Quiet Green Cheeked Conure

Hi everyone,

Just curious.... I have a 6yr old Green Cheeked Conure called Chocky and he's very quiet. He's always been quiet except for when telling the vacuum or the mower to be quiet. He likes silence.

I work during the days so he spends a lot of time alone, he comes out wearing his Flight Suit in the evenings, and the only sound he makes is the "quacking" sound, like he's feeling content and happy.

We go for walks sometimes, and he just sits on my shoulder silently the whole time, and only makes a little sound when he sees an aircraft way up high, then he does a little growl.

The only other sounds he makes are when we're all eating our dinner and he's out in the front room and wants to eat with us (join the flock), and that's like a loud chirp so most times I'll go get him and put his suit on.

other than that, he's silent. He's not very active either.

He can wave and turn around on command and he enjoys that, but other than that.... quiet and still. Just sits there lookin' around. He's never been any different.

is this normal? Have I done something wrong? does he need a friend or something? Is he broken from being in his cage all day long alone? Should I re-home him with someone who can give him more activity?

any thoughts would be appreciated

Thanks

Chocky's mum

just to add....

The only time I saw him mucking around and having fun etc was when I bought him. He had a little friend (light green and gray conure) and they were playing chasing games. I regret not buying his friend to come with him.

I just need to know whether I'm doing the right thing by Chocky. Is he not happy? I want him to be more loose in the house but the husband won't tolerate it, so I can't improve things on that front.

This is Chocky in his Flight Suit doing tricks

Hiya Chocky, and welcome to you and your mum You don’t live in Australia do you? Chocky being Australian for chocolate after all ...

My ex-GCC called Baci was named after my very favourite brand of chockies and he was always fairly quiet and self-contained. He LOVED his evening snuggle and wasn’t really a screamer, although he did used to yell through the window at me when he spotted me walking home from work.

Have you had Chocky all his life? If so he’s probably fairly accustomed to the way his flock/household works by now. We had Fang the cockatiel the whole time that we had Baci and I can’t say that they were exactly friends but I guess they did kinda commune with each other on a birdie level. You probably don’t really need to get Chocky a friend as it may upset the equilibrium in your home. It’s a pity your husband isn’t more on board with you and Chocky, he is also unlikely to be thrilled with the idea of another bird which is also unfortunate. Rehoming may not be a good idea either as it will upset poor Chocky and you may well end up regretting that decision.

Whatever you decide to do I hope you and gorgeous Chocky will stick around with us and join the fun

Hi my GCC Ta-dah is quiet. She makes kiss sounds as her flock call, sometimes when I walk by her she says hello, she makes a happy sound when yummy treats are given.
She has a lot say at night time snuggles though. But over all very quiet. She is very active though.
I'm not sure if you covered diet, cave placement, amount of sleep?
I can tell you I had my first GCC by herself for ten years, and I think she was very happy. Then I brought home a second GCC and she was even more happy. One never knows what will happen with w second bird, but a lot of us here have more than one. Always quarantine first, abd you need a complete second cage set up.
Edit: I saw hubby really I'd t into the whole bird thing so not sure two would be better...
What does he reject about bird being out? If it's poops, since your bird wears a flight suit, they do make poop suits. If he doesn't like the bird flying, maybe you can have him on your shoulder while in the harness? Can get work with you on this?
There are lots if in cage forage ideas you can get by searching. GCC love to untie knots, I read this, offered knots and found it to be very true. EllenD recommend offering old paperback books to shred mine like that to. Under the toy forum I posted a link to toy article, with a break down on toy types bear the bottom of the article.
I do think they can get a little closed down if not out of the cage enough...

YOU LUCKY SON OF A ...

No both my girls are pretty quiet too, they even let me sleep during the day without a peep.

They do contact calls when I get up to leave, and sometimes I do something to get the chirps going....like yelling out....."CHIRP!" and we all chirp around then it just goes back to contentment. Conures are either happy on you or going friggin insane trying to get attention.

For inactivity, put the bird on the floor...and play tag. or chase.... Clark can sit on me for hours completely content, but I'll put him on the floor and crawl like a dog or move around and kinda sort of make her follow me and chase me then I'll chase her....you need a floor to do this though can't really do anything on a desk or couch.

A quiet conure.... I'm very jealous. Kermit has her quiet MOMENTS, but there's hours of the day where we all wish to be somewhere else.

The fact that you've invested a lot of time training Chocky to wear a flight suit and do tricks speaks for itself. That you also are home frequently and take him out for walks speaks moreso. His personality just might be a lot more subdued, and that's ok. It sounds like you spend a lot of time with him. If he was unhappy, you would know. Unhappy birds start acquiring behavioral issues like screaming, plucking, biting, etc. I think he's doing ok. If you do add another bird, just make sure it isn't only for Chocky's sake

Do you change the toys around in his cage and even the perch positions? Syd is average for noise but he's always busy. I change the whole look of his cage about x2 each week. It makes me laugh when I get him up in the morning and he hesitates before popping into his day cage almost as if he doesn't recognise it. On those mornings I see him working out how to get from place to place. There is just one toy - a bell - that I leave in permanently because he loves it and 'kills' daily.

I have to say that Chocy doesn't sound unhappy to me.

I hide treats within toys or wrapped in tissue and count it as a success if he doesn't find them until later in the day.

Chocky said:

View attachment 22033

This is Chocky in his Flight Suit doing tricks

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My GCC won't stay still long enough to get in a flight suit.

Every bird is different, and this could just be his personality, but I doubt it...If I had to guess, I'd bet everything I own that it's due to you keeping him in a flight suit... pretty typical behavior for that situation because it's completely unnatural for them, and it makes them feel constricted, confined, and they curl up into themselves and become subdued completely...

HE DOES NOT NEED A FRIEND, AND YOU SHOULD NOT RE-HOME HIM! Sorry to "scream" at you, but birds don't ever accept or make "friends" like dogs or other pets do, and you have no idea how he would react to any bird you might bring home, or vice versa...If the hate each other then you've got 2 birds that can't ever be together and they both suffer. If then love each other and bond closely with each other, then any bond you have with them is likely gone, and you end up with 2 birds that want nothing to do with you...And you cannot ever just put them in the same cage together, birds are extremely territorial and do not share well with one another...So, all that being said, ONLY buy a second bird because YOU want a second bird, and only do it with the assumption that they won't be able to interact with each other at all. This is not his issue anyway..

I would absolutely try removing the flight suit immediately and leaving it off of him for a good week or two, don't put it back on him at all during that time period, and see if he starts opening up and enjoying life...If that doesn't happen and you don't see any changes within a good couple of weeks with the suit not on him at all, then your next step is a complete wellness-exam with a Certified Avian Vet that includes full blood-work and Fecal Testing, which should be done yearly anyway. However, I really believe your bird isn't acting like a happy, healthy, energetic bird because of the flight suit...They really are horrible things that are so unnatural for a bird to wear, and they also often cause medical issues with their feathers, they can cause topical skin and feather-follicle infections, the can cause GI Tract Fungal/Yeast Infections (this happens a lot), and most of all they just make birds feel horribly uncomfortable, constricted, restricted, and just totally unnatural...I'd at least give it a try for his sake and take the thing off of him and leave it off of him for at least a week or two so he has time to realize that you're not going to just put it right back on him and that it's gone...And if he starts to gradually open up a little each day and starts talking, chirping, singing, becomes more and more energetic, etc., then you have your answer...

Flight suits are great for taking them outside with a leash attached (though I prefer a harness), but they are not meant to be worn all the time every day, and certainly not inside of their cages or all the time they are out of their cages...Birds have the natural freedom of flying and being totally unrestricted, and then you put them in a flight suit all the time and they feel just the opposite of free. He could very well be depressed due to that suit being on him all the time.

Hi Ellen, just to clear up, he doesn't wear the suit inside his cage. It's only when he's out in the house to stop him pooping everywhere. If he doesn't have the suit, he's not allowed out at all and I have to respect the feelings on this with other people in the house

Chocky said:

Hi Ellen, just to clear up, he doesn't wear the suit inside his cage. It's only when he's out in the house to stop him pooping everywhere. If he doesn't have the suit, he's not allowed out at all and I have to respect the feelings on this with other people in the house

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Well, birds do poop often and should be free to.
I suspect they poop frequently to stay as light as possible; They can take flight more quickly to escape predators.
I wonder whether the behavior you are concerned about is from Chocky not being able to poop when nature calls.
Perhaps he's constipated.

IMO a bird's physical/health requirements outrank the "feelings of the other people in the house".
I don't think I'd be too happy if I was prevented from doing my business when I needed to.

Perhaps you could rearrange things so Chocky (without his suit) spends his time over newspaper, like on playgrounds and stand perches around the house.
Otherwise, re-homing him might be best solution for him and the other people in your house.

Hi there, thanks so much for your feedback. I have not been playing with Chocky at all, especially since I had a baby 4 years ago. I just go through the motions, carry him around on my shoulder etc.

I have also forgotten to rearrange his cage. I used to do all this before being distracted with having a kid.

I like the idea of playing chasings on the floor or playing marbles with him.

My 4yr old is showing a lot of interest now, i just have to get him to stop squealing with excitement which makes chocky fly away. Maybe we can do things together with Chocky. We did actually put Chocky on Thomas the tank engine toy running along a track a year or two ago. Chocky seemed to be intrigued but with a 2 year old screaming with joy it was just too much for him to cope with. He had to keep flying away.

I'll try playing with him and getting my 4yr old to settle down

BTW we're in Australia )

YSGC - he does poop freely in his suit. It's a nappy.

Chocky said:

YSGC - he does poop freely in his suit. It's a nappy.

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Thanks for the clarification.
I've never used suits, harnesses or diapers for my birds.

Still, your concerns about his behavior, if it's not from constipation, perhaps might be from Chocky reacting to being in that suit.

So much of the parrot bonding, training, and trust I read about here and elsewhere is based on giving the bird as much freedom as possible to choose what it does.
It seems reasonable to me that being constrained in a suit must be anathema to a bird feeling free and in control of itself.

I'm certainly no expert.
I'm just thinking out loud in response to what might be causing your concerns with Chocky.

Hi YSDG

I don't disagree with you, it's just that I'm stuck in a situation where it's either the suit, or he doesn't come out at all. Even with sheets or newspaper, it's just not an option as the significant person in my life won't tolerate it.

The thing to think about is that Chocky loves us, we love him, and this is his home with a suit, and he's never known any different.

Would it be worth giving all of this up just to take a suit off?

Chocky said:

Would it be worth giving all of this up just to take a suit off?

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I don't know, but good question.

You came here seeking a solution.
Eliminating that suit may be it.

Hopefully others here can offer support for a more definitive yes or no answer.

Dear Chocky, My GCC Paddy is very quiet. He makes noise whistles when I'm in the kitchen. I'ts a single high pitched whistle. He likes to fly in circles around the room and then to the next.I think Chocky is happy,just quiet. I certainly wouln"t rehome him.Paddy makes little content noises too. Bonita

Dear Chocky,You might try playing the sterio Paddy will sing along with the music, the same tones. Bonita

Perhaps the solution is to play with him. give him attention again. This dropped off because i had a child.

we've just been playing with him playing chasings with my 4yr old and he's running about doing his quiet little quack.

I think he's just a quiet bird to begin with.

Time to play!

Thanks everyone