GCC questions?

As you might know one day I want a Green Cheek Conure. But probably the two things that are holding me back are biting and the fact that they go through a bad, bity stage and get all protective and stuff. Is this true? I dont want a bird that will only be sweet for the first little while...

Also, how do you stop biting? Can you make them not nippy? (im alright with a few bites, of course. Im used to it with my other animals XD)

And one more thing, im not really sure what is a good price with CCC's. I see some that are about 150-175. Is that cheap?

Thanks

Oh heavens, don't worry about the biting stage! Yes, they are nippy, and sometimes it hurts, but it is SO worth it. When I think of my birds I think about how cute and sweet they are and how much I love them, not about the few bites I've had that broke the skin.

He/she may go through a nippy stage. Re-direct, re-direct, re-direct. If a simple "no biting" or blow in the face or hand jiggle (to make them let go, not fall off) doesn't work, just re-direct their attention to something else. Move him/her to a different perch, give him a toy, put him in his cage, offer him a bath... Basically you are making them think of something other than biting you. That stage will pass and you'll be ok, they are pretty small.

My GCC is still very "beaky" in that she uses her beak a lot, but she rarely bites me hard enough that it hurts. Only if she and her buddy Toby are having a squabble and I separate them, then I might get nailed. But even that isn't too bad.

You might consider some of the other conure breeds that are known to be less nippy if you are really worried about it. Toby, my other conure, is a rose-crowned conure and is not nippy at all. I don't think he's ever bitten anyone, but he IS a picker (scabs, random hairs).

Here in Canada in my area we pay about $150-$200 for a "plain" GCC and $300-$500 for the mutations.

They go thru stages.....if you get a handfed baby he will probably be an angel for a while.....mine was. Then as he got older I thought I had made a mistake he got so nippy. Then with a lot of work and watching his body language, he came back to a sweet bird. Yes he has gone thru stages of being nippy since then especially when he is molting. I think he doesn't like being touched because it hurts. Just watch the body language and you will know when to leave him alone. When he gets too nippy at times, he gets a time out in the cage. Don't yell, just a firm NO.
As I put him in the cage I tell him to be a "good boy" in a nice voice. That way he doesn't associate it with punishment and make him hate his cage. After he calms down he comes out and we try again. You can learn his body language and avoid a lot of bites, but having said that, I think you will have to accept an occasional bite from any bird. Just interact with him a lot and create a deep bond, Gcc's can be vengeful, they like to have the last word...or bite. LOL Hope this helps. Oh and they do require a LOT OF ATTENTION>

i would definently have a GCC then a Aratinga. They sound way too loud XD lol

Now that I think about it, Im used to biting (especially with my sisters puppy XD) That I think I can handle a nippy stage. I dont mind it that much because its worth it.

Im been looking at Craigslist, Hoobly and Oodle. Anywhere else I can look?

In our area, DFW Texas the plain ones are $150- yellow sided and other variations 200-350

Rose-crowned conures aren't Aratinga, they are Pyrrhura rhodocephala. They are roughly the same size as a GCC, and are (mine is, at least, and as a species they are known to be) both quieter and less nippy.

But yeah, you will weather the nippy stage just fine. Maybe I got lucky but with Libby it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. Just don't take it personally but also don't let it become a game (my coworker's lovebird bites because he gets a reaction - it makes for irritating bird-sitting, lemme tell ya!). It won't last forever.

The other thing I did not touch on, is don't let it escalate by jerking your hand away if the bird is still coming at your (aforementioned lovebird does this). A nip can turn into a bad bite if you get sucked into that game. What I do is: at the first sign of a bite, say "no", blow, or jiggle your hand. If biting continues, remove the bird manually from your hand or shoulder and redirect its attention with a toy or bath or water spray (if your bird likes that) or something. If the bird is still biting you at this point, move the bird to a perch or its cage. It's not a punishment, it's just a "here, change your thoughts and preen or play for a bit". Some people put their birds on the floor, too, for a moment (I don't, because my bird hated being on the floor). And through all this, read body language if you can. It's easier to avoid the bite in the first place by not doing whatever it is you do that ticks off your bird.

I think no one likes to be bitten, but those bites are worth it when those little babies look right in your eye and say "baby".....(that just happened) they are such little con artists and they are so worth putting up with the nips.

If Persie is getting aggressive which is very rare I usually push him onto the floor, he gives me a 'what am I doing here' look and I will ignore him, he will go off for a wander on his own and after a while he comes back not even thinking about biting but plenty happy...

JonnyG said:

If Persie is getting aggressive which is very rare I usually push him onto the floor, he gives me a 'what am I doing here' look and I will ignore him, he will go off for a wander on his own and after a while he comes back not even thinking about biting but plenty happy...

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I know that look. "What could I possibly have done wrong?" LOL