Is the Conure the best breed for us?

[Titanius]

I think Michael was making that statement with the US currency in mind and what a lot of breeders in the US sell for. When I saw him mention that I knew where he was coming from because most larger parrots that I've seen locally are often $500 and above. Sometimes you'll be lucky with finding cheaper.
From what I've seen from people on this forum and read up on, I think a GCC would be good for you Mella... I've only heard good things granted they have their bad days like all birds which is completely normal.. Starting off with a nice young hand-fed would start you off on the right foot definitely.

[TheNzJessie]

$120 NZD is about $70 in american, how much to lorikeets sell for in america? i wouldn't imagine paying $500 american for a lorikeet

[Michael]

I think Lorikeets are in the $500+ range around here. The only reason they're so cheap around your parts is cause you can pretty much just walk outside and grab one!

[Azure Hanyo]

I think Lorikeets are in the $500+ range around here. The only reason they're so cheap around your parts is cause you can pretty much just walk outside and grab one!

I can just see Jess hanging onto a wild Lory biting the bajeebus out of her fingers...why is the visual funny?


Anyway I have seen them go for up to $1000 here in Ohio!!!

[Rrrma]

Probably depends a LOT on the area of the US too. I've only ever seen them for around $300 here.

[TheNzJessie]

wwwoooww Jeez thats a bit much LOL and the lorikeet in my pic is mine hes being a acrobat/bird. their Australian birds so there not naturally in the wild in new Zealand but this one guy though it would be funny about 8 years ago to let about 100 of them out of an aviary in auckland. doc keeps a close eye on the wild population and last time they counted there were 4 separate groups of about 300 and 2 groups of about 80 on the north shore. one of those groups are in my neighbor hood currently making a racket of noise... but doc has put bands on all the wild ones and keep a close eye on them because most of new zealand native birds are nectar eaters, eg tui and rainbow lorikeets are quite possessive over food.

there actually quite hard to find in the wild

[jayebird]

I've owned budgies in the past, and my fiance and I currently have a GCC. We've only had him for a couple of weeks, but we did a loooooot of research on parrot species before buying him.

Parrots and kids are a tricky combination because any bird can have a bad day or mature into a nipper without proper handling. I just wanted to say that first off even though it seems like you know what you're getting into in regards to the kids. I'm an education student at the moment and I've done a lot of research into the effect of animal companionship on kids and there is plentiful scientific evidence that pet ownership has an incredibly beneficial and therapeutic effect on children - especially special needs children. I support animals in the home 100% and I'm glad that you've plainly stated that this will be your responsibility because that shows a level of preparation and maturity that a lot of would-be pet buyers don't think about ahead of time.

A lot of the information I'll be quoting here comes from the book "Good Parrotkeeping" by Robin Deutsch (a book which I highly recommend, along with "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan for any prospective or current bird owner.)

From what you were saying before, it sounds like a cockatiel would be a perfect fit for you guys, but since you're looking for something different here's a few ideas...although my personal recommendation would be to get another cockatiel. We came so, so close to getting a cockatiel but in the end a few GCC features tipped the scale in their favor.

Lineolated Parakeet
Robin says of their temperament: "If you are looking for an affectionate bird who loves being with people and has a pleasant voice, try to find a linnie. This species is so gentle and easygoing that you can approach them even in the wild. In captivity, parents will unconcernedly let you handle the babies as long as you move slowly. ... they are energetic and acrobatic ... seem to prefer being upside down ... excellent with children and adults ... capable of talking as soon as 12 weeks ...make great apartment birds (quiet.)" I haven't had one myself, but I have seen a couple and they do seem like sweeties.

Lovebirds
Doesn't sound like what you're looking for.... "can be a great choice for older children but may be nippy with younger children." 'Nough said.

Conures...The green-cheeked
Most species of conures are for more experienced owners (says Robin) --- with the one exception of the green cheeked! GCC are actually a bit lighter bodied and smaller than cockatiel but, uh, how do I say this politely....maybe got a bit of a bigger share of parrot brains? I would strongly recommend AGAINST looking at any conure species but the green-cheeked. The rest can be fairly large, temperamental, and LOUD LOUD LOUD LOUD. GCC's are known to be quieter (our mutters almost constantly but has only made a couple of higher pitched squaks when he gets excited by loud music.)

The GCC may not be the flashiest, but they've got fantastic personalities. We've had ours for just a bit more than a week and he's already target trained, comes when he's called, and we're working on "turn around" - proof that they're very smart. You always want a handfed (weaned!) parrot less than a year and a half old. They go through hormonal changes around 2 years old and you want time to develop a relationship with your bird BEFORE he goes through this shift because that will affect his personality and temperament for the rest of his life. GCC are "not known for their talking ability" because they have small, gravelly voices and speak about 2x the speed of humans. I'm pretty sure my bird says "step up" to me, but it's probably just that I hear what I want to hear I think having a bird that doesn't talk is a plus because, let's face it, you don't have to worry about them picking up phrases that don't intend!

From Robin:
"Conures have personality plus. They are very intelligent...curious...acrobatic...comical. He will require daily interaction and training. Some conures are more affectionate and cuddly than others, but they all enjoy attention and head scratches. [Our Mango is so ridiculously cuddly that it's hilarious. He begs to be scritched almost constantly.] ...
[GCC] are not destructive like the other conures, or are they noisy or demanding. They possess a sweet, affectionate nature and make a good family pet - rarely bonding to just one person. ...These are such wonderful birds that even someone with very little experience can own them."

Our Mango does not seem to prefer either me or my fiance - or maybe he just hasn't chosen yet. Either way, we intend to keep socializing him so that he hopefully doesn't or we can discourage it from developing too far. He's always been a bird that will go to anyone (we knew him a month before we brought him home) and kindly sit on their hand and even preen (which is a sign of trust and contentment in a bird) so I know that he was always well taken care of. He will only accept scritches from me or the fiance as far as we know for now - but again we have plans to introduce him to more and more friends and family and get used to touching. He's so tame that we can hold him on his back, lift and spread his wings, spread his tail, tug his tail, and touch him anywhere on his body - but we've also been working with him at least an hour or two one-on-one per day. I believe a lot of our future relationship will be determined by these early months so this kind of taming training is a priority - and from what Robin says I think that's about right. He nipped in the beginning but now he mostly just "beaks" and from what I understand conures in general need life-long behavioral training on appropriate beak-on-skin contact.

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One last note - we got ours for more than your breeder is asking for and I'd be a bit suspicious that this breeder A) Went out of business and B) Wants to move these birds out so quickly. Such a low price raises my eyebrows, too. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for and I would be very skeptical of the situation, especially since you cannot see them in-situ. I'd worry that these are the last of the bunch with not-so-sweet personalities, or this is a failed "puppy mill" type breeder...I don't know. I don't mean to be negative! But since you're looking at buying a bird that will live for 20-25 years it's definitely WORTH the large investment upfront to get a bird with the best chances for being a loving family companion that you can. Please consider expanding your budget a little bit if it means you can get a bird that's not "discount, on-sale, must-go" - or wait a little longer and save up until you can afford one. It's expensive and very time consuming and takes years to learn how to properly rear birds, so the best ones do not come cheap.

*gets off soap box*

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I hope this info helps!!