Hi folks!

[fancyfeathers]

Hi everyone!

I joined a few days ago, but this is my first post!

I'm happy to have found this place, it's so nice to have so many like-minded folks to ask questions and share with.

My name is Ariana and I have a Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named Pringle. He was hatched in July 2018 and I have had him since early November, so not very long at all. He is all soggy from a bath and is chattering away on my chest as I type! He is a very sweet little baby dinosaur who is very fond of raspberries and grapes and kiwi and sunflower seeds (the seeds are only for training treats and bribes to get him to go somewhere). He likes my earrings a little too much though!

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

 

[Laurasea]

Hi welcome to you and Pringle! Great name! Get him eating veggies too! Red chilli peppers are a big hit here, but watch out for the hot kisses after!

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you both!

 

[fancyfeathers]

Here is Pringle! I hope these images work!

 

[fancyfeathers]

Shoot. They are on Imgur, maybe I can link to them instead?

Awesome video of Pringle: https://i.imgur.com/auKcRgj.mp4

 

[fancyfeathers]

Hi welcome to you and Pringle! Great name! Get him eating veggies too! Red chilli peppers are a big hit here, but watch out for the hot kisses after!

Thanks! He does pretty well with his daily chop too! He gets pellets and chop and a skewer of bigger chunks of veggies/fruits every day. Mostly he eats the seeds out of peppers when I put them on the skewer.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Welcome!! Pringle looks just like my Kermit - absolutely adorable!!

 

[Laurasea]

He looks gorgeous!!!!! Now I'm always hyper vigilant about health, he looks to have slight troughing of the beak under the nares, this could just be the light, but it can indicative of chronic upper respiratory infections, and you don't have to have other symptoms. So it's always a good idea for an avain specialist vet check, if you haven't had one yet. Not to freak you out please!!! Just had to mention this, as my past GCC had the dents that ran the length of the beak and she did have chronic upper respiratory problems, instead if a smooth beak you get these gentle ridges, and it's really hard to tell from video!!! He could be absolutely perfectly fine!!!!! But if you haven't bhae a vet visit since you got him, it's just a good idea!!! I want your guy to have a long and happy life!!!

 

[fancyfeathers]

He looks gorgeous!!!!! Now I'm always hyper vigilant about health, he looks to have slight troughing of the beak under the nares, this could just be the light, but it can indicative of chronic upper respiratory infections, and you don't have to have other symptoms. So it's always a good idea for an avain specialist vet check, if you haven't had one yet. Not to freak you out please!!! Just had to mention this, as my past GCC had the dents that ran the length of the beak and she did have chronic upper respiratory problems, instead if a smooth beak you get these gentle ridges, and it's really hard to tell from video!!! He could be absolutely perfectly fine!!!!! But if you haven't bhae a vet visit since you got him, it's just a good idea!!! I want your guy to have a long and happy life!!!

I did take him to a vet for the first time -- a little less than a week ago -- last Friday. She asked me if he ever sneezed and he sometimes does! She didn't say anything else about it though. I'm not sure about that vet though -- I asked about baseline bloodwork and she said she only does that if there is reason for concern, though she did do a blood draw for DNA sexing at my request. I thought maybe we could do both at the same time, but she just...didn't? Also she said not to let him on my shoulder ever? Like...ever?

This is someone I got from the AAV website.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Well, hello, Pringle. I'm already a fan!

 

[fancyfeathers]

He looks gorgeous!!!!! Now I'm always hyper vigilant about health, he looks to have slight troughing of the beak under the nares, this could just be the light, but it can indicative of chronic upper respiratory infections, and you don't have to have other symptoms. So it's always a good idea for an avain specialist vet check, if you haven't had one yet. Not to freak you out please!!! Just had to mention this, as my past GCC had the dents that ran the length of the beak and she did have chronic upper respiratory problems, instead if a smooth beak you get these gentle ridges, and it's really hard to tell from video!!! He could be absolutely perfectly fine!!!!! But if you haven't bhae a vet visit since you got him, it's just a good idea!!! I want your guy to have a long and happy life!!!

Would I be able to feel the troughs/ridges by running my finger over his beak? I've just tried to feel for what you've described and I can't really tell, his beak seems pretty smooth to me, but I am not a vet and I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for....

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome to you and Pringle . Pringle is adorable!

I don’t agree with the “never on the shoulder” mentality personally. I do think that if your bird has problem behaviours (like biting), I would restrict shoulder privileges until you work that out. But I definitely love having my birds on my shoulder and don’t think it creates issues.

Not all veterinarians are equal - so if you don’t feel that your bird is getting good care, I’d try another. You are on the right track - an avian vet is definitely necessary - but you also need one that you’ll get what you need from. I’ve finally found a new vet recently, but I had to try a few before I found one that answered my questions fully, I’m comfortable with how they handle my birds, and is available when I need them. Like anything else, sometimes you need to shop around a bit before you find a good fit

 

[Scott]

Welcome Ariana and Pringle! What a stunningly attractive bird!!

Shoulder privileges ought be extended only to trustworthy birds! A conure can do significant damage to your head, face, and neck. That said, it is a favorite location and maintains easy contact with you. Many of my birds have shoulder privileges after a period of time, and none have ever disappointed.