I want to know about your Green Cheek Conure!

[QuackQuack]

Please help me to understand if I want a GCC or not by answering my little questionnaire. I NEED YOUR HELP!

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning :11:?

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day :54: ?

Thank you so much for your time - really if you fill this out you will be helping me so much ....

 

[Rio Mom]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
River can get nippy sometimes. I just tell him no in a firm tone, and praise him when he's being good.

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning :11:?
He can get noisy sometimes, when we first get up, get home from work etc. He doesn't wake us up, I can hear him moving around sometimes before we get up, but I don't hear his first "loud" noise until he either hears our voices, or hears the alarm clock

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?
That's one I wouldn't be able to answer. I don't have any "human" kids. Prefer to stick with the non human variety lol.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?
The normal color was all the breeder had at the time I bought River. I think the normals are beautiful, as are all the mutations.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?
River was DNAd male. I haven't been around a female personally to be able to tell if it affects his behavior differently than if he were female. I was kind of hoping for a male just to avoid all the egg laying/binding problems that could arise with a female. The breeder was pretty sure he was male from his pelvic bone, and the dna proved she was right.
How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day :54: ?
We have not been on vacation since we got River. I am dreading leaving him for a weekend next year for my sisters out of town wedding. I will feel so bad to leave him alone, but I'm sure he will be fine with the person who will be stopping in to tend to him and the other critters. There are days now and then when we work longer shifts, and don't have quite as much time to spend with him, but he seems to be ok with it since it's only a rare occasion. I usually leave him with an extra goodie or two on those days. (nutriberri, millet, etc)

Thank you so much for your time - really if you fill this out you will be helping me so much ....

 

[woubette]

Hi! I have two pineapple green cheeks. I have Rio who is 1 1/2 and I have had him since he was 3 months old. I recently got Kai and she is 7 months old.

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this? Rio was beaky as a baby and he did go through a nippy phase. I was just very consistent with him. I would sternly tell hin "NO BITE" and wobble my hand slightly to put him off balance. Kai is just a biter! I am doing the same training with her as I did with Rio and it seems to be working slowly but surely. You can also distract them with a toy

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning :11:? My birds really aren't loud. The loudest they get is when I leave the room and they can'y see me. Then they "flock call" until I come back

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ? Questionable...Rio learned to cry just like my newborn grandson

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals? I love the look of the pineapples with the yellows, greens and reds. Oh and the blue flight feathers!

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior? I do not know my birds genders but if I had to guess then Rio is a boy and Kai is a girl. She is not nearly as loveable as Rio but I have had him since he was weaned too.

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day :54: ? Rio has always done OK being left alone for short periods, he was extra happy to see me when I got back, but he was never left alone for more than a day. He will do better I think now that I have Kai but I still won't leave them alone for extended lengths of time

Call me predjudice but I LOVE my PGCC's! I have had parakeets, cockatiels and even amazons...but none have compared to my little green jewels. They have the biggest personalities packed in the smallest bodies!


I LOVE MY FIDS!!!!

 

[Printer bird]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?

Charlie can be pretty bitey. We tell him no bite (which he says now after biting us). Most of the time he bites when he's riled up so we try to read his body language and not handle him when he's excited. We sometimes put him on the floor and ignore him if he won't stop. We remove his beak from our skin when he's chomped on saying no (and he'll trundle up our arm saying "no no no no no" as he bites and tries to stop biting). Its not often too too hard so we can manage it but every now and again he breaks skin. I think its just part of owning one of these little guys, you just get used to it. I hope that he'll get less bitey as he gets older if we're consistent. I know my parrotlet did.

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning :11:?

Nope, he is silent in the morning even when we sleep in. He is in a sleep cage and just kind of wanders around or keeps sleeping. If he has a toy in there sometimes we can hear him playing and jingling things but that's it.

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?

Sure, I hope so but no baby right now. I wouldn't let the baby and the bird interact. As GCCs can be nippy, I don't think they are trustworthy around small children who don't understand how to handle them. I imagine the most difficult aspects would be spending time with the bird when the baby is so demanding. Perhaps when they have a yell-off to let off steam (or you're out of the room) and it wakes up a sleeping baby might be an issue, but maybe a kid would just get used to the sound eventually.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?

Charlie is a rescue so we didn't select. They're all nice, I personally wouldn't pay more for a special colour but that's just me, I don't see an issue with that if you really prefer one mutation over another. Its most important that you connect with the bird.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?

We don't know his gender, suspect he's a girl (has had some feather chewing issues that the vet suspected started as a hormonal thing related to lady birds) but we call him a boy. Don't know if I really know which gender or if it makes a difference.

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day :54: ?

Charlie does great when we go on holidays. We bring his palace to my parents where he gets spoiled for food and company all day. He doesn't go out as much but does get taken out a bit. He always seems just fine (we bring him to visit there almost every other weekend so at least its familiar to him). Our long summer vacation (two weeks) he didn't really like me when I got back but remembered my husband (his fave). It took less than a day and he was his usual self with me. I don't think its an issue, they are pretty social birds and will take to new company fairly well. Just be sure your bird has seen the care giver before and that they know all the ins and outs of looking after them. Everyone loves Charlie, he is quite the charmer even if he can be bitey and/or freaked out by new people. If his choice is new person or stuck in his cage, he will pick new person. That is Charlie, though, your bird may be different but I think GCCs handle this OK.

Thank you so much for your time - really if you fill this out you will be helping me so much .... [/COLOR][/QUOTE]

 

[QuackQuack]

Thanks so much everyone! I would really love more people, too!

 

[Atwee921]

I've only had my GCC for about 2 weeks but Ill try to answer.

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
Not yet, but my breeder said he might start as hes getting more used to his new environment. The breeder said he'll also get more nippy at sexual maturity (about 2 years old)

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning? Not really. He'll scream in the morning and afternoon to come out, because I always take him out at those times, but its not loud enough to wake me up. Overall hes super duper quiet

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird? Definitely! They are super quite, and they are content to play on their own.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals? My favorite color is the turquoise, but I just got a cinnamon because thats the bird that chose me We got his price lowered from $395 to $325 because $325 is the price of a normal at my breeder.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior? No, and I dont think it matters as much in GCC as it does in budgies and tiels (because of problems with egg binding and loudness)

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day? On Thursdays, Sprite only gets out of cage time for about 15 minutes in the morning. I think he handles it okay. My mom says that he screeches to come out in the afternoon, but besides that he'll just chew up his toys all day. Make sure he has plenty of toys in his cage, and make sure you place them in a place that he can easily reach them, or he wont play with them. One Thursday, when I came home at night (cant have him out when I get home cuz his bedtime is 6) there was pieces of wood from his wood toy all over the bottom of his cage. The other day, there were pieces of this foam stuff all over the bottom from his other toy! xD

 

[QuackQuack]

Thank you so much for answering - I'm glad you think you could have a baby with one because I'd like to have kids. The GCC is a longterm commitment I wouldn't want to displace when a baby came, so I want to think this through. My main concern isn't attention because we managed that in our house growing up, and we had 4 babies after the bird! My main concern is the noise when babies are napping!

 

[Atwee921]

If the baby is napping on another floor then it'll be no problem.

 

[Pinkstiletto66]

That baby question is a good one. I have a one year old (screaming at the moment) I don't want anyone to be disturbed, bird or baby, would they get use to each other?

 

[andrea.faerie]

First off I should mention I have a Black Cap, not a GCC. However, they are very very close.

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
A bit, and she's still a little nippy when she's getting her pins in. I grab her beak lightly and tell her NO. Usually works

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning ?

YES. and YES. Lucy is LOUDDDD... supposedly BCC's are quieter than GCCs... i've heard this from breeders of the species. Lucy is indeed quiet, but when she's loud, she's VERY loud. Don't underestimate the vocal ability of a bird haha. Lu wakes me up at about 7 every day to uncover her cage, then i flop back into bed for another hour before class haha.

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?

Honestly, I'm not at that point in my life yet haha (i'm 20 lol) but I personally don't think i'd be able to do it right now, but I think once Lucy is older I'd be able to handle it just fine. I think it'd be difficult at some times, but I think I could handle it.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?

I didn't! haha she picked me I was looking at a pineapple but Lucy just picked me and I loved the colors on the inside, her personality. (corny but true!)

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?

Lu is a female, DNA tested. I think it will later on when she's older, but she's just a baby now so I don't really see a difference. I think when they hit bird puberty it makes a difference then

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day?

My birds come with me! If I'm going away for a day or 2 to do laundry at my folks' then they're perfectly fine by themselves Plenty of toys and I leave disney movies on for them! Both Lucy and Bleu are very self reliant and can entertain themselves

 

[QuackQuack]

You can say this is none of my business, but since you are 20 I was wondering where you found that would let you have a bird. In my town, in college no one would let me get a bird - not even a little cheeping parakeet! Did you own? We had to wait until we 'owned.' Knowing what I know now though... Quackers could have been an under cover brother in an apartment and never been caught!

 

[Pinkstiletto66]

Lmao @ undercover brother. Are pet quakers that quiet, because the wild ones here that use to eat the neighbors peaches were not quiet at all.

 

[QuackQuack]

Quackers (not quaker) is an orange wing amazon. I don't know if they are supposed to be loud or quiet, but I know he is VERY quiet!

 

[andrea.faerie]

You can say this is none of my business, but since you are 20 I was wondering where you found that would let you have a bird. In my town, in college no one would let me get a bird - not even a little cheeping parakeet! Did you own? We had to wait until we 'owned.' Knowing what I know now though... Quackers could have been an under cover brother in an apartment and never been caught!

I kept all kinds of animals in my dorm room haha snakes, hedgehogs, lizards, a cat, trained rats... haha I fostered out of my dorm lol but now I rent an apartment and my landlord is really nice. I explained that I couldn't live in the dorms anymore because I'd rather live on my own than deal with dramatic females (dorms here aren't co-ed... sharing a bathroom with 60 other girls doesn't jive well with me lol) and I also explained to him that my animals would be coming with me. We compromised and he allowed me to keep my dragon, fishtank, and birds he said I can have anything but a dog, cat, or pig. (rural area, people keep potbellies as pets lol)

 

[jasongover]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
Yes I sure do it's my understanding for GCC to be beaky I wouldn't really call it biting or nipping. I say no and give him a stern look for me it's not nearly as bad.

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning ? My has never woke me up with screeming just ringing his bell and saying what you doing

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?
NO Both are a lot of work and require a lot of attention and sadly the GCC would lose out in that department
Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?
the bird picked me I have a turquoise GCC

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?
I don't know and don't really care. i'm overall really happy with my bird

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day? my bird tipically gets no less then 5hrs out of the cage time and i have a good friend that loves to spend time with my bird and he also loves my friend so i'm lucky

Thank you so much for your time - really if you fill this out you will be helping me so much ....

 

[Lonnie]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this? Very seldom does my GCC get nippy

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning :11:? Mine doesnt scream all that often

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ? Well I dont have any kids, but I am thinking it would not be a problem

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals? It was the only one the lady had

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior? I do not know the gender

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day :54: ? I think he would be ok

Thank you so much for your time - really if you fill this out you will be helping me so much ....

 

[bubbaanddaisy]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?

sometimes but never hurts just a nibble and i just put him in time out in a dark room or blow his nose

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning ?

i have two and no they dont wake me up they only yell when they need something

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?

done that already

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?

both of mine are mutations but one is pure breed/maroon tailed the nicest green cheek ive ever seen and a pineapple cinnamon all green cheeks are pretty nice and i didnt pick i just saw and bought didnt matter what kind

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?

yes they boy is the pineapple the other is a female they get only like 1% more territorial during the puberty stage around 1 1/2 only one has gone through but didnt notice much of a difference

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day perfectly fine we left for two nights we put extra food extra bowls of water and when we came back perfectly fine we had the neighbor look through the window for us though but he said he did and didnt even have to look twice we even left for a week twice but by a friend of course but when i came back perfectly fine

 

[KimH]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?

My GCC is 9 now - he nips me sometimes but only when I overdo it with the head scratches. My hubby gets bitten, but only if I am close by

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning ?
Never woken us up in the morning, he generally only starts chirping when I lift the cover off the cage. He does 'scream' now and then, but it's always a noise or a knock at the door that sets him off.

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird ?
My sons are older already (26 and 16) I have raised a rottweiler and bulldog since Pidgey's reign in our household if that counts lol!! Seriously though our GCC is non invasive on our lives generally - give him food (lots of), water and love and he is the easiest pet I've ever had.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?
At the time we got him, I didn't know there were any other types, we went to a petshop for dog stuff and there were these 3 babies in a cage, love at first sight I guess and 9 years later I still love the monster to bits.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?
I have no idea, nor do I have any intention of putting the bird through a sexing exercise, doesn't really matter to me - I do refer to him as a 'he' though and that's simply because everything else in our household except me is a male so I guess he is too.

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day ?
I used to work crazy long hour for years and have only been working from home now since May last year - it's never had any adverse affect on our GCC. Again, love them, feed them and give them quality attention time - oh an of course LOTS of toys.

 

[Kantia]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
I did, and still do sometimes. GCC are known for their nippiness so I don't think you should be put off by this. Occasionally Tich will bite, either because he believes it's my fault for him falling off my finger, or because he's in a mood. If he does bite, I put him on the floor and turn my back, or I give him a little earthquake on my hand. There are more techniques for dealing with this also.

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning?
Tich doesn't wake me up in the morning as I get out of bed early. He usually squawks just before I get home from work (I'm guessing because he's excited). Other than that, it's rare for him to make a sound, unless he's talking.

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird?
Heh, not sure about this one. I'm not that keen on kids personally... Just remember both animals and children are a big commitment.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?
Tich is a green-cheeked-turquoise conure and I chose him because he was a little bit different than a standard GCC. But it was mostly his personality when I first met him.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?
I don't know Tich's gender so I can't really say that it affects his behaviour..


How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day?
Usually he's ok. Although today I left the house for 2 hours to do some Christmas shopping and he was in a mood. I can only think he was tired, or he didn't like me going out. GCC do need lots of attention and company.

Hope this helped!

 

[xTRIGx]

Did you have trouble with nipping/biting? How did you handle this?
Zeph is usually very good, but on occasion he still bites (when he doesnt want to be picked up or protecting his food/toy), we usually firmly say no, and he goes straight back in his cage.. but that is a very rare occurance.

Do you have trouble with screaming/screeching? Does your bird wake you up in the morning?
no problem with that at all.. Zeph is quiet most of the time. he does have his moments of happy rambling and whistling, but we like that and it's his way of communicating.. he greets us in the morning with lots of kissy sounds and saying "big kiss!".. he never "screams", and doesn't get excessively loud.

Do you think you could raise a baby in a house with a GCC without wanting to kill yourself or the bird?
can't answer that. i don't ever want kids. prefer my dogs.

Why did you pick the color you selected our of all the mutations and normals?
i didn't really pick him, my mother did, but i do love the normals just the way they are.. i often just stare/study Zeph looking at all the colours he has on him.

Do you know your birds gender and do you think his or her gender affects his or her behavior?
we had Zeph dna tested the week we got him. haven't had much experience with females, but we do have one and she's not very social. i've heard females don't talk, but our female Forest does a little, just not as clearly as the boys do.

How does your bird handle it if you go on vacation or do not have as much time for them one day?
i personally don't really "go away" that often, considering i work from home, and i work for Lonely Pets club (taking care of other peoples pets when they are away), i'm never away from home all that long.