I am thinking of getting another Conure, please advise

[coolit]

Hey everyone.

First off, i would like to start by saying I am not new to birds. I know exactly what to expect. I will go in some details as I want some good advice and I think it is important to know my background (as I am not someone who buys without thinking...)

I purchased a beautiful baby green cheek for me and my now ex girlfriend, because she was mostly sad that we released an american robbin that we saved and cared for, for about 2 months. (the time it can fly)
(In short the Robin came back to visit for over a month on a daily basis so I feel we did a decent job)


So, Pythagore, or Pita for short, was cared for by myself and my ex, I did extensive research on the pros and cons, so I knew what to expect.


Me and Nat (so I can stop saying ex) had different schedules so Pytha had at least 4-6 hours a day of attention. It was overall a great experiance.


Sadly, Me and Nat moved on after 5 years, and she wanted the bird. Knowing I work 8 to 5, 9 to 6, or 7 to 8 depending on the amount of work required (I am a tech, sometimes I do overtime)

I let her take the bird knowing he will get more affection from her. (also, I really did get it for her)



I miss him and I am thinking of getting a conure.
I found someone who has a green cheek, and is selling it for 140, with cage and toys. She is moving out of town, needs to find him a good family.

I told her my situation, that I know how to care for them, but most of the days, the bird would only get about 2 to 4 hours of human interaction a day.

I told her that if she can find a great loving and careful family to take care of him, they should take priority, if not, I am willing to take him and give him whatever free time I have.


Would the bird be happy with 2-4 hours a day of attention ?
Weekends would be better, but I am single and do occasionally go out...


I am not a neglectful pet owner and I certainly don't want my bird to be unhappy.

What are your thoughts ?



Edit... for the fun, here are the birds I have had in my life.

The american robin, found while taking a walk. No nest in sight, no parents attacking me. I didn't want to leave it to die.
After figuring out what kind of bird he was, and that wasn't easy... (The easy part if figuring out wild bird nutrition) Anyways, Crushed dry catfood with water for the high protein diet did the trick.
At first I found him so ugly that he was cute, but now I just find him cute. He was a nice couch potato. During his entire stay, he was being satisfied with watching tv with us.



At this point he would fly all over the house, so I got him a nice cage. But he would still be very sociable.


We released him once,he flew around the house at a high speed. came back. we weren't sure if he was ready so we put him back in his home after he did a few laps.
He was ok with that. Nat was not ready to say goodbye. On the third day we release him outside, when he came back, he was not happy to get back in the cage.
He was pissed. Next time he was released, he didn't come back. 1 week later, I got Pytha. 2 weeks later, the Robin was coming back to the balcony daily, for a month.
I have not seen him since, but they migrate south so I assume he found a flock and is sticking around.


Here is Pytha




I miss him very much, but I know that he is in excellent hands. Regardless of no longer being with Natalya, she is a great girl and I know she takes great care of him.
Pytha can say: Pita, pitabird and i love you. (Basically things we told him all the time, and he would get rewarded when we hear him say it)

 

[FA22raptero]

Heyo! I think most people work at least 8 hours a day sometimes more. Obviously, the more time you can spend, the better. If I could make a suggestion, you could get the bird, and see how it goes. Does 2-4 hours seem like enough (I believe that most people feel like this is enough, as long as you leave the radio or t.v. on and rotate toys in and out)? I think that it should be enough. But if you are feeling a little bit guilty, you could then maybe adopt another bird, and with careful introduction, balance and consideration, they should stay pretty tame. When I had two birds, they definitely still needed their human interaction, but could also keep each other company. And they also weren't that noisy... But every bird and every pair is very different, so what worked for me might not work for you. We kept them in seperate cages as well, which I think is important. Another thing is that whenever you are home, even when you don't have time to "spend" with the bird, you can always just let him out of his cage as long as you are keeping an eye on him. Like in the morning, if you're late, you can still just let him out while you're getting read. Also having a large cage helps as well... Hope that jumbled mess of advice helps you out. I'm a fairly experienced owner but there are definitely people on this forum more equipped to answer your question as well

 

[coolit]

I thought of the second bird idea, however I found in another source that you could end up having the opposite effect and have to spend double the time to take care of 2 birds that don't like each other, or, both birds really liking each other and not needing the human, so they would become more aggressive and territorial.

I would also wonder if a green cheek and a lovebird would get along. But that's another topic all together.

With your advice I am a bit more confident in my decision to get him.

 

[FA22raptero]

Coolit is right. Maybe if you would have a chance to let the birds meet before you buy a second one? It's so tough, but I do know that it worked for me.

 

[Kalidasa]

I love the robin pics! I fledged a robin the summer before last, his name was Pip and I'll never forget him. Looks like you did a good job with him mine hung around for a bit as well, but hooked up with another robin and eventually went completely wild.
The conure pics are adorable.

 

[GaryBV]

I have to offer my kudos to you for raising that robin chick. I have had so many bad experiences with wild baby birds that I almost pray I don't find any. You are actually the first person that I 'know' that has successfully done that and I admire you for it.

 

[SpotsandSally]

I'd say get the birdy, and see how it goes. You might spend more on Toys than if you spent 8+ hours with it, but if it works.
Also, and this is just me trying to promote IRNs , indian ringneck parakeets & alexadrines are very goofy birds. They will form bonds, but they're not NEARLY as strong and conures, meaning you can have a bonded pair that still loves being with you, because they're not INFATUATED with each other. But,that also means they won't be as cuddly-e an such with you, too. I've found that my IRN will preen me from time to time, but generally, she's content just sitting on my shoulder. In fact, recently she's started flying, and she'll fly in a circle, then land by me. So she clearly enjoys my company, but doesn't feel the need to constantly interact with me and such. BUT, she's a food HOG and has been known to stick her bill INSIDE my mouth to grab some rice or something else yummy!

And betrisher has a bonded pair of Alex's that from what I can tell are goofy and love her, but also get lots of interaction from eachother. Can ya chime in? Lol.


Also, that robin is SO cute! Normally I'd caution that taming a bird you intend on releasing isn't the best idea, but sounds like it worked out fine, and sounds like other people have done it too, so guess its perfectly fine, lol. He's pretty darn stinking CUTE!

 

[JadeC]

I'm a single, 25 year old and I have a caique. I sometimes feel guilty because some days he doesn't get *any* out of cage time, but he seems ok with it so long as I give him extra attention the next day. Haha I'm about to start school and I'm kind of nervous I'll have even less time, but I'm gonna make it work. A few years of him spending more time in the cage is worth it when I become a vet and can take him to work with me everyday. Hah I think everybody ok here feels guilty sometimes for leaving their baby in the cage too long or not spending enough time with them or not keeping their cage the cleanest all the time, but I think as long as you love them and have a good relationship then you'll be a great parent. Just remember, nobody is perfect. I hope things work out and do your research on rehomed birds because they sometimes can make you feel like they hate you, but you just have to be patient and the bond will be stronger

Good luck!! Oh, and that robin is adorable!! Haha

 

[Agapornis]

Once you have a bird in your life, it's impossible to live without one! I agree with what everyone said above. I had my Fiji by herself for several months before I got Sundance. They HATED each other at first, and would puff up and try to fight. But after a few days, they got over it and now love each other. So you never know. Start with one bird, and see how it goes!

Those baby robin pics were so cute! OMG I can see why that would turn you into a bird person. Adorable GCC pics too! They have the cutest expressions on their faces, don't they???

Good luck with your decision, and keep us posted!

 

[coolit]

I'd say get the birdy, and see how it goes. You might spend more on Toys than if you spent 8+ hours with it, but if it works.
Also, and this is just me trying to promote IRNs , indian ringneck parakeets & alexadrines are very goofy birds. They will form bonds, but they're not NEARLY as strong and conures, meaning you can have a bonded pair that still loves being with you, because they're not INFATUATED with each other. But,that also means they won't be as cuddly-e an such with you, too. I've found that my IRN will preen me from time to time, but generally, she's content just sitting on my shoulder. In fact, recently she's started flying, and she'll fly in a circle, then land by me. So she clearly enjoys my company, but doesn't feel the need to constantly interact with me and such. BUT, she's a food HOG and has been known to stick her bill INSIDE my mouth to grab some rice or something else yummy!

And betrisher has a bonded pair of Alex's that from what I can tell are goofy and love her, but also get lots of interaction from eachother. Can ya chime in? Lol.


Also, that robin is SO cute! Normally I'd caution that taming a bird you intend on releasing isn't the best idea, but sounds like it worked out fine, and sounds like other people have done it too, so guess its perfectly fine, lol. He's pretty darn stinking CUTE!

I plan to get the birdy now, however the person who made the ad did a mistake in the price, so I made an offer of what I can personally handle and I will see if that works out. I hate to put a price on companionship but I am in a tight situation. This started as an impulse so I slept over it for 2 nights... I do hope I get the beautiful little conure.

As for the Robin, I can't deny that we didn't fall in love with it while raising it, and it was always happy to be in our company. We did consider keeping him as a house pet, but that consideration was never serious. I was fully aware that he is a wild bird and to cage a wild bird is simply wrong. A robin would not be happy without it's natural freedom. He is ment to fly in a flock and migrate south every winter.

A parrot, as seen on the pictures, seem to be a totally different animal. Just looking at it is obvious.

A parrot isn't that great of a flyer, but they can climb quite acrobatically. Their leg muscles are far more devalopped.

While the Robbin has those spring types of legs, very cute hops but they are totally incapable of climbing... So he can't really do much in a cage.
The Robbin is really meant to fly while a Conure would be more territorial and live in an environment where they climb constantly.

Out of research, I noticed other people who saved Robbins see the robbins come back every summer. So I hope to see him stop by the balcony again. But I wouldn't expect him to want me to touch him. I would be happy to see it again tho.


Edit:
I do miss the robin, he also loved the rabbit and always ran after him.
The Pytha however, well most people here would expect that Pytha was not very nice to the rabbit. (I wish I had more pictures)

 

[erik7181]

I would say youd be ok. My sun conure does not fly and hates the floor. I keep the top of his cage open and he has plenty of toys. The more time u can spend the better. On my days off my sun conure is onlt put away every once and while