Should I get a green cheek conure?

[Milo17]

So I dont own a conure but I'm definitely interested in maybe buying one. I still have alot of research to do thought but my only question is do you think I should get one??

I'm a high school student and I have a job. I leave my house in the morning at 7:20am and come back at 5pm (Buses arnt very good in my city) On days that I work I'm not usually home till 9:15pm which would probably be an issue. My mom likes me in bed at 930pm but I usually stay up till 11pm cause who actually gets a good amount of sleep in high school??

I also own two chinchillas and two gerbils. My chinchillas get 30 minutes min playtime per day and I have heard that GCC need like 1 1/2 hours of time outside their cage per day.

Honestly, I dont think my other animals would take attention away from a birb but I was just wondering what people with actual conures would think about all of this.

I'm willing to get two conures if that would be better for them

I totally respect if you guys think I wouldn't have enough time. Just be honest with me cause if I do get a GCC I would want to give it the best life possible.

Also any care tips would be appreciated

 

[itzjbean]

It's great you're reaching out first and not just diving in.

That being said, with your current schedule it just doesn't seem to be fair to bring a bird into the equation. And as a high school student, your life is about to change drastically, not sure if you have thought of college yet but it's the reason a lot of birds get rehomed. I had a Jenday Conure when I was 13 and loved him but had to rehome him when I went to college 4 years later, as my parents would not take care of him and my dorms wouldn't allow pets of any kind.

It just isn't fair to make a commitment to an animal that lives so long especially when your life is just about to change drastically. College, friends, dating, going out drinking all night, parties, your job, all on top of school.

Birds are like kids. They need stability, routine and attention daily for a guaranteed couple hours or they will not thrive or stay happy.

My advice... wait until you are done with all your school (including college) and you have your own car, live in your own house and have a stable income of your own. I didn't get another bid until I was 25 and it was the best decision to wait. I now work full-time 8-5 M-F and am guaranteed home for at least 5 hours a day to be with them, feed them and interact with them.

As for getting two bids, that's a big no if you want them to actually bond to you and not each other. What tends to happen is, two birds are bought together and with their caretaker gone almost all day, they end up bonding to each other and become indifferent towards their owner. It happens all the time. So just stick with one.

Just wit....it will be so worth it for your forever bond with your future bird.

 

[LaManuka]

If there’s one thing green cheeks need it’s attention attention and more attention. Or is that three things? Either way it wouldn’t be fair on a bird as intelligent as a GCC to be cooped up in a cage all day, regardless of how many toys and food you might provide. I don’t think two birds would solve your problem either. A well socialized & happy GCC is a joy but they are very emotionally needy creatures & with your commitments away from home it just may not be feasible right now. Smart birds like conures that are caged all day can develop nasty psychological problems and I’m sure you don’t want that. You will make your own decision of course but you’re asking for opinions and that’s just my very humble one.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Getting a GCC is like getting a 2 year old with a weapon attached to it's face. If you don't spend enough time with them and keep them caged most of the day they will become agressive, possibly scream all the time for attention and unhappy. I don't think even 2 hours of "outside" cage time is enough for a GCC in my humble opinion. I would advise you wait until you're older and can make you bird a priority in your life because they need to be high in the list of your priorities and they will thank you for it in many many ways.

 

[brighterdaysaviary]

I agree with everyone else, I think you should wait until your out of highschool so you can dedicate more time to your future birdie.

I also don't think getting two birds would be an option because you won't be spending enough time with them every day so they can also bond with you. The thing about getting two birds is that you will need to spend the same amount of time if not more time with them than one bird.

Good luck!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I LOVE how open-minded and responsible you are! I wish *I* had been, at your age...

You have plenty of time to make your dreams come true!

 

[Milo17]

Thank you all!

I've been thinking about it more and your right, it wouldnt be fair to the bird. I'm going to wait until after college/University or during all depending on what my life would look like.

I didn't know that having two conures wasnt the best idea, thank you for informing me

Thank you again for all the advice!! I tried asking on a different forum and noone answered

 

[GaleriaGila]

You better come right back here when you become a parront!

 

[Laurasea]

So wise of you. Your joy when the time is right will be tremendous! I think keeping them out if the cage with you every bit of time you are home is best, a minimum of three hours daily, more is better. Thank you for being responsible!

 

[LeslieA]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but what's been said is so true. Not only are you getting a bird that will live from 20-50 years, you're getting an eternal toddler that is always scheming against you.

In addition, conures can be moody. One day they LOVE you until they hate you until they love you until they hate..... The best part is they don't tell you why. It could be a haircut, different earrings, new glasses....who knows!?!

Medium to large conures are not only extremely loud but MESSY. They're loud and messy because they can be. I have 3 and am constantly shop- vaccing and cleaning cages.

Although you may doubt it, most marriages occur between 18- 25 years old. What if the conure disagrees with your dating choice? What If your date doesn't LOVE your bird?

Next comes baby. Most babies are born in the mother's early twenties. Uh Oh What if the conure isn't so excited? What if it doesn't want to spend even less time with you now? What if the conure gets jealous and starts biting the baby?

Okay, enough romance. Birds are expensive! There's the bird, cages, toys, pellets, chop, AV...that's another eternal list.

Now that you have an AV, how do you get him there? Let's pretend your mother agrees to drive you. The bird needs a cage to commute in. More money. AV's aren't cheap!

Where will you live? Just because a place accepts pets doesn't mean they accept birds. What about your neighbors? Will they love the screaming as much as you grown accustomed to It?

Travel plans that now take a day take weeks, months, even years! I just told a friend, a person can travel to without much preparation but it took 9 months for my birds to get approved before the health exams to travel internationally.

Ask your parents because most likely they will "inherit" that conure. Your life changes in ways you had never imagined!

 

[Laurasea]

Queen of the world he already decided to wait! Mo is awesome!

 

[LeslieA]

What never got mentioned because of your decision, but you should know anyway, PFCs and PTanything (Thrill your chemistry teacher by asking what these are.) cookware and appliances are a no-no. As well, household cleaners (including some laundry and dishwasher products kill birds). Candles and most fresheners are also deadly. Most lotions and cosmetics are toxic to birds. As well, most commercial glues, epoxies and construction materials are poisonous.
Bird ownership comes at a high cost in addition to basic costs.

Birds are delicate creatures. Anatomically speaking, they are very different from the mammalian anatonomy you're accustomed to and now own. For example, you have a diaphragm while birds do not. The anatomical differences are many!

 

[LeslieA]

Laurasea, I mentioned his decision to wait. Even so, he should begin preparing EARLY for ANY bird ownership. Instead of replacing items later, buy others in the first place. It's never too early to begin practicing bird ownership skills rather than being overwhelmed by them in the future.

BTW, thanks for recognizing our status as Queen of the World. (Muahaha My plan is working, lowly super mods.)

 

[Squeekmouse]

Your Majesty, that was SUCH a well written post I think I will have to link people to it (or copy and paste it) every time a teen asks if they should get a conure. As you pointed out, the answer isn't necessarily "No Conure for you! Come back 9 year!" ...but it probably is. The reasons you listed were SO good though, after all no teenager will EVER listen to you if your answer is "No, you're too young", I sure as heck wouldn't have when I was a teen. Telling them all those good "Why it might not be a great idea..." reasons is truly helpful.

 

[LeslieA]

Squeekmouse, you are kind and shall be rewarded with an escorted tour of Parrotian Castle, if you can find It!

The following is from a Bird Talk Magazine article that would be hilarious if it weren't so true. Actually, it's hilarious because it IS so true!

1. Take a big bite of carrot. Chew it up well, but don’t swallow it. Now go out to your dining room and spew it all over the wall. Leave it there until it dries. Get a sponge and a scraper and scrape it off the wall. Repeat at least three times a week.
2. Go to the bird supply store. Buy everything you need for the month. Then with the leftover money, go to the grocery store and pick up a five-pound box of macaroni, some parmesan cheese and some margarine. These provisions should last you about two weeks, and it’s about all you’ll be able to afford after all that money you spent at the bird supply store.
3. Take a newspaper to the bird supply store. Place it in the bottom of an empty birdcage. Read it while it’s laying on the bottom of the grate. This is how you will be reading the newspaper from now on.
4. Get some pelleted diet, some chopped up vegetables, borrow some bird poop from the bird supply store (they’ll look at you funny, but they probably won’t charge you for it), some parrot feathers, pieces of bird toy parts, some wood chips and some almond shells. Combine in a one-gallon container. Throw some of it on the floor. Now clean it up. Throw more of it on the floor. Now clean it up. Repeat at least twice a day.
5. Get a screwdriver from your toolkit. Make some gouges in the paint on the wall. And while you’re at it, use it to rip one of your lampshades and smack up a couple of picture frames.
6. Make sure you know the meaning of all of these terms: Cloaca, preen gland, PDD, PBFD, calcium to phosphorus ratio, polyomavirus, E.N.D., and boing. This task involves a lot of research. At least you'll be on your phone for a good reason.
7. Measure out a cup of flour and place in a sifter. Move about your house and lightly coat all surfaces with the flour. Now dust all the surfaces. Repeat at least three times a week.
8. Look up some wild parrots on YouTube. Turn the volume up on your phone to full blast and place it right next to your ear. Repeat at least three times a day for 15 minutes.
9. Take some of that bird poop you borrowed from the bird supply store and place it on a spatula. Now reach over your shoulder with the spatula and rub the bird poop on the back of your shirt. Let dry and then go grocery shopping. Count the number of people who either stare at you or tell you that you have bird poop on your back.
10. Do a little dumpster diving and collect odd items like water bottle caps, pieces of raffia, tree branches from bird-safe trees, pieces of cardboard and old plastic clothesline. With these items, attempt to make an interesting toy. You have 8 minutes. You may begin.
11. Save wild parrot sounds onto your phone and set them as your 6 a.m. alarm. Make sure they are on the loudest setting possible. Repeat every morning for the rest of your life.
12. Get some bed sheets. Now take that screwdriver and make various beak-shaped holes in them. Take some of that bird poop and smear it on the sheets. Launder and repeat at least twice a month.
13. Find a reputable bird veterinarian and make his car payment for him. Repeat at least once a year for each bird you intend to get.

Do these exercises for as long as you can. If you can keep this up for at least six months without losing your mind, you just might be ready for a parrot.

 

[LeslieA]

I admit to cross posting because this is actually quite funny. You can find it on another forum here!

 

[Squeekmouse]

LOL!!!


I read that list aloud to my husband while holding and giving scritches to my Yoda. Both my husband and Yoda had a good laugh. (Yoda's laugh sounds a lot like my husband's laugh... and when one laughs, the other always joins in... and me too. )


Thank you Your Majesty!