly. my female, Lilly shows no interest.

 

[darbysplace]

My male gcc Darby has definitely been trying to make a nest since early spring. while Lily shows no interest in having a nest.