Shy GCC in pet store tugging on my heart

I must make a preamble to my first comment below - I have not had much exposure to birds. The once or twice that I did they scared me because I thought I was going to have my finger bitten off. Perhaps a little dramatic but it was what it was. I had also never noticed a bird's interaction with a human. So then..

I never really paid much attention to the birds in the pet store....
until I spotted a beautiful sun conure...I walked up and started talking to him and moving my head and he started copying me! then I started doing more nodding with my head and he started bouncing around like he was dancing. Anyway, everytime I was in the store I would make a point of stopping in to say hi. After a couple visits though he was gone and there was a green cheeked conure in his place - Tanzy - with a "shy but will warms quickly" notation on his cage. He didn't respond as adamantly, but he still would quickly move over to the edge of the glass to get as close as possible to my face.

Well I have visited him a couple times now thru the glass and most recently twice with my family in person. He liked to sit on our shoulders and hide/play in our hair. He seemed a little nervous sitting on our fingers but was better when sitting in our palms. He nibbled and tasted our hands and shirts, but never bit. He made a few little noises, so cute! He is already 9 months old, poor guy has probably been at the pet store(s) since he was 2 or 3 months old. His colors are beautiful - bright green, red and a pale yellow on his belly, bright blue on his wings and red on his tail. The employee says she has noticed that when he poops on his perch and it falls on his stand - he will step in it, whereas other birds won't do that.

SO .... now is my dilemna. I have no idea if he was well socialized as a baby, no idea if has been exposed to other house pets as a baby, etc. If I get a GCC from a good breeder will I have a more easily adaptable, better socialized bird? The breeder I'm looking at has a small indoor/outdoor aviary and exposes her birds to the household activities including other pets. Am I off track here? How does the pet store GC seem to you guys, since I'm not experienced with bird behavior. I am already getting emotionally attached to him... but I'm trying my best to follow my brain. Oh, and going along with that - pet store price is $349, breeder price is $300 but includes bird outfitted shipping crate.

There are many advantages to a breeder as you have noted - because of these many people will encourage you to stick with breeders as you are more likely to find a good bird there. But if you have already found a good bird at a pet store I see no reason to pass him up.

Auggie is from a pet store - though it was one I had been working at for a while.

In the store you are describing it sounds like the GCC has had plenty of socialization with people, and has undoubtedly at least seen other animals throughout his time there. From what you describe the pet store bird sounds like a winner.

Of course you can look around, if you find an equally good bird at the breeder then you save $49. However it sounds like you're already attached to the store bird - that's worth far more than $49.

When you find the right bird you know it - if that's the case here it doesn't matter where he's from.

I love those GCC ... they are GREAT BIRDS! Little birdie package with all the BIG BIRDIE ATTITUDE.

My GCC is from a "specialty parrot store" and my Sun Conure is from a PetCo ... they are both great companions and I wouldn't have it any other way ...

Don't hesitate to purchase a bird from a "pet store" if that's the only reason stopping you. I am a big advocate of ADOPTING, but I do realize that not everyone has this option available to them (no local shelters, etc.)

Green Cheek Conures are great birds as a "first" parrot ... but I would ask that you understand what you are getting into before you make any purchase of a new parrot companion.

Let me also warn you of this ... Conures are highly addictive, just understand that going into this.

TexDot33 said:

Green Cheek Conures are great birds as a "first" parrot ... but I would ask that you understand what you are getting into before you make any purchase of a new parrot companion.

Click to expand...

thanks for the feedback. I have been reading as much as I can - and am almost read completely thru the Parrots for Dummies. I see that having a bird companion is truly that - a companion. I see also that they are not so easy as a dog in the care department. So that is exactly what I am trying to do = understand what I am getting into - and making sure I can "handle" it. This is part of the reason I joined this parrot forum to begin with, so I can get some feedback from the people who really know - and not from someone trying to sell me on a bird. Should I probably post a new thread to further discuss my particular circumstances at home, maybe under the General Information forum?

GO FOR IT !!! I did I bought my gereen cheek when he was 10 week, (he is now 19 weeks) Have not been sorry, in fact I can not wait to get up in the morning, and get home after work. He has great personality, is fun, loves to play, affectionate, does not bite hard if at all, loves the dog. I did buy a cage that was probabaly larger then necessary but he loves his toys and if I drop in during the day he is always playing and molesting his veggies. If you have the time, routine and can afford it go for it!!!

Seems to me like that bird would be a good match for you. The best parrot is the one that chooses you, and that parrot has chosen you. If the bird likes you and seems well adapted to all the other customers in the store, is healthy, and you get a health guarantee, then you should buy him.

GCC are very nice birds. They can get nippy sometimes but handling and gently setting them down when they do usually takes care of it. Not all birds are friendly at pet stores so if this one is and allows handling it is a good sign of a socialized bird.
So, what will the birds name be?