Green Cheeked Conure for a beginner?

Hi! I've been researching a Green Cheeked Conure for months, and I've always wanted one, but I've never had enough money. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and my parents said that I could get one. I've never had a bird before, but my dad is pretty experienced with birds, but the bird is mostly going to be in my care. I've done lots of research, and I care for my reptiles and fish daily. Do you think this would be a good bird for me to get? Thank you!

Classy said:

Hi! I've been researching a Green Cheeked Conure for months, and I've always wanted one, but I've never had enough money. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and my parents said that I could get one. I've never had a bird before, but my dad is pretty experienced with birds, but the bird is mostly going to be in my care. I've done lots of research, and I care for my reptiles and fish daily. Do you think this would be a good bird for me to get? Thank you!

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I think Green cheeks are just great for beginner birds. They come in a range of wonderful colours, they are quirky and playful with loads of personality. They do make wonderful pets. I would try to make sure you find a cheeky and animated bird that seems to have an inquisitive nature, I have one and he is super cuddly and close to me but doesn’t have much of an inquisitive personality as what I have seen others. Each bird is different so I hope you finally get your dream bird


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While they're usually not recommended for kids, like Gracepol said they are great pets (haven't been owned by one, but want to). There are however some considerations to think about.

I don't know what your situation is, but I assume you're still in school. You do have a degree of uncertainty of where you're going to end up when you're still in school. That's the biggest reason I haven't gotten one yet. Unfortunately, a lot of birds get rehomed because of this, which is very bad for them. Here's a useful thread to consider:
What Students Should Ask Before Getting a Bird.

Another thing to consider is the cost. Sure you're getting one for your birthday, but there are other costs such as a large cage initially, a pellet based diet, and an annual visit to the vet. Here's another useful thread:
The cost of owning parrots


If you can provide these, along with 2-3 hours a day of attention and out of cage time, sure go for it! Just stuff to consider.

Hi! Thanks for your replies. I have some of my own money to chip into this, but my parents offered to pay the rest (we have already worked out the costs). After school, I finish up my homework, but this usually leaves me about 4-5 hours after that I can do what ever I want in. I dedicate this time to taking care of my reptiles and fish, and if I do get a bird this is when I'll play with it and care for it. Thank you for the help.

Absolutely!

Are your parents willing to pay for annual visits to a Certified Avian Vet, as well as one to check your bird when you get it to make sure it's healthy? These checkups are definitely needed, even if nothing seems wrong as birds hide their symptoms when they're sick. This can be costly, depending on where you live.

To locate an Avian Vet, I think this site works pretty well:
aav.org

And, this forum has TONS of useful threads to read with lots of great information. Everyone here is supportive and friendly, so ask as many questions as you like.

Hi! They are willing to do that. Do you think you guys could link me some good cages?

Whether or not a green cheek will be a good bird for you will depend entirely upon you and your family. Green cheeks have a bad reputation for being nippy birds because, IMO, people do not know how to handle and interact with them.

I've had birds since I was 12 and can say it has greatly influenced my life choices. I have never moved in with anyone as a roommate because I know birds can be loud and messy, and many things that people use in their own home can be dangerous to birds.

Candles, air fresheners, certain non-stick pans, some grills... these things and other items can be harmful to birds and it can be a lot to ask family or roommates to give those things up.

MonicaMc said:

Candles, air fresheners, certain non-stick pans, some grills... these things and other items can be harmful to birds and it can be a lot to ask family or roommates to give those things up.

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Oh ya! Forgot to mention that, good call. A good thread for more details on that:

Toxic List for our Birds.

I am hard pressed to say a green cheek conure is good for beginners. I have 2 conures and I can just as easily ignore them as I can climb Mount. Everest. I will insert a part of a post I made yesterday to someone else on another thread but modified for your situation.

"Keep in mind that getting a conure is like getting a perpetual 2 to 5 year old child that lives 20 to 35 years (GCC) but never grows up. At my house we bend to the will of our birds more often than not and our lives are pretty much centered around them much like if you were to have a child. It's hard to imagine unless it's happening to you."

It is a HUGE responsibility and if you want them to be happy and healthy you must dedicate a large chunk of your life to them. It may not always be what you want to do but you must do it. Parrots are unlike a dog or a cat who doesn't care that much who feeds them or pets them but a parrot will care a huge amount who is spending time with them it's not even possible to understand how much they will care if you are there or not. I personally don't think your parents understand what you're asking of them and I am not sure you fully understand how big of a deal this is. You can't go out to a party and then stay the night at a friends house night after night or participate in school sports and keep this little GCC in a cage and see it 30 minutes a day or some days not at all. That's not how birds work, especially one as intelligent and as lively as a conure. If no one pays attention to the bird or the person they bonded with as a mate is not around they can become self destructive and become aggressive and develop a screaming habit (and once that starts it's hard to get them to stop). I just wanted to say all these things and if you feel you and your parents are truly ready then good luck and happy birding to you all.


Also the cost of owning a parrot is much more than you would think. Please read this 1st: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/71897-cost-owning-parrots.html

Yes They are great for beginners. Read up on bite training. don't be discouraged if you get a new guy and he is nippy. They generally are but they can be trained, but in some circumstances it can take awhile. So patience is key. My black capped conure (very related to GCC) isn't very inquisitive, he just goes to the highest point of his outside perch or cage and watches (for predators?) but my GCC loves to check things out, hang upside down, sometimes he walks upsidedown across the ceiling of his cage. It's cute. He likes to chew on things, and they both occasionally are nippy. My black capped NEVER bites but now that it's hormone season he is really unpredictable. He gets all poofy and goes on biting rampages and it can break skin very easily. You will have to get used to the occasional nip, until they understand that is something undesired. I love their personalities and I think with proper training you will have a wonderful pet. When you are shopping for a bird, try and find one that is comfortable being on you without aggression and it should make training easier. Each bird will display it's own personality and it's not uncommon to find a sweetheart born just for you. They will bond with you and be your best friend. Sometimes you have to let them pick you. Good luck!

Also, have you thought about a cockatiel? I have my strongest bond with my cockatiel and he is an amazing creature. He sings and whistles and serenates me. He gives kisses and thinks my feet are his girlfriends. They are cheaper too. The best part is you can tell what they are thinking just by the level of their "hat" as I call it on their head. they can talk, but it's usually pretty distorted, mine says "gimme kiss" and "whatcha doin" but that's up for debate cause it's not very clear. He can whistle like no other and sings his own songs as well as things I have taught him. He is quieter then my other birds too. Big personalities... Just a thought...

I think a cockatiel as Yumgrinder suggested is a wonderful idea also. Great little birds!

I'll second all of the above.

Some other considerations I just thought of:

Are you ok with trying to seek out a good, private breeder? Most pet stores, although tempting due to convenience, don't know how take care of birds properly. The probability will generally be much higher that you'll get a bird with behavioral issues from a pet store as apposed to a breeder, not to mention their weaker genetics (more susceptible to disease, etc).

Another thing to consider is noise. If your parents are fine with the noise level of a conure, great. But you won't live with your parents forever. You may move to an appartment and while you may not get a loud bird (every individual is different), you might. This would be unfair for your neighbors and you could end up getting evicted. Just something to consider.

There was a good thread for noise, I'll see if I can find it.

I'd strongly encourage you honestly read the advice of all people above. It's good advice that you should honestly consider.

A cockatiel may be easier for a beginner, but that doesn't mean a conure is a bad idea. A Green Cheek Conure might be perfect for the RIGHT beginner, or could be a disaster for a beginner who isn't prepared and determined enough to handle it. Classy is doing the research and reaching out to experienced Parronts to make sure they make the right choices and do the right things, so that's a good sign that Classy might be the RIGHT kind of person for a Green Cheek Conure.

Classy, here's a few things to think about when choosing between a Conure and a Cockatiel:

1. How much time can you spend with your parrot? Cockatiels are a bit more forgiving if you spend less time with them. Green Cheek Conures can get very loud and need a lot of love and attention in order to be very happy.
2. How do you feel about a loud bird? Cockatiels whistle and can make some loud calls, but they are a lot quieter than a Green Cheek Conure. Green Cheeks are quieter than Sun Conures and larger parrots, but if they are calling out for you or trying to get attention they can make some pretty darn loud cries.
3. How do you feel about getting bitten? Cockatiels have smaller beaks, and their bites are a little less painful. An Conure's bite can really hurt, especially if they are very angry.
4. How much cuddling and snuggling are you hoping for? Cockatiels can be very cuddly, but a Green Cheek Conure can be a TRUE Cuddlebug. If you get one, be prepared to share your personal space with the Conure... a LOT.

Based on those answers, which parrot do YOU think sounds more like what you are looking for?

ALSO!!!! Keep in mind Cockatiels and Conures both can live about 30 years (give or take 5 years). Where will you be in 30 years? Your little parrot will want to go with you, whether you are going off to college or plan to do some traveling after school, or having children of your own. It's a very sad life for a bird whose Parront is no longer willing or able to care for them.

Good luck!!! We're here to help and would love to hear what you choose and how it works out.

Hi! Thank you so much for all these responses, I'm super sorry if I can't respond to all of them. For the post above, here are all of my responses:
1. I can spend a pretty large chunk of my time with him each day, about 2-4 hours a day.
2. Everyone in my family is fine with a loud bird, and I am too. My only question is, will they still call and yell at night? Or will they be okay and just sleep.
3. I'm fine with getting bitten by animals.
4. I'm hoping for my bird to be really cuddly.
Thank you so much!

Ok that's good.

Being able to spend time with a bird is good. If I may ask though, do you know for sure you will be able to so in the future? Like with university or a future job (or both)? I highly recommend you read the thread I linked to earlier about students and birds if you haven't already.

I honestly don't know if they would call at night. Someone that's had one will more likely be able to answer that one.

And for a bird to be cuddly doesn't come naturally, I think. You have to work with it and have a bond. Also, pet store birds may never be cuddly from what I've seen, they don't socialize them from birth like breeders do. All pet stores are just in it for the money, they don't care about the birds. I have two budgies that we got at the pet store (before I was on this forum and knew this) and they're just now after about 5 years become a little bit tame. Just something to think about.

Hi! I can't see into the future, but I'm almost 100% sure that I would be able to take of this bird in years to come ( I know stuff can change but this is with my current situation). When researching about them I came across some really good private breeders where I live that seem very experienced.

What will you do if you live in a college dorm when you're older? You will not be able to take birdie with you. :-(

Classy said:

When researching about them I came across some really good private breeders where I live that seem very experienced.

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That's great!

Sunnyclover said:

What will you do if you live in a college dorm when you're older? You will not be able to take birdie with you. :-(

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I mean, not necessarily. It would be harder, and you couldn't live in the dorm, but you could do it if you really wanted to. It might mean getting an appartment that's a bit of a walk to the university, but if you really wanted to take the bird with you you could find a way.

Edit: I just realized you said college dorm and not college, sorry.

My Yoda doesn't call out at night normally. If we are up and making noise or something happens to wake him (loud noise, too many lights) then he may wake up and call out as if to ask what's going on. When that happens I'll just softly and sweetly tell him I am here and everything's all right and tell him Good Night Yoda. He usually goes back to sleep after that.

For the first couple of hours, and on and off through the night Yoda also makes little grumbly, purry, muttering sounds that are REALLY cute. We call them his "goblin" noises because he sounds like a little goblin muttering to himself.

You're right that you can't see into the future about when you go off to college. Maybe you won't live in a dorm (I didn't), maybe you won't go to college (not all careers start with college!), who knows? Keep it in mind though, a Conure isn't like a dog or a cat, Conures live a lot longer and the bond between a parrot and parront is so much deeper than a dog or a cat. Plan to keep yours for 30 years, it's like having a child almost. No parent should ever abandon their child because the child is inconvenient, same goes for your fid.

The more time you spend with the conure, the happier the conure will be. Even if you are just watching TV or doing your homework, they will be very happy just to be with you, on your shoulder or a nearby playgym. Give him plenty of love and attention, play with him, train him, talk to him, and you'll have a very happy, very cuddly, very loving conure. Leave him in his cage alone and ignore him and you will have a very loud, screaming, miserable bird who bites you if you reach for him. It's up to YOU. You're making the right choices so far, just by learning and being enthusiastic.

there's also another part which has been looked over, but are your parents and yourself aware of toxic dangers? All the non-stick cookware, self cleaning oven, air fresheners, perfumes and many many many many more things. Are they really also prepared to spend a couple hundred every single time the bird looks under the weather. Realistically I would say it is better to wait until you are in full time work because unless you become insanely lucky employment wise there will be times you're gonna struggle without a bird to drain your wallet. The last thing you or anyone else wants is to have your bird for 2 or 3 years then whisk off to college or work and the bird to become ignored purely because life is too busy