Looking to make sure a GCC is a good fit for me

[Snowbird]

Hi, guys! Some of you may already know that I recently lost a bird I rescued, Princess. She was a cockatiel. I always wanted to potentially own a GCC. I have noticed that GCC seem to be much different than cockatiels. So I had one big question I needed answered before I started to save for a GCC (which is going to take a while).

My main thing is this: what do any of you do if you are away from your home for a day or two on occasion? What do you guys do when on vacation for a week maybe one time in a year or two? I have noticed that they seem to be much more dependent on their owner. In my situation, I’m disabled, so I am home most of the time. I have a couple other family members I live with that would love to interact with it besides me. Although I will be the person my potential GCC sees the most. I rarely go on a vacation, but it does happen once every year or two. I occasionally spend the night at a family member’s house for a day or so though.

Any thoughts or potential solutions to this issue would be greatly appreciated. Be completely honest. I have zero experience with GCC, so I would appreciate the advice quite a bit.

 

[wrench13]

Regardless of the type or size of parrot, it is never OK to just leave them for a week or even a day or 2 without care, they are not like dogs or cats that you can fill the food bowl and have water bottle and go somewhere overnight or for a few days. You say you have family that would care for the bird? OK- good. What about in 5 years, 10 years, etc ?

If and when you get a new parrot, explain to him when you will not be there for a day or days. I used to go to China for business a few times a year, for 2-3 weeks at a time, and I always explained this to SAlty, several times before I left. My wife is a homemaker so she was/is there to care for Salty. If i didnt explain to him, it would take a few days before he forgave me upon my return.

 

[chris-md]

Vacations specifically:

I'll diverge from my very good friend above: I've left my eclectus alone for 24 hours and would do it again without hesitation, with precautions (make it hard for him to spoil water with food, extra food, extra water dishes). I did 36 hours once, but was too uncomfortable and decided against doing that again. Overnight trips, ok, longer than that, no.

And this is where I merge with Wrench: proper care needs to be provided. If you go on vacation, either have a friend take care of the bird, or find a place local to you that boards parrots (those do exist). No different from other pets.

 

[Flboy]

My ability to go anywhere is dependent on my daughter’s schedule!

 

[SailBoat]

Our travels are fully formed around our DYH Amazon. With great luck on everyone's part, he loves to ride in the SUV. I say SUV, because he loves to keep an eye on the sky and what the crazy people are doing when they pass-by, slow-down, and pass-by again, commonly taking a photo the second time...

We do not stay if he is not welcomed, and we travel when he is welcomed.

If you cannot see yourself traveling with your Parrot, it is very possible that a parrot may not be the correct choice for you -- this time.

If you do elect to include a Parrot again, Please Allow the Parrot to Choose You! They are just so much better at selecting then we are.

 

[Shoegoo]

I boarded Squeaky at the Vet when I was on vacation for 10 days. The cost was $14 a day. For overnight trips I would probably leave her at home, assuming I would be home the next day, or ask a friend. Some people bring their pets along on short trips.

 

[Laurasea]

My GCC can escape cages, I've had her in 4 different types of cages. She has escaped each of them. Birds can get hung up in toys or get in trouble. So I'm only willing to leave in the afternoon and come back in the morning. Otherwise someone comes to the house twice a day..

GCC are wonderful, curious. Bold, playful, and affectionate. But you want to read up on nipping, bite pressure , and how you will handle this. As adults they will use their beaks to keep us in line, and protect their sense of right and wrong . That doesn't make them any less awesome and loving tho!! But yiu want to well socialized them when young, and learn body language, and have a plan. My girl can threaten to bite because I raised my hand over her head , or whatever, but by paying attention, I can avoid most nips, and go right back to just hanging out. They don't back down do you don't want to go to war with them . Bites are your fault, so pay attention to what causes them. This is tge species we hear the most problems about bites on the forum. I'm not saying this to discourage you tho!!!: GCC are awesome!!! Great parrot to have. Full of personality! They are just sensitive, and feel wrongs should be disciplined at once so that you can be a better Human. Then they are right back to lovey. I have on occasion received a bite I didn't think I deserved, and told her thst wasn't nice, she stormed around sbd ranted at me. She accepts apologies, if I bump a pin feather snd say oops sorry, then she doesn't nip. She does know pressure, most are warnings with the tip of beak resting on my skin and her eyes saying I could draw blood if I wanted to.
So its just better to think and plan before, because their reputation fir being nippy is well earned. But so is their loving clowns nature. Also if I touch the outside of her cage while she is inside she will bite. Some parrots are just protective of the cage.

 

[Snowbird]

Thank you guys for your opinions. For some reason, I didn’t get notifications of any responses.

Yes, if family isn’t around, it would definitely change my approach for leaving more than a short period of time. I would not feel comfortable leaving any animal for an extended period of time without someone they know and like to care for them. I have had the option of boarding but chose to opt for family in the household to watch my previous bird as she knew and liked them quite a bit. Ideally, I would love to take my bird with me on vacation in the event I didn’t have family to watch them before boarding them. So rest assured that I would make sure someone would be there to watch them if I EVER went on vacation. I would see boarding as a last resort unless I had to.

Also, my nephew is willing to have the bird to go to him in the event something happened to me. He’s a wonderful animal lover, and also wants the bird to get to know him. So I also have another person available to help take care of my potential GCC and take him in if something happened to me.

My animals definitely come before my vacations. I was just curious as to what my options would be if I did go on vacation while owning a GCC.

As for biting, my cockatiel was basically a wild bird when I got her. I hand trained her. She left me some scars to remember her by when hand taming her though. So I am not unused to bites and bleeding. I know that GCC probably feel different than a cockatiel bite, but I am definitely prepared for that and accepting of it.

Thank you guys for your responses. If you have any other comments or suggestions, I would very much like to hear them. Thanks again!

 

[SailBoat]

Regarding "notifications of any responses" that requires you to switch it on someplace in your profile. It's been a long time, since I did mine, so you will have to search around or PM one of the Mods.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Well, first of all, congratulations on doing the right things... reaching out, reading, learning. I'm glad you're here, and I have an idea you will be making the right decisions as time goes by.
Me? I did everything wrong 35+ years ago when I brought the Rb home on a total, stupid impulse buy. You're already way ahead of things just by being here.
I'm glad you're on board, and proud to have you in our Community!

 

[Snowbird]

That was all great advice. Thank you to everyone that responded. It’s definitely looking like it will be a bird I would love to have as my next feathered companion. I don’t mind the nippiness; the Houdini stunts of them escaping their cages are a bit more concerning. Hopefully, I can keep that risk as small as possible.

FYI, just fixed the notification problem I have been having. I must have accidentally switched it off somehow.

 

[Snowbird]

Thank you @GaleriaGila. I have to admit that when I first got my cockatiel, Princess, it was an impulse decision too. I took her in a bit too soon, because I couldn’t stand the way she was living before I got her. I was looking to buy a bird eventually, but my impulse to get Princess sped up that timeline. She made me want to pull my hair out a few times as she was not very friendly towards people, and I was very new to birds. I’m pretty sure I frustrated her too. I don’t regret getting her one bit but I definitely learned my lesson. I can completely understand why and relate to that impulse buy though. You seem to be doing a lot right to have your RickyBird for so long. Say hi to him for me. Thank you for the welcome.