Biggest Mistake?

[paper_lantern]

My baby conure is coming home very soon, and being a first time bird owner I'm a bit nervous. I know I've done all the research I can, and I'm completely prepared when it comes to toys, cage, play-stands, food, etc. I even made sure to visit him before purchasing. I had a bad experience with a breeder who swore the bird she wanted to sell me was hand-tame...when I went to visit, he was NOT. Anyway, my new baby and I will be a perfect match, I know it. But as a first time bird owner I'm scared of making mistakes.

I'm sure everyone here has made mistakes at one point or another. Does anyone want to share the experiences they had when they were a first time bird owner? Did you make any mistakes (big or small)?

I'm sure knowing I'm not the only imperfect person will help settle my nerves a little

[dohcsvt]

What type of conure? There are vast differences between the species. I must say that my biggest mistake was impulse buying our first bird. But being is he is a green cheek conure, that mistake was forgiving and we have since adapted and bought a second bird (sun conure) after research, I wouldn't trade my boys for anything.

With the amount of research you seem have to performed and picking him out by hand, I would say you will do fine.

OK one big mistake, even if you think your bird cannot fly....do not take him outside. I thought my sun could only flutter to the ground so I took him out to bring the trash cans up while he was on my shoulder (as I had done several times previous) but this time....bam he flew off, soared up into the sky like an eagle and it was only by the grace of God that I was able to get him back. After a couple laps in the neighborhood, with me running like an idiot in chase, he finally landed in a tree in my backyard.

Best of luck!

[paper_lantern]

My new baby is a green cheek conure!

I'm glad you got your sun conure back, I can't imagine how horrible it would have been if you hadn't caught him.

[dohcsvt]

The only thing I can think of is that green cheeks are known for being nippy. Don't let him scare you. If he bites you just try to ignore it. They really do not have the beak strength to break the skin, so it may hurt if he nibbles, but DO NOT show fear. Best of luck!

[Cage Cleaner]

The only thing I can think of is that green cheeks are known for being nippy. Don't let him scare you. If he bites you just try to ignore it. They really do not have the beak strength to break the skin, so it may hurt if he nibbles, but DO NOT show fear. Best of luck!

Oh, they do have the beak strength to break skin. They do. But you still shouldn't let them scare you. They can't cause anything that would require the emergency room.

[paper_lantern]

I heard that the nippiness tends to go away after awhile...if it isn't reinforced. Is it a type of phase green cheeks go through? Or is it usually a life-long thing. My friend has one and he seems sweet, she said he was nippy for a month or two but he grew out of it.

[Cage Cleaner]

Mine was more nippy for a phase, but he still does bite. He came to me with that problem. Someone had taught him that he could get what he wanted when he bit. So he would actually bite while watching you for a reaction, and sometimes say "don't bite" while doing it.

Train him early and let him know that such behavior is intolerable, and when he hits adolescence, you may not have such a huge problem.

The thing about GCC's is that because they are a smaller bird, they do tend to move more quickly than their larger counter parts in the aratinga family. This makes it more difficult to control their bites, whereas with a larger --and therefore more slow moving conure -- their bites are easier to control.

In all honesty, a GCC is a blast, but if I knew what I knew now when first getting a bird, I wouldn't go for a GCC again. Mine is amazing and a riot, but they are quite nippy and I had to struggle with that for a while before we made good improvement in terms of not biting.

If you are intimidated by that at all, consider another species, or doing what you seem to be doing, which is starting from when they are a baby.

[dohcsvt]

[quote="Cage Cleaner"
Oh, they do have the beak strength to break skin. They do. But you still shouldn't let them scare you. They can't cause anything that would require the emergency room.[/quote]


Ok I am a guy and work with my hands (mechanic), maybe they will draw blood on uncalloused hands. But still do not show reaction. It actually took about a year for mine to stop, but he is adoreable. You will love your new family member. Good luck!

[MandyG]

Socialize, socialize, socialize! And get them used to being handled all over. Michael's taming articles cover a lot of this.

[TheNzJessie]

the biggest mistake i did with my rainbow lorikeet was react to him screaming, its very hard to break that cycle