What have I done?

[baron1282]

Also is it true that they like to clean your hair? And the shampoo can and whatever else they can get off it can kill it? Since I got until the end of December I want to research all I can to give it the best care for it's like with us.

 

[Riio]

Mine 'roots' around in my hair all the time. I dont let him if I have any product in it like hairspray, gel, mousse, etc. I think clean hair is fine. Just be careful not to let him chew on it if it has gunk in it.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Like others have said, bring the bird home now. I initially began with an 18 X 18 cage and after putting a few toys in there was little room left. I honestly recommend something much larger.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/CAGE-CO-32-Inch-21-Inch-Sandstone/dp/B004MZV1Q6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_22]Amazon.com: A&E CAGE CO 32-Inch by 21-Inch Flight Cage and Stand, Sandstone: Pet Supplies[/ame]
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/HQ-Flight-Multi-Purpose-Aviary/dp/B002UTZ040/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1350780001&sr=1-1&keywords=hq+bird+cage]Amazon.com: HQ Flight Cage, Multi Purpose Aviary with Cart Stand, Black, 1 Per Box: Pet Supplies[/ame]
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Large-Parrot-Wrought-28x20x60-Dome-Top/dp/B004X70YFM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_13]Amazon.com: New Large Parrot Bird Wrought Iron Cage 28x20x60 Dome-Top *Black Vein*: Pet Supplies[/ame]
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Large-Parttot-Finch-Cockatoo-Birdcages/dp/B002SMC25E/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_3]Amazon.com: New Large Play Top Bird Cage Parttot Finch Macaw Cockatoo Birdcages: Pet Supplies[/ame]
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Wrought-Parrot-Cockatiel-Conure-Wheels/dp/B004G8EK8U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_12]Amazon.com: New Large Wrought Iron Bird Parrot Cage Cockatiel Conure Large 30"x18"x62" With Stand On Wheels *Green*: Pet Supplies[/ame]

 

[Trina]

I would agree, give the birdie to your wife. If it likes her as you say give it to her. Birds are not like other animals it takes time for them to trust. Some birds have longer adjustment periods than other birds. Some birds do not like change either, its stressful for them.

I think its best to give it to her she will have all the holidays to bond with the bird and include the bird in the holidays activities.

 

[Bobioden]

Your wife is going to love you for what you are doing. 18x18" is real small for a GCC, and the bar spacing 3/4" is too big. Minimum should be at least 24x24". Look into
flight cages by A&E or HQ. They are 32x21x35 and 1/2" bar spacing. 5/8" should be the Max bar spacing for a GCC.

HQ - HQ Flight Bird Cage - Presented by BirdsComfort.com

A&E - AE Small Flight Cage - Presented by BirdsComfort.com

 

[Birdlover11]

I can't see the picture.

 

[strasia93]

Post a picture when you can.

And congratulations on the addition to your family.

 

[baron1282]

Hey guys, I appreciate your input and help. Yet if you read my first post, you will see I have no cage and won't be able to get one for about three our four weeks. I really like this cage.

Corner Aviary Medium

I know I did this backwards, and I really want to give this to my wife. So if I do give it too her early it will still be after thanksgiving as that was the original plan that Jacks was going to hold for me, so I can buy a cage and supplies. So now that I got Jacks to help me out, the bird won't be moved three times, just once, and it will be at a place it was already at for four months. So in all reality nothing new for the bird and nothing stressful.

I am not keen on keeping the bird there, but it's all I can do. I bought the bird first even though I had the money for supply's and a cage first. I did not want the bird to be picked up before Christmas. It was a small risk of the bird being sold before Christmas, but it was a risk I was not willing to take that's why I bought the bird first.

Also I thought I posted a picture. If not, here is the same one I posted. I hope you all can see it.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/baron1282/bird.png

 

[baron1282]

Why can't I post pictures on this website? I posted the picture to my photobucket and copied the HTML code, but it never works. I also just tried copy and past into the thread. The best I got was the link.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n1282/bird.png

 

[baron1282]

Wow, I have been reading up on this guy. Now I am scared.

So many things that can hurt this bird, like no scented candles (we love candles, lol). No heaters (We live in a basement, that gets very cold without heaters). I got one heater that is a radiator heater, and one ceramic heater, than one big heater.

I can't keep the bird upstairs, because my parents dog is too rowdy and will unintentionally kill the bird with one bite. I know the dog will!! We have been living with my parents for only a few months, and don't plan on moving out until the end of my next semester with my Masters Degree. We are saving to buy a house, that is why we live in the basement. Plus my job moved me back home (I lived in Michigan) so fast that I had no choice to set up shop in my parents basement apartment. Not the greatest place to live, but not to bad. We are saving a lot though and it makes getting my Masters easier on me.

But, there is just so much that I was reading that can kill the guy, that I am almost scared now to bring it home. Are they hardy guys? I mean I can kill this guy with gases that we won't even know or bother us. Like cooking and cleaning products that we normally use. Do I have to really be this worried, or just be careful and not worry too much about this stuff?

 

[BoomBoom]

Hi, Baron. I've been following your post. On scented candles, non stick pans, cleaning products and space heaters... Chris and I did a complete lifestyle change when we brought our sun conure home. This means we had to stop ising them completely. Other things we had to adjust to name a few: no more colognes, no air freshness, no more dryer sheets, only vinegar for cleaning with exception to the bathroom, not being loud after 8-9pm, making sure we are up at 7am to uncover and feed Boomer, spend hours of quality time with Boomer, clean the cages (we have budgies too) every 2 days, always having stock of fresh foods, the list goes onnnnn. I apologize if it sounds discouraging. I don't intend to sound that way The companionship and live you get in return makes it all worth it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it is a complete life commitment. It changes everything in your house and home. My advice since you still have a chance to step back is to really imagine yourself with a new lifestyle for the next 30 years! Best of luck in your decision. Sorry if I sound like a party pooper but better confront whatever doubts you have now rather than later when the only course of action would be painful for you, your wife and the bird.

I commend you regardless for being an awesome husband and for researching what you're getting yourself into. Please disregard my typos. I'm doing this in my phone in bed and Boomer has decided to preen my face!

 

[MeganMango]

You need to be very careful. When Mango came I put all my non-stick pots and pans in storage (saving them for my mom as Im a bit of a cook and they were top of the line and VERY expensive gifts from my fiance). We also threw out all our scented candles but kept the unscented ones for out on the porch when the weather improves. We got rid of any harsh cleaners, and so far we have stuck to dish soap, water and vinegar. It is a little tough sometimes, but once you get your guy home you wont mind. Our motto is, if you arent sure whether it will hurt him, then just dont use it. A bird is a huge commitment, I think bird proofing was probably the hardest part. Losing my good pots made me pretty grumpy, but then watching Mango dance to the music on the radio makes it worth it. Birds dont breath tidally because they fly. They need to pull all the oxygen from the air when they fly, especially since there is less oxygen as you go further up. Its actually a really amazing system if youre interested in Biology at all, but it means that their little respiratory systems suck up and absorb everything that comes their way (even at rest). As a result, they are not hardy at all when it comes to stuff in the air. Luckily there are loads of good lists of the common household dangers. Im not really use to it yet because I too am new, but I always double check anything online or here before I expose Mango to it. I think once your new bird joins your family you will find that candles, perfumes and even fancy pots aren't worth risking his safety.

 

[baron1282]

I don't think it will be a huge problem getting my home bird proof, as long as I keep the basement clean for him and in the area we live in we should be ok. Once we move we can bird proof are apartment our new home a little more. I am not worried about the care level, it seems to be just like a dog that needs a lot of love. I love animals and my wife will be the primary care giver. I will make sure she and I clean the cage at least once every two days. I don't want my area to stink.

I don't think we will have a problem with good pots being lost due to the fact the kitchen is upstairs and far away from the bird. My only problem I can foresee is the laundry room being in the basement, but we are sectioned off with a wall. The bird will never come out of are area. We will bring it out to watch TV with us and play around the area, because our area is pet friendly already. Outside of our area is not bird proof, and is very dangerous and no level of proofing can fix that. Being that it's a basement work in progress.

Our area is vented so air quality is not an issue, the kitchen is upstairs and no vents come down for the cooking, so were ok with that. Our area is about a good sized one bedroom apartment. So it has plenty of space to hang out with us. I may have jumped into being a bird owner, but it's too late with backing out. I don't want to back out, i just want to make sure how much dangers are really that dangerous. A-lot of the problems seem to be common since stuff that any pet owner should be aware of, and some can be dangerous BUT can be ok as long as your careful and don't do it around the bird. I am not worried about the bird being hurt are poisoned. As far as candles go, my wife and I can burn our candles by our computers, being our computers are in a unfriendly part of the basement. I think the good thing we have going is our space that has it's own vents, and no kitchen.


Also the cage I chosen, is that a good cage? Have any of you seen the picture of my wife's bird?
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n1282/bird.png

Again I want to get this bird home now, but I think it will be for the best of the bird that I at least wait until the end of my thanksgiving vacation, plus I won't have the money for a the cage I want (http://www.bird-supplies.net/corner-aviary-medium.htm) until 3 weeks from now. This will also give me some time to make sure our area is even more safe for the bird than it is now. Is there a list of heaters that are bird safe? That way I can check to see if mine are, and not I can get some. My basement is cold during the winter.

I have a radiator-style electric heater running right now, and a big Ceramic heater right now. I can check to make sure the radiator is not coated with a PTFE coating.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

baron
one thought. when u bring yr wife to store and she sees sold sign' how bout having the store put a bird cage or playpen with big bow and sign saying Merry Christmas wife's name, Love your name. if u r not going to buy bird cage there, they can put it on a bag of food or a transport carrier. that way she won't go home sad that bird will be gone.

i think it is so wonderful u want her to have this little bird that will surely bring joy to both your lives.

 

[baron1282]

baron
one thought. when u bring yr wife to store and she sees sold sign' how bout having the store put a bird cage or playpen with big bow and sign saying Merry Christmas wife's name, Love your name. if u r not going to buy bird cage there, they can put it on a bag of food or a transport carrier. that way she won't go home sad that bird will be gone.

i think it is so wonderful u want her to have this little bird that will surely bring joy to both your lives.

Yeah, that is a good Idea. No I am not going to buy the cage there, they even told me not too being they are too expensive. lol

I am going to get the cage and have it mailed to my friends house. I will have the cage three weeks from now, and some toys the next week. I will than take her to the store to get it, but I need a cage first and I have no cash as I spent it all on the bird. Its fun trying to explain why I have no money to my wife. lol

They told me Amazon was a great place, but I really like the one care I am looking at. It's big for the bird and allows for full flight if he/she wanted too.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

baron. wow thats one big cage. do u have enuf space for it in a room with lots of interaction with u all or good spot for while he is home alone if u r out for work (u means wife 2). if u have any interest in seeing a nicecage for half the price on wheels with shelf below for toys food etc, i can post a link. it will defin be big enuf. u could easily spend the xtra money on lots of toys and a nice playpen or java tree as u get it. just a thought.

 

[baron1282]

WannaBeAParrot

I got allot of space in my area, and my wife is home 24/7 and needs a companion. Her cat is very on his own time and loves her but does not interact with her like my cat interacts with me. So I thought her having a bird would be great for her being they like company.

That's why I am not scared of the cleaners my parents use, and the cooking they do. It's our own area, and none of that stuff comes down in our area. So that's one reason why I am going to keep the bird in our area, plus I don't want our Dog to get down in the basement and get the bird (She comes down to the basement, but never gets in our area).

I got plenty of space for that cage with room to spare in my living area, and I thought that was cheap. I could do the smaller cage with the same design. This is the Link.
Corner Aviary Small

 

[Alisana]

That cage seems acceptable. The 3/4 spacing seems like it might be big for a GCC but I'll let someone who owns one weigh in on that. [...]

Go for 5/8 spacing instead It's safer and less likely for them to get their head stuck (if they do, they can freak out, panic and injure themselves)

 

[baron1282]

what about this? Bar spacing is 1/2

Prevue Hendryx - Prevue Aviary Flight Cage 31 x 20

 

[ConureCrazy]

what about this? Bar spacing is 1/2

Prevue Hendryx - Prevue Aviary Flight Cage 31 x 20

OMG I have that cage for my two green cheeck conures. I LOVE IT!!! So huge, wide, and give SO much space for toys! In my opinion it's better because it's wider rather than tall, gives your GCC much more space to roam.
Get it!!

PS: I'm biased.