Introducing a new bird - Green Cheeked Conure.

[Jodie]

I'm really interested to get everyones opinions and/or first hand experience in introducing a new bird.

I have an 8 year old GCC, Henry, who I've had since he was a few months old. He is very bonded to me, although he has some strong bonds with a few other people. He has never lived with another bird. He can act aggressively if for example he sees me patting the dog - he will either attempt to bite the dog, or will come over and 'do kisses' until I stop patting the dog.

At the moment, although I work full time, he only spends around 2 hours a day in his cage - and this is often in the afternoon and he will eat then take a nap. Apart from that, he is free to fly around the house, play on his gym, etc (someone else is at home).

Now my dilemma is that I am planning on moving into a place on my own at the end of the year, meaning I am going to be at work full time and Henry will be at home.

So now I'm tossing up the idea of getting him a friend. But honestly, I have no idea how he'll react.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Obviously I don't feel strongly about having a single bird - at the moment I am Henry's flock and he's pretty content and well adjusted. However, if getting another bird is going to the best thing for him, then I am willing to do that. Knowing Henry, I am doubting he will react well to another bird - but then again, how can I possibly know that?!

I just want to hear some thoughts/opinions on this.

Thanks guys!

-- EDIT
I should clarify the aggression shown to the dog is only at certain times throughout the year. Generally Henry is very fond of the dog (although clearly I NEVER leave them alone or allow Henry to be on the floor with the dog!) and not aggressive at all.

[pchela]

Unfortunately it just depends on the birds and there is no way to know unless you bring one home. You can't really get a loaner bird to test these things out. I don't suppose you have a friend with a Green Cheek? Maybe you could set up a play date just to see how they would react?
(of course you'd have to make sure that the friends bird was vet checked and disease free before allowing them to interact)

As for having two birds, I am a firm believer that if we can't be with our birds all of the time, there must be at least two birds in the house. Not in the same cage but close enough to each other that they can chat and keep each other company. They are flock animals and when they are completely alone it is dangerous for them. I think that for their well being they just need to have a companion at all times. Even if they don't get along, I think it is better than one bird being alone in the house.

Also, it should increase your chances of two birds getting along if you get another Green Cheek or another Conure in the Pyhurra family. It's not a necessity of course... lots of birds of different types have been known to get along. I have a Caique and a Grey who are best friends, but I have to say that is really not typical. I have also heard that it is easier to have all birds of the same sex but I'd have to research that to see if their is any truth to it. If you get the same type of bird, it would be easier to get the same sex just to avoid pair bonding and mating temptations.

Good luck with your decision! I know there are lots of good birds out their in need of rescue and I noticed in another post you said you would never buy a bird (which I think is awesome!) so perhaps you will provide a loving forever home for some lucky bird out there right now.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Well, we are out of the house for the better part of the day at work, and we occasionally travel for up to a week and we have the single GCC. He seems to be OK, although I have considered getting some sort of companion bird. The daily routine isn't a problem, but he does seem a bit affected when we are gone for several days (a sitter does visit twice a day).

[Jodie]

Yeah it's a tricky one.. I have a similar view that I do believe he should have a companion at all times. At the moment, he does. But my living arrangements will deifnitely be changing and I would hate to see a change in his behaviour, or any negative behaviours begin due to this.

I wouldn't be in a position to come home throughout the day at all either. I think the next step will be a play date..

Yeah I would definitely get a rescue as well. Not that I'm pushing my views onto others (each to their own) but I definitely could never purchase a parrot.. or any other animal.
I work for a huge animal shelter, and in the last two months alone we've had two GCC's come through the door (which is a little odd for us, we see thousands of cats and dogs but parrots used to be much more rare). So unfortunately I have to see the other side of the 'animal/pet business' and it's not so pretty. Plus I contribute as much as I can to parrot rescues, so I would just feel like a hypocrite to go out and buy one.

Who knows.. we'll see how Henry's play date goes and perhaps we'll be taking in a little Conure friend!

[Charely&Bubby]

I am going to be introducing Bubby a GCC to Charley my Cinnomon GCC ... I do not know either of their gender.... so any way I was interest to arrive at the forum after a google search on having two GCC together and introducing them.... I found the replies here helpful I will be sure to let the forum know how it goes...

B&C

[marie83]

I honestly think it depends on how long your going to be out for because if the two birds do not get on then it's going to be alot of extra time allowing them seperate out times, will you really have time for that?
On the other hand if you are out alot then I don't think a bird should be kept alone either. I've always had a minimum of two birds I don't think they have to be the same species but if your going for a different one you will need to pick very carefully. Green cheeks can and will bully others but at the same time you don't want to end up with a bigger bully where neither bird knows to back down. For that reason another green cheek in a seperate cage would probably be best and closely supervised out times after quarentine period and slow introduction.

[cmaygar]

All birds will react differently to the introduction of a new friend. I have two young GCCs that are caged separately although their cages are placed right next to each other. They chatter to each other quite often and one calls to the other when I have one out at a time. My turquoise GCC is the more aggressive of the two and has attempted to bite the pineapple when I've brought them close together. They seem to be bonded because they have a great relationship and definitely keep each other company during the day when I work. It's fun to listen to them chatter to each other in the evenings. I'm glad that I got the second GCC because they really seem to enjoy each other's presence even though they are not caged together or out together at the same time.

[scully3915]

I had a green cheek, and a cockatiel , they were the best of friends. No problems at all with my little cuddly bug greenie. Then i got a hans macaw, and he was never the same, however much attention i paid to him.

[marie83]

I had a green cheek, and a cockatiel , they were the best of friends. No problems at all with my little cuddly bug greenie. Then i got a hans macaw, and he was never the same, however much attention i paid to him.

Aww, my 'tiel but she does not like my GCC at all. Probably because he is fascinated with her crest and keeps trying to grab it. We have to cover the top of the green cheeks cage when harlie is out cuz I fear for her toes should she land on his cage. I've only had them both out together twice before and he kept trying to knock her off my shoulder.

[liz]

You never know if they will be buddies, enemys or just tolerate each other.

Myrtle tried to attach herself to Rambo on first sight. She kept telling him hello and he would answer. He finally got tired of her hellos and asked her "you got a problem?".

Rambo didn't like the idea of another bird in his house. To this day he will not say her name. When they are alone they talk back and forth and eat together as well as preen each other. When they are in seperate rooms they will call to each other. If we are all in the same room Rambo ignores Myrtle.