Green Cheek vs Sun Conure??

[6finchfriends]

Ha ha Q! My husband's Goffin's 'Too Cisco has a bell and when he wants attention he rings the bell and stares at you, ring the bell and stare, ring... Over and over until he gives up. My Conures (all are boys sun conure and Green cheek plus Parrotlet and a 'Too) are in breeding mode right now and are (and will be) very noisy, and ill tempered for at least 2 more months. They shred their floor paper every day to 'make a nest' in case any girl parrots happen to fly by. When they are out for flight time they are looking for nesting sites. I've found a couple of my kitchen cabinets chewed on where they were trying to get in. My Sun Conure 'feeds' his toys when he's in breeding mode so I'm washing parrot puke off of his toys now too. Especially his bells. He loves his bells and spends a lot of time dancing and feeding them. Silly birds! Two of our birds are rescues. The Goffin's cockatoo, who barbers his feathers from a very bad home and our old man Parrotlet who never has played with a toy because he never had any. Dante, do a lot of reading on parrot behavior. Having your parrot on your shoulder for long times can (believe it or not) cause many behavior problems. I can't stress more how important it is to research, research, research before you commit to such a long living pet. They aren't domesticated so you can't erase the 'wild parrot' in them. To keep their brains busy you should teach them tricks. My GC is very smart but he's food motivated. Anyway, do some more research. There is a lot to taking care of a parrot. They are nothing like a Teal or smaller bird.

[DanteD716]

Dont worry, I will research, always do!

[6finchfriends]

Good. The internet is a fantastic tool. I'm sure you'll take some time to think about it. GCheeks can learn many tricks. My GC Beaker knows a lot of tricks. One I think is pretty cute. If I point my finger at him with my thumb up like a gun and say 'stick em up'! He will raise his wings up in the air. He's totally adorable and loves me but unfortunately will bite anyone that comes up to me if he's out. Luckily he gives a warning first.

[DanteD716]

Aww I want to teach mine that trick!! And I want to do that trick where you point a finger gun at him and say BANG and it drops to the floor playing dead I have akk summer to research!

[purplejasminevn]

Good. The internet is a fantastic tool. I'm sure you'll take some time to think about it. GCheeks can learn many tricks. My GC Beaker knows a lot of tricks. One I think is pretty cute. If I point my finger at him with my thumb up like a gun and say 'stick em up'! He will raise his wings up in the air. He's totally adorable and loves me but unfortunately will bite anyone that comes up to me if he's out. Luckily he gives a warning first.

he he he that is funny - warning first - ha? How many did he give before he bite them? 3 strikes ?

[Keiness]

I'm the lame one in this situation. I would say don't get a parrot until your older. Just because I had a pair of lovebirds for 8 years and had to rehome them a couple years before I went to university because I couldn't give them the needed attention between school, work, homework, studying etc. Broke my heart!

Though if your family is supportive and would help out (...mine not so much) then things would look better. A GC sounds like a good fit.

The best advice I was ever given, the first 2 weeks your bird will be a little angel. After the 2 week mark, the real personality starts to come out. Also, give bird the same amount of attention it will expect for the rest of it's life. I screwed up and took time off work when I first got my guy. I woke up early and had him out /all/ the time. Then I had to go back to my regular schedule and it was horrible. He screamed and baby bird cried when I would leave for work. I'd be practically crying when trying to leave because it was so bad. If I could have gone back I wouldn't have babied him so much in the beginning. He still has separation anxiety (not when I go to work now, thank goodness, but when I leave the room and he knows i'm home).

[purplejasminevn]

That is a great advice Dante from Keiness - some birds do have separation anxiety

[Dayna]

I agree with Keiness somewhat. If you decide not to wait and something happens where you can no longer keep the bird for whatever reason or can't take it with you for a few years and it's going to stay with your family then your family needs to form just as much as a bond with the bird as you. It's not just your future you have to thi about, it's also the bird. A bird that is bonded to you and to you only will not handle it well if you are all of a sudden gone from its life. It will put major stress on the bird and more than likely develop problems. I'm not trying to deter you from getting a parrot I'm just saying you have to think of the parrot too for future reference. They aren't like finches, they are like kids. You don't just give a kid away if things get tough or change so you have to think in the same frame of mind with your parrot.

[purplejasminevn]

They aren't like finches, they are like kids. You don't just give a kid away if things get tough or change so you have to think in the same frame of mind with your parrot.

[DanteD716]

Thanks for all the opinions, but I think I AM ready for this.. I saw this guy just now, she lives litteraly a few doors down from me http://buffalo.craigslist.org/pet/3109340071.html

[purplejasminevn]

Good luck - With All my Best - He is not hand tame so you will need to work him.

[Dayna]

He's beautiful. Just make sure he's really what you're looking for. You don't want to get him and be dissapointed afterwards because what you really want is a hand fed baby. One other thing is because he isn't hand tame no matter how much you work with him he may never turn into the cuddly bird you want. Just something to think about

[6finchfriends]

A lot of people give up their parrots when they reach sexual maturity (around 2 years old) because it takes so much patience and understanding. If they don't want to be messed with, you have to leave them alone. I can't even tell you how many hours I've spent on the internet researching parrot care. To avoid unwanted problems you really have to know what you're doing. Our old man Parrotlet is a rescue and he'll never be cuddly, talk or be very tame. He will step up on my finger some times but what works with him and keeps him happy is leaving his cage door open and he comes and goes as he pleases. As close as I can make it for a 'wild parrot' which is what he is. He puts himself to bed when he gets tired. They certainly aren't like dogs. Let us know what you decided to do. I admire you for thinking about taking an adult bird because so many need homes. Like I keep repeating, read as much as you can about caring and training a re-homed parrot first. It's slow going and can be months before you see results. Our Cockatoo was 5 years old when we got him and he didn't stop being afraid for over a year. My husband worked with him every day and it was slow going because he was abused. It was two full years before I could pick him up and not get bit. His owner was a woman and he didn't like women. I know you'll do a great job Dante if you choose to get your neighbors GC. 2 years is still pretty young so I doubt it would take too long to socialize him. He's very pretty!

[DanteD716]

Thanks guys!! and he is pretty riht, his cheeks donlook like a normal green cheeks? I kindof wanted a bird to work with, but maybe a handfed is easier? Im up for the challenge and this lady is rescuer so she would most llikely take him back if he is too much

[Dayna]

He's not a green cheek, he's a black cap conure. If you think you can do it then you can try. A hand fed will always be easier than a rescue and the more homes a rescue goes through before they get to their forever home a lot of the time the more damaged and harder to rehabilitate they become. Like Trish said he (hopefully) wont be too bad because he's only 2 but in order to really get an idea you really need to know the birds history first.