Experienced Owners, Who Would You Adopt?

[lollipoppy]

I have the option to adopt a hand reared baby straight from a breeder, or to adopt a 3 year old GCC who is great on veg & who has been friendly with previous owners. I’m doing more investigating but it appears that rehoming is due to a housing issue for the owners. The 3 year old was bought from PetSmart at about 1 years old.

I am fully aware of the fact that it will take more effort to bond with the 3 year old, however I also like the idea of adopting him as he’s been waiting for a home for 30 days now. (There’s A LOT of GCC babies in our area and people usually see them as “undamaged” so they go for them first.)

I believe I have what it takes to work with 3 year old, but I wonder if our bond can be as strong as it would be with a baby? Given that it was likely parent raised, pet store bird (chain store not local,) and previously owned.

What I love is that he(?) was raised around dogs so he’ll be used to my chihuahuas. I also love that he’s a bit older so his personality is more formed & predictable.

What would you do? What questions should I be asking? Looking for some experience from those who might have a better idea than me.

I’m new to GCCs, I have a history with a rescued lovebird & parrotlet.

Thanks in advance, friends!


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[lollipoppy]

Also, lol @ me and “predictable” because I know that’s not possible LOL! But I hope you know what I mean.


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[Owlet]

Definitely the adult! Good on vegetables and already friendly? AMAZING. An adult with an established personality and characteristics that you like is the better bet. You never know what you're going to get with a baby.

 

[lollipoppy]

Definitely the adult! Good on vegetables and already friendly? AMAZING

They did mention he will likely be nippy at first but that he “will bond to a new human.” It seems like they’ve bonded fairly well with him, though I’m not sure if it’s super snuggly/close bond.. finding that out.
If not - and I’m totally aware this is bird per bird in most cases - would consistent effort toward bonding likely create a good strong connection between us, if he is already 3 and not entirely used to that type of attention?
I do know for a fact he spends most of his time out of the cage, but is content to sit on it and play on his own which seems like a good sign to me - a little independence is always welcome lol.


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[lollipoppy]

Upon deeper inspection: the bird has been at the owner’s parents house for thirty days not being handled. He was just learning to step up, but had not really gotten accustomed to being pet or anything. This means he’s likely going to be quite attitudey and stressed.

Be totally honest with me please, would this be hard to reverse and fix for someone who’s new to conures, or virtually impossible?

I’m willing to put in time and effort & as I have PTSD myself I like to think I can be totally sensitive to his needs. But is he going to ever be able to fully overcome this and bond well with me?

I really want a “Velcro bird” type personality that conures are said to have lol, though of course I’m very flexible because I know not every GCC will be this way.

I almost feel obligated to bring him home even though it may not be the exact personality I’m looking for because I hate that he’s just sitting there like that


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[Laurasea]

I'm all for rescues and re-homed.
4 if my six birds are either rescue or rehome.

If you have the basic understanding of bird behavior. And if you have plunty if safflower seeds the bribe of choice! Then I think you will be fine.

BTW my GCC came from the pet store as young bird. We have gone thru multiple times of bites and misunderstood times, only to get back on track as snuggle buddies. In the six years I've had her.

 

[chris-md]

I really do think you can turn around the adult. The thing with conures is they bounce back pretty quickly if you put in the time and take it at the birds pace, that means listening to the bird body language.

You seem like a sensitive person, which could mesh well with any rehab job.

Honestly, both will be a challenge with their own set of issues. With babies you’ll have to deal with puberty, marked by heightened aggression. Do you want the unpredictable medium term aggression associated with puberty, or the predictable short/medium term aggression of a less tame bird.

 

[lollipoppy]

My heart is set! Thank you. I am going to adopt this adult babe, I had a feeling he’d be a wonderful friend and now I know for sure it is possible.

It will still be about 2 weeks before he comes home (I want to be particularly careful with how we get him here too due to the current COVID situation,) so I will continue researching conures and their body language and preparing myself to move at his pace - and being confident in reading the signs he’s telling me!


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[Inger]

That’s wonderful! I do hope that you’ll keep him separated from your dogs at all times though. Dogs are predators; birds are prey. Nobody wants your sweet new friend to be a tragedy that could have been avoided.


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[saxguy64]

Congratulations in advance! Excellent choice in my opinion. I'm a firm believer in rescues. They're so deserving of a forever home. All of mine, past and present, have been rescues. My most recent, Baxter, a YNA, adopted at 17 years old after she was in a refuge for over a year, is incredibly bonded to me. Sweetest love bug on the planet, for me. Typical Amazon, very opinionated, and not a fan of my daughter and niece.

So, absolutely yes, a wonderful bond is possible with an adult, and as already mentioned, you have a much clearer picture of their personality without the guess work of puberty changing things later on.

As with all new birds, start at the beginning, and progress at their pace. Give him reason to trust you. Completely worth the effort. Exciting times ahead!

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[lollipoppy]

Thank you so much!!! Yes, I will definitely keep my dogs away in their crate at all times when the bird is out. I’m a person who would rather air on the side of caution than risk anything... which results in my animals being pretty spoiled LOL!

That is wonderful that your 17 year old bird was able to bond so closely with you, wow! It sounds like a wonderful bond.

I am so looking forward to having the little fella come home... eee!!!


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[Laurasea]

Thank you for deciding on a rescue/re-home! I'm excited for you to. I'm hoping for a this to be a wonderful hitrigt outta here he gate, as the birds says finally someone who u derstsnds me! But I know you have to be kindness to go slow if needed.
If you get the bird home and he wants to be wirhtiutobe comforted from the bug move them be with him! I hear so many people say shouldn't I have the stay in the cage for a few days? No, not if they want to be with you!
Good luck, very excited for you too.

 

[lollipoppy]

Thank you! I will be sure to pay close attention to his body language and if it seems like he wants out, I will!

One question: (he will be wing clipped,) his routine is to come out and stay on his cage for a few hours a day. He is good to take down with a perch to put him back in his cage, but not usually with fingers, except for with one person.

Would it be reasonable to trust him to stick with this routine early on? I don’t want to break up his routine but also don’t want to create a traumatizing situation if I can’t easily get him back in, lol.

I talked on the phone with his original owner last night and it sounds like this routine has been maintained at his current accommodations, and he apparently does quite well with it even though he can still be finger shy.

PS after talking to them, the “sad birdy” visual is washed from my mind, he’s just a guy between homes and looking for someone to be patient with him and love him. It sounds like he had a nice free life at his original home and like that’s been maintained as much as possible in his transition home. This also helped me feel way more confident that as a newb I can still totally do this.

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[saxguy64]

I would consider maintaining some of his routine, but bear in mind, he will be adapting to his new life with you, so things are changing. As far as the cage, that's his safe place, and should always be associated with good things. If he knows food, water, toys, treats, etc are there, it's much less a challenge to have him go in. Again, give him a reason to want to do something when he would otherwise have no reason to do so. AKA bribery! Definitely consider target training very soon in the process. It's a great way to start positive communication between you.

BTW, he's beautiful!

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[lollipoppy]

I would consider maintaining some of his routine, but bear in mind, he will be adapting to his new life with you, so things are changing. As far as the cage, that's his safe place, and should always be associated with good things. If he knows food, water, toys, treats, etc are there, it's much less a challenge to have him go in. Again, give him a reason to want to do something when he would otherwise have no reason to do so. AKA bribery! Definitely consider target training very soon in the process. It's a great way to start positive communication between you.

BTW, he's beautiful!

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Excellent! I think (heavy emphasis on think as I will definitely follow his pace) my tentative game plan will be to spend at least the first 24-48 hours just talking to him, watching him, and if he’ll allow it - feeding treats through the bars. This way I get time to observe him and understand his body language before I let him out.

When I first got my parrotlet (my original parrot experience!) the rescue had not clipped her wings as I was told they would so when I tried to let her up on her cage on the 3/4th day she immediately flew to the curtain and ripped a chunk out of my finger when I tried to get her down!

Luckily, we had a soft cloth nearby so I gently pulled her down, put her in her cage and gave her a ton of millet as an “I’m sorry.” We worked on her behaviour for a long time after and while she was never easy to remove from her cage, she did adore love and affection once out!

Hoping to avoid the curtain situation this time, though

Here’s another! His name is Lollipop but I think I will call him Baby, haha! (Not all the time right away of course.)

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[bill_e]

I would not be guilt-ed into getting one or the other, adopt the bird that makes you happy.

I've never owned a baby but there are great things that you experience with a baby that you wont with an adult. And an adult can bond with you just as strongly as one raised from a baby plus you have insight into their adult personality before you adopt.

Do what makes you happy.

Edit: I should have read the entire post first, congrats! But this is still my recommendation for anyone who reads this thread.

 

[lollipoppy]

I would not be guilt-ed into getting one or the other, adopt the bird that makes you happy.

I've never owned a baby but there are great things that you experience with a baby that you wont with an adult. And an adult can bond with you just as strongly as one raised from a baby plus you have insight into their adult personality before you adopt.

Do what makes you happy.

Edit: I should have read the entire post first, congrats! But this is still my recommendation for anyone who reads this thread.

Yes definitely a good point.

After talking to the current owner I do feel very confident in the adult and I genuinely feel like he will be a great fit for us! I am sure the baby could be too, but I feel a little safer/more confident knowing how this adult already tends to behave and what personality he has already developed. Plus, it sounds like he’s now out of the hormonal puberty stage, which is something I was nervous about with a baby! Haha.


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[saxguy64]

I would not be guilt-ed into getting one or the other, adopt the bird that makes you happy.

I've never owned a baby but there are great things that you experience with a baby that you wont with an adult. And an adult can bond with you just as strongly as one raised from a baby plus you have insight into their adult personality before you adopt.

Do what makes you happy.

Edit: I should have read the entire post first, congrats! But this is still my recommendation for anyone who reads this thread.

Agreed. I'm just a sucker for rescues in need of a forever home, and like you said, you know more of what you're getting with an adult. We all have our reasons for which way we choose, and all are valid.

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[lollipoppy]

Edit: I should have read the entire post first, congrats! But this is still my recommendation for anyone who reads this thread.

PS: I always add comments for others viewers to read, so thanks for adding this

And thank you!


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[Skittys_Daddy]

Taking in a rehome should never be discouraged. But rather what should be encouraged is education. Knowing the background of a potential rehome as well as knowing about the species and its natural as well as its 'current' home environment.

In my experience, MOST rehomes are due to one of two factors: 1) Original owner "impulse" buying without doing their research or 2) Life circumstances change in a way that makes meeting the needs of the bird too difficult.

If the bird has been well cared for, as it seems, then you will go through the transition stage that you've mentioned as well as others. As long as you are well educated on the challenges and are prepared to meet them, I think the choice is clear.

While Skittles is not a rehome, he was over a year old when I bought him at the pet store. He had previously been to two other stores prior but wasn't selling. If I hadn't taken him home, he'd likely be holding someone else hostage instead of me.