Preparing for my first fid!

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
Hello parrot connoisseurs!
The adoption of 'my' little Cinnamon GCC has been officialized and I'll be
bringing him home on the 15th!

I have a few preparations that need to be made while I wait, however,
and wanted to ask you all what you did to prepare for your bird(s).

Because I'll be stocking up, I'd also like to know what toys/products you
find the most useful. Links are appreciated!

Countdown: 2 days

Since I'm sure you want to know, I'm going to call him
Draco
 
Last edited:

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Congratulations to you and Draco! Love the name, and we did want to know!

It's nice to have a cage set up and ready for occupancy. Perches in a variety of shapes and textures, placed for easy access to food and water dishes. You can't go wrong with My Safe Bird Store for toys and accessories, if you shop online. My birds like Roudybush pellets, but I've heard a lot of parrots won't eat them. I buy Higgin's Mayan Harvest seed blends. I also feed fresh chopped vegetables daily. It's a good idea to locate the closest avian vets and have a friendly chat with the office personnel, that way you have an office in mind in case of emergencies.

Please post pics of Draco's homecoming.
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Hello parrot connoisseurs!
The adoption of 'my' little Cinnamon GCC has been officialized and I'll be
bringing him home on the 15th!

Congratulations.....


I have a few preparations that need to be made while I wait, however,
and wanted to ask you all what you did to prepare for your bird(s).

Bought a cage.....


Because I'll be stocking up, I'd also like to know what toys/products you
find the most useful. Links are appreciated!

Find out what your green cheek has been eating, read through this link & after you have brought him home, you will have a starting database to develop, with Draco's help, a new diet for Draco: Parrot Food, Recipes and Diet - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community


Countdown: 11 days

Since I'm sure you want to know, I'm going to call him
Draco
 
OP
Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
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Thanks you two!
Draco's coming with his own cage, although it will make 'setting up' a hassle. It's nice and big, so no cage shopping for me.
I've heard you can use repti-sand as if it were kitty litter in the cage tray. What do you all think about this?

Also, I was told he's eating pellets, but not sure what brand. Thanks for the link, weco. I'll be sure to study up on dietary needs!
 

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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2
212
Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
I use newspaper and replace it daily.
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
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USA
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Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
I agree with Allee, you really don't want to offer sand or other grit to parrots as their crop, proventriculus & ventriculus can become impacted if they decide to ingest it.....
 
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Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
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Even if he 'decided to ingest' it, it'd be underneath the grate! :p
Do you think he'd find a way to get to it somehow? I'm concerned now..
 

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
As long as the substrate is far below the grating system it should be fine. How much spacing is there between the tray and grate?

But I'm proNewspaper! Cheap, easy, and good for the environment if you reuse them.
 
OP
Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
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A couple inches, I think. As previously stated, I don't have the cage yet.
I would use newspaper, if I didn't hate dealing with paper. The way it bends and folds annoys me to no end!
(Also, I'm no expert, but it seems to me that sand is, by definition, eco-friendly!)

One more question; In your experience, how often does poo hit the wall behind your cage?
 
Last edited:

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
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USA
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Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
(Also, I'm no expert, but it seems to me that sand is, by definition, eco-friendly!)

One more question; In your experience, how often does poo hit the wall behind your cage?

If your bird were able to get to & ingest sand, it would require X-rays, anesthesia and invasive surgery to remove the impaction and any time invasive surgery is performed on a bird, there is always the chance the bird may not make it through the surgery.....

I've got all conures, except one parrotlet, but I don't have to clean walls often.....usually not unless my Patagonian happens to be hanging on a cage wall & I don't catch her before she lets go with her morning presentation.....she's the only one of mine that can project that far, but if I had lories or lorikeets, I would probably have to mount plexiglass to the walls, they're real squirters.....

You don't want to use ground corncobs or ground walnut shells either, both can cause impaction & the corncobs can mold, while the ground walnut shells can lacerate a bird's digestive system & kill the bird.....
 
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Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
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  • #12
Thanks weco. That sounds pretty serious. I guess I'll use newspaper until I can determine if the tray is accessible to the bird or not.
 
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Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
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  • #13
What should I do i he decides he doesn't like me, or heaven forbid, he prefers my mother? I've been planning to have my mom do the 'dirty work' like putting him in the cage once we get home, or filing his nails. Will that cause him to distrust my mother?

Also, does anyone have any last advice on first-time ownership?

Thank you all for being so helpful. I appreciate each post.

Just 2 days left!
 

EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
I honestly think you have to "tough it out". I have two birds who absolutely hate me, but I continue to provide a loving and caring household because they didn't volunteer to be here. So rehoming them is out of the question hands-down. I need to continue their care as it was my decision (so it's now my responsibility--I'm their sole taker anyways)
There's always a chance that someone else would be the favorite, but you should still be doing as much as you can with him without pushing it. The responsibility shouldn't be left entirely with your mom.

Putting him in his cage shouldn't be a dirty work as long as he is taught that cage time is a good thing. Meaning that he can play with his toys and eat food. Maybe nail filing could be left to an avian vet? It makes it easier so that he hates the Vet for that rather than you or your mom. It wouldn't cause distrust. At the least, he would have a grudge on your mom.
 

ToriJo

New member
Nov 12, 2014
47
0
Ontario Canada
Parrots
KiKi 2yr old GCC
Yay congratulations!! I just got my GCC a couple days ago as well. Mine has only managed to poop within short range of her cage - I got a plastic floor mat that goes under the stand her cage sits on and that is about 3" wider on all sides and after three days that has a couple poops on it but the walls are clean!

I'm going through similar "what if she/he hates me?!" and honestly you just have to spend time with them - even the dirty jobs. If you're providing for them you will be their world. That might not make you their best friend but it still builds a bond. And from what I've seen and read about preventing over bonding- socializing and handling are your best tools.

You'll do great and Draco will love his new home :D Post pics when you get him!
 
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Roanoke

Roanoke

Member
Oct 30, 2014
195
2
Greenville, SC
Parrots
Teeko, GCC [Baby Amazon ETA: August 25th]
  • Thread Starter
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  • #16
Thank you EAI and Tori! Nothing beats hearing advice from other bird owners.
I will definitely try and tough it out, as you suggest.
My conure's owner let us pick him up a day early so I thought I'd post pictures for you all. However, my short post turned into a long one so I made a separate thread. 'Preparing' won't really be necessary anymore, will it? :)

Here's the link to my new thread, if you want: http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/49426-my-new-conure.html
 

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