Third Bird - Update.

[kaylayuh]

So, after much research on the species of bird I would like to own, I had originally decided on a cockatiel. BUT a bunch of people suggested I look into a Green Cheek Conure; and I must say, I absolutely fell in love. I don't see how anyone could refuse that adorable little face.

I contacted a local rescue organization for parrots in my area and asked if they had any available for adoption. While they didn't have any listed on their website, they did have one available in another facility in Maryland. I will be going through the home visit and application process on Tuesday, so hopefully by the 12th, I will be able to have this adorable little guy.

From the email I received about him (or her!):

Here's what Jan has to say about QT Pie... "The little GCC is available. I named him QT Pie. Prefers women definitely. Will bite men when he first meets them. I can send him in a basic cage for $50. The one he is in actually belongs to a Quaker I have. Asking $100 fee for him. Very quiet. Curious. I do not let him interact with other birds. He has been somewhat interactive with the Lorie and was not aggressive at all."

So now, a couple of questions for you guys. I know that GCC's are relatively quiet as far as conures go. Noise and chatter don't really bother me anyway, but I need to be somewhat considerate of the herd of elephants that live above me with their nonstop bass-filled head-pounding music. I've read countless websites about them over the past few days, as well as a book or two.

What I basically need to know are:

For a rescue bird, what problems am I likely to run into? I'm not expecting him to be a perfect companion parrot immediately. I'm expecting the occasional nip and wariness about his new surroundings.

As far as food goes, I plan on using Roudybush pellets. Their website suggests that the mini pellet size or the crumble size would be okay for a conure. Both are okay for parakeets as well, which is great since they can all share food. What size pellets do you feed your GCCs or similarly sized birds?

What toys do your GCCs love? My parakeets don't really play with their toys. They'll play with a bell every now and again and gnaw on their wood blocks, but they don't really play with hoops or balls or foot toys or anything else. I'd love to have a bird that liked to play with their toys.

What treats do your GCCs love? Again, my parakeets aren't huge fans of treats. Yogurt covered papaya? Nope. Honey covered seed sticks? Yeah, right. They'll eat millet if I put it in their cage, but that's about it.

Any other first time GCC tips would be great. I'm confident that this little guy and I would be a great match. And I will continue reading and bookmarking websites and books well after I get him.

I just hope everything checks out and I can bring him home next week! I think I'll be heartbroken if I can't.

[captwest]

Hey Kaylayuh, can't help much on the GCC advice , but it's good you found a rescue bird. hope everything works out, Good Luck

[pchela]

When Entranced sees this thread she'll have lots of advice for you.

[Roger P]

I have a Maroon Belly Conure but they are very similar to the GCC in appearance and temperment, so I will take a stab at it until Entranced gets to your post.

The best way I have heard them described is a big bird in a little body. They think they can do anything the big birds can do, and are fearless (Merlin tries to go pick fights with the cats - don't worry I don't let him). They certainly can be nippy and like to use their beak on everything. You need to help them understand that "beaking" is okay, biting is not.

I feed Merlin the Roudybush crumbles as a base, with some seeds, veggies, fruits, toast, and anything else that I eat that he is interested in. Be prepared to change the water dish often, as they like to dunk their food when they eat. Merlin will go get Roudybush on one side of the cage and carry it to the other to dunk it.

Toys, man do they love their toys! Anything they can climb, chew, and destroy is high on the want list. Merlin's favourite toy is a simple set of three interconnected bamboo rings that he uses as a giant swing. He will climb in the lowest ring and walk up the side of the cage with it, then let go like he is bungee jumping. I also keep a kleenex box of foot toys in the cage, to give him something else to do. Changing toys is a good idea too, so have a few extras on hand. They also, like most parrots, love to play the "I drop, you fetch" game, so anything they can pick up is a great idea as well. Merlin loves to play with plastic pop bottle caps, though I don't let him sit and chew them.

Treat-wise it depends on the bird. I use small almond pieces for training, Merlin loves them. He also loves black oil sunflower seeds, grapes (to die for ), apple, and fruit juice. Dried fruit and seeds are good as well, but I try not to give seeds too much.
Good luck, let us know when the happy day arrives .

[Margaret]

kaylayuh, I'm gonna for sure watch your posts about budgies and Cockatiel together. I'm happy for you and for the bird that he/she is coming from rescue shelter. Good luck

[Kathleen]

Green Cheek Conure beaks are really small so I'm sure if they bite they're good at tearing the skin. If the bird is highly aggressive, you can use initially hands off training, cautiousness, and a controlled diet to alleviate most of the problems: www.TrainedParrot.com/Taming

It depends on how this individual bird is but if there are problems, with some hard work, dedication and patience, you might end up with a very sweet pet despite it being a rescue. I look forward to seeing an update about what you decide.

[kaylayuh]

I've had my arms torn open by cats with ridiculously long claws, so I'm sure a bird bite will be tolerable!

The rescue organization also works on birds social skills, so hopefully he won't be that nippy. I will definitely update everyone though. And I'll probably have a ton more questions when/if I get him!

[Scarpath]

Green Cheek Conure beaks are really small so I'm sure if they bite they're good at tearing the skin. If the bird is highly aggressive, you can use initially hands off training, cautiousness, and a controlled diet to alleviate most of the problems: http://www.TrainedParrot.com/Taming

It depends on how this individual bird is but if there are problems, with some hard work, dedication and patience, you might end up with a very sweet pet despite it being a rescue. I look forward to seeing an update about what you decide.

My GCCs can get REALLY MEAN if you bug them!
I have had my GCCs for about 3/4 of a year so I'm gonna try and answer some ???s of yours.
What toys do your GCCs love?
My GCCs love to chew on wooden blocks. They like to shake balls with bells in them and try to get them out. WARNNING!!!!! DO NO LEAVE THOSE IN THEIR CAGE!!! MY BIRD BROKE IT AND GOT IT STUCK ON HER BEAK!!!

What treats do your GCCs love?
Yogurt Dipped Papaya from Kaytee Fiesta. And sunflower seeds.

I would say don't take them out until they get used to the new enviroment and you.
That's all I really gotta say...so ya.
Good luck!

[zazanomore]

What treats do your GCCs love?
Yogurt Dipped Papaya from Kaytee Fiesta. And sunflower seeds.

I don't own a GCC, but I've had success with my birds trying new treats.

Buy some butter and salt free popcorn. Einstein goes crazy for it. I can't watch a movie with popcorn without making some for him. To get your GCCs to try it, eat some in front of them and make them jealous!

Try getting a bag of mixed nuts (unsalted). Again, eat it in front of them.

[michellet]

Congratulations! GCC's are AMAZING! I've had my Missy since November and she's an absolute delight. She was a hand reared 3 month old when i got her so my initial experiences maybe a little different to what you have to look forward to, but i'm sure you will end up with a loving, playful, amusing companion.

We also own budgies, and 2 of them are indoor and hand tamed. All 3 spend out of cage time together and generally they all get on well, apart from the occasional squabble, but its never anything serious. They share a playgym, and all visit each others cages and play with each others toys...and when it's time to go back in their own cages I usually find Missy in the budgie cage, and "the boys" are usually in Missy's cage!

Missy eats a huge variety of food...Passwell (Aussie brand) crumbles, good quality seed mix, and fresh fruit and vegies. She loves sunflower seeds and raw, unsalted nuts as treats. Her favourite vegie is red capsicum/pepper, or any type of fresh chill, but she also eats brocolli, zucchini, sweet potato, carrot, spinach, peas, and corn. I usually cook the sweet potato and carrot, but everything else is served to her raw. Berries are her favourite fruits, and i usually use frozen mixed berries as that means i always have an assortment available, and they are more cost effective than buying an assortment of fresh berries. Another favourite of all our birds are sprouted seeds...they love sprouted popping corn, alfalfa, mung beans etc. I also soak and then cook dried bean or soup mix (the ones with no added seasoning/salt) for something different occasionally.

Missy's favourite toys are balls with bells in them...she can spend ages running around on the bottom of her cage chasing them around, throwing them and rolling onto her back and wresting with them...it's hillarious to watch She also loves her boing, and popsicle sticks. Another thing i do to keep her amused when i'm at work and she's confined to her cage is fill an old kleenex box (or a box of similar size) with bell-balls, popsicle sticks, shredded paper and other foot toys, and a few sunflower seeds and raw almonds for her to forrage through.

Wishing you luck and years of fun and love with your new fid,
Michelle