Information on conures

[featherfriend977]

Hello friends.

As you all know I lost my birds and have been heartbroken since. I am not looking to get another bird right now and it might be a month or two before I even open to the prospect of it. My mother was deeply attached to Roco and she has not been coping well with not having a bird in the house. My plan is to get a baby lutino just like my Roco but I was at the pet shop yesterday (buy food for my cat) and I saw some conures and I felt awestruck by them. Having a conure is something I planned to do in the very very far future but I never considered them for now. On one hand, my mother doesn’t want to have another bird in the house, one that resembles my Roco, as she thinks it might be too painful. But on the other hand, I know she deeply misses him and the conversations they had. Although cockatiels aren’t known to be talkers, my Roco was exceptional with talking. He spoke phrases with ease and called my mother “mommy!!!”.

I’m having a dilemma betwen the bird I should choose and therefore would like to research about conures more. So please, tell me what they’re like and what kind of environment they require. It’s okay if they’re noisy as I don’t mind nosy birds.

This one is not important but do conures ever talk? I personally do not care if the bird talks or not because giving a good home to a bird is what I want but it would be nice because my mother likes talkers. Again, we never bought a cockatiel with the intention of a talking bird but we ended up with one. So I am just asking.

 

[featherfriend977]

Mainly talking about pineapple conures or green cheek conures when I speak about choosing conures...

 

[Rozalka]

Yes, conures can talk and that's not rare.
In general they are very easy to tame and may be on the owner all the time they love biting fingers but it's not really painful


Ps. pineapple is a mutation of green cheek not another species. I have a yellow sided (also gcc)

 

[featherfriend977]

Yes, conures can talk and that's not rare.
In general they are very easy to tame and may be on the owner all the time they love biting fingers but it's not really painful


Ps. pineapple is a mutation of green cheek not another species. I have a yellow sided (also gcc)

I didn’t know that! Thank you for telling me. Personally, I’m enthralled by sun conures but I’ve heard that they’re screamers (I’m not sure how true this is and would like to know). I’m looking at possible different mutations of conures and wondering what might be best for me. Are the different mutations very similar in habits? Or are they are different in personalities?

 

[Rozalka]

Mutation doesn't matter in habits. it's just color "varation" bred in captivity (excaption is the yellow sided GCC because they have a wild population but still behavior is the same).

Yep, sun conures are very lound but GCC's (and other conures of genus Pyrrhura) are definietly quieter.

 

[featherfriend977]

Say, is 2 months old too young of a age for conure to be sold at? Are they weaned at that stage? One of my friends knows a breeder and they offered me a pineapple conure who is 2 months old.

 

[Rozalka]

in general it's not too young. My friend bought her GCC from an experienced breeder who sold few days after weaning and the conure was exactly 2 months old. In other words: in 2 months they start being independent

 

[featherfriend977]

Thanks for your response.

I am looking at the possibility of acquiring a pineapple conure but I feel hesitant because I’ve never had a conure before. It feels nerve wrecking! Some things I want to ask about conures, who I’ve been researching now.

1. Is it true that conures are screamers and their screams are piercing? I do not mind a noisy bird as my Roco used to scream a lot himself but I’ve read that conure voices are more pitched and shrill like?
2. Jealousy issue. Another thing I came across. Getting a conure would mean getting a bird for the family as my Roco loved everyone at home. But I’ve read that conures are strictly one person birds and they don’t like when anyone else tries to come in between?
3. Nippers who draw blood. This is the one I am a bit worried about (I don’t mind being bitten by a bird but wouldn’t like him to draw blood on my mum) and I read that there are no tell tale signs of their behaviour and some people even described their conures as bipolar....? Since they seem to be affectionate one moment and start biting the next.

Can someone please tell me about the questions I asked? Thank u

 

[Rozalka]

Thanks for your response.

I am looking at the possibility of acquiring a pineapple conure but I feel hesitant because I’ve never had a conure before. It feels nerve wrecking! Some things I want to ask about conures, who I’ve been researching now.

1. Is it true that conures are screamers and their screams are piercing? I do not mind a noisy bird as my Roco used to scream a lot himself but I’ve read that conure voices are more pitched and shrill like?
2. Jealousy issue. Another thing I came across. Getting a conure would mean getting a bird for the family as my Roco loved everyone at home. But I’ve read that conures are strictly one person birds and they don’t like when anyone else tries to come in between?
3. Nippers who draw blood. This is the one I am a bit worried about (I don’t mind being bitten by a bird but wouldn’t like him to draw blood on my mum) and I read that there are no tell tale signs of their behaviour and some people even described their conures as bipolar....? Since they seem to be affectionate one moment and start biting the next.

Can someone please tell me about the questions I asked? Thank u

1. Large conures (like sun, Patagonian etc) I heard yes, but as we talk about a GCC - no, they don't scream so much.
For example my conure screams mainly in two cases: when is angry or is having a good fun. I can't compare them with cockatiels ('cause I never have had them) but once time I made this video:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qymq9dv9we8&t=3s"]No no no! - YouTube[/ame]
I think it's his the loudest scream but used just when he picks up and throws something (he likes it)
2. Maybe it depends on personal character. My conure likes all of us but eg my friend's conure is one person type - he tolorates her children (but her son less than daughter) and attacks her husband
3. I'd say there are tale signs. In case of my conure I may count his all draw blood bites using fingers and they all were cased by not knowing parrot language or ignoring it.


I see I am the only one who replies. Maybe somebody will add something basing on their experience (each conure even the same species may be different)

 

[Laurasea]

Green chee conures don't vocalize a lot. Unlike my noisy quakers. Budgies vocalize constantly but it's low volume.

My two GCC could alarm call when they see something that makes tgrm afraid, its loud, but o ky used in tge burds emergency. They will flock call but otherwise mine aren't prone to vocalize .

My first GCC only said her name. My Current GCC says my girst GCC name, and hello, and no. But after years of that being her only words she now says a bunch of things these last two years, my current favorite is " whats up little bird? " so not known for talking, may learn a few words,

Young GCC are very yolernt and playful, its great to build lots of positive experiences, and introducing tgem to lots of new people, making sure its always positive, lots of praise and safflower seed treat. This window of socialization only last a few weeks or couple of months to have the biggest impact on them . But you can still have social bird at any age, abd can depe6 a lot on the birds personality.

As GCC become adults they demand respect, and use tge beak to enforce that. They are still loving and cuddling birds, and smart snd funny. But you bump a feather tge wrong way they will bite, you move your hand in a scary fast way they will bite. My first GCC maybe bit me once in her 18 years of life. My Current GCC would probably bite me every single day, if i didn't pay attention to her body language. She has quick mood changes, but I pay attention so its rare for me to get bitten. So they are all a little different. But the man handling that tge babies but up with and even seem to enjoy, tgey eill not allow as adults. They still like head scratches, beak rubs and cuddles , but they want you to treat them like " adults " when they reach maturity if that make sense...but still very affectionate!!!

 

[Laurasea]

Right now Tadah is sitting on my hand and rubbing her face on my thumb.
Then she moved to the back of the chair and I took these love pics, then I dropped the phone and almost h
Got bitten lol

 

[Laurasea]

Razukka
Love the video of yiur gorgeous parrot. Thsts is tge arm ca my birds .are if tgey aee a snake or a hawk . I've never had them make it while playing!!! Each bird is so unique! Mine only make noise to flock call or alarm call

 

[featherfriend977]

Thank you for all the info! Question, I found a baby pineapple cheek conure from a reputable breeder here. It is 55 days old (not for sale until handfeeding is over so booking is open) and it is unsexed. The only concern I have is about the photo the breeder sent me. One of its toes look crooked? like they’re inward? What is this? A health issue? Can this be fixed?

 

[Jen5200]

Thanks for your response.

I am looking at the possibility of acquiring a pineapple conure but I feel hesitant because I’ve never had a conure before. It feels nerve wrecking! Some things I want to ask about conures, who I’ve been researching now.

1. Is it true that conures are screamers and their screams are piercing? I do not mind a noisy bird as my Roco used to scream a lot himself but I’ve read that conure voices are more pitched and shrill like?
2. Jealousy issue. Another thing I came across. Getting a conure would mean getting a bird for the family as my Roco loved everyone at home. But I’ve read that conures are strictly one person birds and they don’t like when anyone else tries to come in between?
3. Nippers who draw blood. This is the one I am a bit worried about (I don’t mind being bitten by a bird but wouldn’t like him to draw blood on my mum) and I read that there are no tell tale signs of their behaviour and some people even described their conures as bipolar....? Since they seem to be affectionate one moment and start biting the next.

Can someone please tell me about the questions I asked? Thank u

I’ll chime in with my experiences too, because conures can be pretty individual

1. Screaming - I have 2 sun conures and 3 green cheeks. My suns are definitely louder. Green cheeks can be loud (any bird can be loud), but they not in the same league as my suns. My GCCs are generally only noisy when they are alarmed about something, or super excited and having fun beating up a toy.

2. Jealousy - Some of mine are one person birds, others will go to anyone. Mine also came to me as adults with unknown experiences before I got them. Some of it is probably individual preference, some of this is how well socialized they are when they are young I suspect.

3. Nipping - conures have a reputation for being nippy, and I think it’s often true (has been in my experience). I do think conures are really smart and they understand boundaries including acceptable beak pressure if you are willing to put the effort into teaching them. I disagree with the opinion that you can’t predict a bite. My conures’ body language is pretty clear (if I pay attention). I generally only get a nip if they tried to tell me something and I didn’t pay attention.


Talking is not my conures’ best talents, but they love to communicate with me. Tee (GCC) chatters nonsense all day and I answer her - she has very animated “conversations” with me. She knows a couple of words “Hello” “Stanley”, the rest is gibberish, but she loves to talk to me.
Stanley (GCC) also loves to chatter, he says “Stanley” “Hello” “Tee”, and a lot of mumbles.
Tango (GCC) doesn’t say any words at all, and she is actually pretty quiet - only making noise when she is beating the stuffing out of her toys or an occasional alarm call.

 

[Jen5200]

Thank you for all the info! Question, I found a baby pineapple cheek conure from a reputable breeder here. It is 55 days old (not for sale until handfeeding is over so booking is open) and it is unsexed. The only concern I have is about the photo the breeder sent me. One of its toes look crooked? like they’re inward? What is this? A health issue? Can this be fixed?

So cute! I think that the toes look fine personally - looking at the picture it just looks to me like one foot is right at the end of the finger and one of the back toes is just beyond the finger and coming forward (if that makes sense)?

 

[Laurasea]

I agree that toe is from behind and has nothing to grip so yiu see it
Burds have two toes faceing backwards and two facing forward

Conures have a pointy beak tip. , and when I get bitten tge tip pierces tge skin and yes a drop or two of blood.
Are conures nippy I think so, but I did have one that 18 years never but me. Yes they give warning, some people just haven't learned to read body language. Burds communicate with their whole body, pupil size, body and feather positions .

Green cheek can easily develop a fear of hands, and if you get nipped and then are featful pulling back hands putting them forwards then jerking them back and acting nervous you would easily teach your parrot to bite more. Parrots will put their beak on you to stedy themselves
Before stepping up

If you get a GCC you will get bitten. How you are able to handle that, and read birdy language will determine how often you get a nip......

On average not screamers

My GCC will only let me pet her. She will step up for people , but then she wants to come back to me. I've heard lots of stories here of gcc only picking one person

I'm. Not sure this is the right time for you to get a GCC.

 

[Laurasea]

Have you considered an English budgies that have been hsbd tamed from breeder? They are very large, and males have the potential to be talkers . I just love the English budgies

 

[featherfriend977]

I'm. Not sure this is the right time for you to get a GCC.

Is it because I lack experience in conures? I will not be getting the bird right away as the bird is not weaned. It will be a while before they finish hand feeding and the bird starts self eating. I haven’t confirmed with the breeder either yet because I’m carefully considering everything.

 

[featherfriend977]

Have you considered an English budgies that have been hsbd tamed from breeder? They are very large, and males have the potential to be talkers . I just love the English budgies

There are no english budgie breeders here. You get budgies only in pet shops. And budgies are quite small which is a concern for me because I have a cat. My cat is not interested towards medium sized or larger birds but anything small, she’ll attack. Ofcourse I have never let my birds out in the presence of the cat, but when they’re back in their cage, my cat will try to pester them if she gets curious.

 

[Laurasea]

I'm. Not sure this is the right time for you to get a GCC.

Is it because I lack experience in conures? I will not be getting the bird right away as the bird is not weaned. It will be a while before they finish hand feeding and the bird starts self eating. I haven’t confirmed with the breeder either yet because I’m carefully considering everything.

Because you are with your family, and you want a family bird and are concerned about bites and your mom. Look on tge GCC forum its filled with posts asking about bites, and posts were the GCC chose only one family member, and by the way you may not be the one choosen... its tge number ine species we have people asking how to deal with bites ... now does that mean a GCC has to be nippy ( no) but many do go through this stage, can the GCC be well socialized and get along with the family , sure, but often they do choose one person. GCC reputation for being nippy is well earned, as is their reputation for really being cuddling with their person, and being smart and funny. I love my GCC , I also deal with bites or almost bites ( I've learned her body language) daily. If I dint avoid the bite 95% of tge bites cause blood like a need stick, not like missing flesh or loose a finger but they fo hurt a bunch,!