New GCC

[ckanis]

Hi, my name is Chris and I'm new to this forum.

I just brought home a 3mo GCC two days ago. I have had a parrotlet before but Sandy, the GCC is a little different.

Unlike my parrotlet the GCC is super quiet. Paulie, my parrotlet was my alarm clock from day one yet Sandy rarely makes a noise. Sandy is very beaky as well. She likes to put her beak on everything and loves chewing all all her toys, including playing with a plastic cat toy. She does bite my fingers though which my parrotlet never did. I'm pretty sure the bitting is just exploring with the beak but my 6yo daughter will freak out if she gets bit too hard.

Currently I am letting her put her beak all over me and when she bites too hard I say no and remove her beak with my fingers. Is this going to work in the long run? I don't want to drop my hand to startle the bird because she's only been with me for a few days and most likely doesn't fully trust me yet.

She loves being out of her cage and I just hold my hand in front of the open door and wait a few seconds for her to climb on but I cant get her off until she wants to?

I have a vet appointment on Saturday for her to get evaluated and I'm sure I'll be asking (the vet) all the same question I'm about to ask you all; however, I would like some advice by other bird owners who have had experiences with these birds.

My questions are these:

Is Sandy's bitting most likely just the exploring process and is what I am doing to correct it going to work? Also, when should I start teaching the bird to "step up" and "step down" considering she is just getting used to me. Finally, when should I introduce the bird to my daughter? I don't want her to get bit hard but I also want her to bond with the bird like she did with the parrotlet.

Thank you.

 

[Jodi]

Hi Chris!
Congrats on your new baby! The beaking is completely normal for a baby, it's just there way of exploring their world. When my green cheek was little I would tell him "no" and hand him a foot toy for anything harder than the gentle explore nibbles.
As soon as he is comfortable enough with you to be handling him I would start the "up" and "down" commands. Repetition and consistency work wonders!
My green cheek, Panini, is turning two so we are dealing with some mood changes recently. I have two young children and he has always done well with my daughter who will be 5 but has had a love/hate relationship with my son who will be 10. Just recently he now craves attention from my son, and the other evening he bit my daughter. It happened so fast there was nothing I could do and there was no warning that I saw. My advice would be to always supervise, teach both to respect each other, and in time you will learn your birds moods and signals that will help. I'm sure many others here will have great advice for you, lots of experienced Parronts here who are very knowledgeable!

 

[ckanis]

Thank you Jodi,

I was pretty sure she wasn't trying to be aggressive and glad it should pass soon. I don't plan on leaving the two unsupervised. The last time my daughter took Paulie, the parrotlet, out without me knowing I ended up finding him climbing on the side of the clothes hamper.

 

[Jodi]

My friends have a green cheek named Cody as well. He HATES me! At first I thought it was just me, but have now come to realize he is that way to everyone. You can barely ever catch him (fully flighted) and I think he just was never continuously handled like Panini was. Once I walked up to get Panini, theyre my bird sitters and grabbed Cody thinking it was Panini, and kissed all over him for like 10 seconds before I realized the body shape was different! I almost had a heart attack but at least he didnt bite me! He looked about as stunned as I felt! I've heard many people say with green cheeks that even a few days of less interaction they can become a bit nippy all over again! I notice an attitude if I'm behind on just getting Panini out for the day but never anything crazy. Good luck & dont forget pics! we love pictures!

 

[Bobby34231]

Hi Chris and Sandy welcome to the forum, congratulations on your new fid(fid=feathered kid) we have many members here who are owned by GCC's so I'm sure lots of advice will be comming your way soon, feel free to look around, ask questions, have fun and enjoy your stay

 

[Ladyeclectic]

Welcome to the forum! I too just got my GCC Mishka on Wednesday and am already smitten, despite my inability yet to touch her. That'll come in time, I have 20+ years to win her over.

Enjoy your new baby!!

 

[ckanis]

My daughter named the bird Sandy because she likes the movie Grease. I have no clue the sex of the bird but she wanted a girl so a girl it is. Sandy still nibbles a bit and anytime I'm near the cage she wants out. My daughter walked up to the cage after I opened it and Sandy climbed right on to her arm. After that the two were playing for hours. My daughter is very good with the bird and understands that Sandy is not biting to be mean, she just doesn't know how hard to touch with her beak and by saying "no" were telling her when it hurts. Sandy loves the little plastic mesh ball with the bell inside and the two were playing with it for the entire movie other than the occasional break for apples and cheese and Sandy had no problem eating right out of her hand.

I have a feeling a GCC was a very good choice for my family plus shes very, very quiet. She's even quieter than fish tank.