New Green Cheek Conure

[Imjustahero]

Hello, this is my first post on ParrotForums! For the past few months I have really wanted a bird. After some research and the help of my brother, I decided that the Green Cheek Conure is for me. My parents have agreed that they will help me with the financial component of caring for a bird, but in return I have to demonstrate that I understand what i'm getting in to. I need to write them a couple of things- How much it will cost with the cage, food and, toys, and a list of how to train the bird when it first gets here. (We will be buying from a breeder.) I have the budget but I just want to know what does every new bird owner need to know? As part of being a responsible owner I've come up with a budget. I was hoping that I could get some feed back from you guys to help me out!
Cage-Prevue Hendry x-Small Wrought Iron Select Bird Cage 157$
Toys & Other-Rope Bird Swing 15$
-Rope Bird Perch x2 24$
-Snuggle Hut 6$
-Bird Ladder 5$
-Beak Conditioner with Calcium 2$
-Jungle Talk Triple Block Ring Bird Toy 11$
-Mac's Large Chunks Bird Toy 10$
-Shooting Star Bird Toy 8$
-Wooden Bird Perch With Mirror 6$
Food- ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Premium Food for Medium Birdsx2 30$
Bird- Green Cheek Conure 250-300$
SUBTOTAL=530-580$
TOTAL=593-650$
Thanks!

 

[Akraya]

I'll give this a crack!
Make sure you're going for the biggest cage you can afford.
I've never used a bird ladder but that's personal choice.
I'm not sure what that beak conditioner is?
If you want him to bond to you I'd avoid mirrors (at least at first) so he bonds to you and not the mirror.
Is the Zupreem what the breeder uses?

With all the toys, introduce them slowly, new things are general scary for birds so you don't want to overload him on his first day, he'll be stressed enough. I have to play with all my birds toys in front of them before they'll even consider going anywhere near them.

When you first get him home, spend some time near the cage just talking to him, he's most likely going to be really shy at first and then he will be nippy too. Just be patient and don't rush your interactions with him, you'll only set yourself back.

There's so many posts on here if you search those topics, lots of useful information!
Hope that helps a teensy bit, good luck with your new little guy.

 

[Imjustahero]

Thanks! That's really helpful! We haven't found a breeder yet, so we aren't going to buy food until then.

 

[strasia93]

I suggest a larger cage. The Pervue Hendrix is the brand we have, but you do need one larger than the $17.500 x-small that you listed. Please do what you can to get a larger one. 24 x 24 is a good size with 1/2 bar spacing. And Akraya is absolutely right, ask your breeder about food. We use about a 60 / 40 mix of Harrison's pellet to seed blend made by a local breeder. And very important to feed then fresh fruit and vegetables daily. I also suggest reading as much as you can about Green Cheeks too. They are Awesome birds! Congratulations in advance! (You also need to be able to give your bird at least two or three hours of your undivided attention every day, they need play time out of the cage...)

 

[ConureLady]

ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Premium Food for Medium Birds has a recall right now. one of our members here at parrotforums.com had a conure die after consuming zupreems fruitblend.
also, Beak Conditioner with Calcium dont get the gritty kind... a cuttle bone is a better idea.
and my birds wont touch any hut except the triangular kind. they wont climb inside of the enclosed kind because they cant see in it and fear it.
i would also recommend not giving the bird the mirror toy... they can bond to it.

 

[ConureLady]

also, you might want to think about an outside of the cage play gym.

 

[ConureLady]

Petco Premium 3-in-1 Playground for Birds at PETCO is an excellent starter gym

 

[Kern2012]

Akraya and Strasis93 are both correct. I was told they need at least 18x18 so we got the Parrot Starter Cage at Petsmart but now she has a better cage. Hopefully the breeder has the conure on pellets or pellet/seeds cause it is sorta tuff to switch them. Just take it slow and you will learn that conures are wonderful little lovebugs! Lots of vegs and fruits! They are sunflower addicts! The cuttlebone my GC doesnt use it but I have toys that have the calcium stones on them! They love to climb and be your little helper! Make sure you spend as much time with he/her you can cause they do get attached, as much out of cage time as possible! I have had my Cooper snice June and I wouldnt know what to do with out her and I am still learning to this day! Good luck and everyone on here is more then willing to help you with anything you need! Post pics when you get your new little flock member!

 

[Imjustahero]

Thanks everyone, ill do what i can to get a larger cage

 

[Imjustahero]

I just got my 9 week old red yellow bellied green cheek! His name is Mango. I'm not sure how to upload a picture though....If anyone can tell me I will definitely post a pic!

 

[Imjustahero]

Here he is!

 

[MonicaMc]

Congrats on your new addition!

Sorry to say though, the image didn't work! It's in your personal e-mail and well... that's personal!

To upload it to the forum, it needs to either be on your computer and you "physically" upload it (via Advanced Reply options) or the image needs to be on an image hosting website (Photobucket, Flickr, etc) where you can direct link to the image.

 

[Imjustahero]

hope this one works! if not here is a link: ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

 

[Kern2012]

What a cutie! Congrads!