Green cheek conure??

[parrotluver01]

since my baby passed away i have been looking to get a new best friend. One of the type or birds i've been looking at is the green cheek conures and have actually found a breeder with four very sweet conures. THe trouble in the past that i have had with alot of birds is that they don't have a strogn bond to me or bond to some one else in my household. Many of the birds i had including a female blue crowned conure enjoyed my dad's company more than mine. So i really need a bird that will be devoted to me.

I have heard diffferent stories about the GCC and want to hear from people who actually own them.

Are they nippy?
Does it matter if i get a male or female? it seems to me that my budgie was a male and he bonded better to me then the female conure i had.

What other birds do you think would be good. I have looked at cockatiels but they all seem to be very bity.

 

[Redballoon]

Well hand fed chicks are an easy walk up start.
You could be Hitler and they would still think of you as Mummy.
Time spent hand feeding babies makes for very loving birds Im told ( I dont have one).
You could also try the trick of love, care, and devotion, but that can take time and hand feeding is easier.

 

[Minzer84]

In my opinion, any bird can be nippy, and it's difficult to tell who they will bond to. I think being the primary caregiver and being the person that spends the most time with the bird will usually be its favorite person. I really think it differs from one bird to another though, even within a certain breed.

As far as GCC, I defer to Tex....

Good luck, I hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[TexDot33]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!​

We are all sorry to hear about your loss, when you are ready you will have to tell us what happened to your friend.

As for your new friend, we have a GCC - MAC is his name and we've had him about 2 months now ... what a great addition to our flock! Mac is little brother/sister to Hamlet, our Sun Conure. I wouldn't call Mac "nippy" ... he does use his mouth as a "third foot" like all parrots do. He chews - like all parrots do ... he will chew on our fingers when we are playing, but it's never hard - and should he get a little too hard, we correct the issues and he either stops biting so hard, or we stop playing ...

As for the cuddle factor ... um, I thought that Hamlet (the Sun Conure) was a "mush" but, wow, this is as much "mush" in a smaller package. I have to admit that both Christy and I didn't feel the strong bond that we had with Hamlet initally with Mac (maybe 'cause Mac was our second ... ), but it's safe to say that we both know it's there now and he has bonded not only to us, but to Hamlet as well.

As for the "Smarts" factor ... well, OK, Hamlet is smart, and we can see the thought process in his eyes (He knows that he's looking at himself in a mirror and won't attack the mirror thinking it's another bird, WHICH is an amazing cognitive feat in-and-of-itself ... most human infants don't get this type of concept until like 18 months - 2 years) Mac on the other hand ... well, has different "smarts" ... "Hamlet wants that so I want it too .. " "Hamlet wants to go there so it must be cool, I'll go too ... " "Hamlet has that so I have to have it and I am going to take it ... " This might be because he is so young ... he's still only 4 months old ... but they are great birds ... and they are quiet too ... ALTHOUGH (and this goes into another thread that I have) Mac is starting to learn Hamlet's scream ... He can't do it quite as loudly as Hamlet, but it's close ... but all-in-all he's a pretty quite bird.

If you are going to get one of these little fellas ... welp you are on the right track, hand-feed breeders are the way to go ... We got Mac from this type of situation and we couldn't be happier! You won't regret this little addition to your flock!

 

[meghanxx4]

Firstly i would like to say im sorrey for your loss.

I've looked into GCC's they are known to be a little nippy. But if your firm with them they will learn that nipping is not tolerated, just as any bird. I agree with Minzer, i think birds tend to favour the person that spends the most time with them, or cares the most. Conures i know are always happy to get out and there always freindly etc. They are a great birds. With budgies, males are generally better to get.. although they are louder but males are usually better because they're not as moody etc. With conures and other birds i don't know if it makes a difference as to what gender you get. What about a parrotlet? or perhaps even an IRN(indian ringneck). It depends how much time you have for the bird. Indian ringnecks are great but if you dont give them that much attention they get wild easily and it is very hard to re-tame them. Parrotlets are great as well.. they are often known as a mini amazon, because there personalities are alot alike. Except for of course their size which is about the same size as budgie maybe a touch smaller. It also depends on the experiance you have had, i recon since you have had a few birds before you have a quite a bit of experiance. Even a senegal perhaps. There great birds, they are generally quiet... for a bird that is, all birds will chirp etc. .. or even another bird from the Poicephalus family.. a redbelly?.. a meyers parrot? jardines? - all great birds. Even a pionus are great birds. Blue headed pionus in particular are my favourite. I dont know that much about them, except for the fact that they are great pets and generally easy to take care of. If you are looking for a large bird that doesn't require a lot of attention a eclectus are always good birds, they are one of the few large birds that are good for beginnners(not saying you are). I know im cramming all these bird species in your head, but what my advice is to you is research a a few different types of birds that come to interest to you and see which appeals to you the most after you've done your research. Even have a list of 2 or 3 different birds in case for example the first bird you want you find out that there isn't a breeder in your area. Anyway im done blabbing on.

Oh and...

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!​

 

[Peta]

Hi and Welcome to PF, we are happy you found us.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

With any bird we never know if we are gonna be the chosen person, Getting hand reared and tame will definately help,

Yes they are "supposed" to be nippy, but with training you can have a wonderful, loving conure. I would follow Tex post as he has one of these wonderful birds and will be able to tell you exactly how Hamlet is I can only go with what I've read and heard. As we all know thats not always the way with birds.

Good luck to you. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[birdcrazy]

one of the most important things if you want a bird bonded to you is let the bird pick you. When I went to pick Misty I wanted a different bird but all the other cockatiels were real skittish and Misty ran across the play pen and hopped on my hand and I put her down cuz I knew I wanted a different one and I moved to the other side and here she came running across the play pen again so I took her home and haven't regretted it. Daisy sat on my arm longer and came closer to me than any of her siblings so she came home too now she will hop right on me but is still nervous around other people. Sidney was the last one of his batch but I couldn't resist that little face and he the most affectionate little bird I have ever known. So no matter what bird you get make sure the bird wants you as much as you want the bird and you can't go wrong.

 

[TexDot33]

... I would follow Tex post as he has one of these wonderful birds and will be able to tell you exactly how Hamlet is ...

Oh, Peta!! I can't believe what you wrote here ... would you please look at the pics in my siggy and fix your mistake ... :28:

 

[meghanxx4]

Oh, Peta!! I can't believe what you wrote here ... would you please look at the pics in my siggy and fix your mistake ... :28:

omg i was confused when she wrote that too i was like uhhh did he switch names or something...or have i been just totally out of it this whole time.

 

[meghanxx4]

HEY WHAT ABOUT A PEACH FRONTED CONURE!!!! they are awesome and little theya re soo cute too. PFs and GCCs are both real cute and about the same size.

 

[birdcrazy]

yeah I saw that too but i thought it was the arizona sun getting to me

 

[Peta]

Opps sorry, I must have been having yet another blonde moment.

I'm sorry Hamlet, I do really know that your a lovely beautiful Sun (Hey scared of him too)

 

[NicoleN]

most human infants don't get this type of concept until like 18 months - 2 years)

Actually it's as early as 9 months...

Sorry...I specialize in child development

But as far as everything else...I agree and don't think I could add anymore.

 

[Christy]

Hamlet says its ok Peta.
As far as smarts in GCC's go, I have a little story from last night. We live close enough to a train track to hear the whistle ever once in a while, especially if the window is open. Last night it was wide open and the train went by. Mac (the GCC) was on my arm, heard the sound and looked right in my eyes to gage my reaction. I told him that it was ok, it was outside and don't worry. He kind of turned his head to the side then ran up my arm and gentlely beaked my face making a quite kiss sound then burrowed in my shoulder. It was like he totally trusted my judgement and then understood when I told him that the sound wasn't a threat. Very neat. Definitely smart little birds!

 

[Peta]

Hamlet says its ok Peta.

Phew thats a relief, I've seen him go at them spammers. didn't want to get on his bad side.

 

[TexDot33]

Actually it's as early as 9 months...

Sorry...I specialize in child development

But as far as everything else...I agree and don't think I could add anymore.

Ya know, when I wrote that, I knew it didn't sound right ... I dabble in that art as well and I knew it was earlier than that ... I just couldn't remember how early, so I just over estimated to be on the safe side ... but thanks for the refressher!

 

[NicoleN]

hahaha..it's alright. My niece was born right around the time I started with the child development stuff, so I would try little 'experiments' on her, lol. Nothing bad though...and then I'd let my parents know how she was coming along with her cognitive development.

Yeah I didn't have too much stuff going on then

 

[Debbie B]

I have a 3 month old GCC I handfed who is my baby still and he snuggles and nips and is not loud yet but I cannot stick my hand in his cage to change water without him coming out on my arm he is sweet and learn to wistle but doesn't wistle loud yet. I also have a 7 month old Sun Conure who can be loud when wants to and I got at 6 months old and did not hand feed it nips more and i have to make step up does not do it actomactically but is learning to be sweet and looks forward to time out of cage on my shoulder or play gym and they have adjusted real well to each other. hope this helps.