Hi all

abphoto

New member
Oct 6, 2018
9
Media
6
Albums
1
0
North Devon
Hi all we have just inherited the mother in laws conure after she unfortunately passed away, he's been with us a for a week and has become a lot happier here as he never liked the father in law and has always attacked him !! We let him out every day for a walk around and seem to have bonded well with him.
We were told he's a crimson bellied but after looking on here im not so sure ?
Meet Gino
displayimage.php
 
Last edited:

Rozalka

Well-known member
May 23, 2018
8,595
Media
61
Albums
2
8,790
Poland
Parrots
Bourke's parrots, green cheeked conure
Welcome to the forum! He is a yellow sided green cheeked conure;)
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
8,742
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Welcome!

You're my hero for rescuing this darling! He's beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad you found us.

Since you're brand new, may I offer you some basics, just in case you don't know yet?


Here's some reading on bonding for you.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community
http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2012...n-parrots.html


Most of us swear by our avian vets in the event of health concerns. I don't know where you are, but here are some links. I only have USA info...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.

What's the diet? That's critical for health. Too many are kept on seeds or other poor-nutrition things. They need veggies, legumes, grains... pellets are a good staple. Here's what I use.
Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

Since you're new parront, I'll just drop a note about avoiding teflon pans, which are lethal to birds when even slightly overheated.

I'm glad you're here. Lots to learn and share and enjoy!
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
Gorgeous bird (sorry no idea about the name) I am glad you like each other.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Welcome!

And as stated above, he is actually a green cheeked Conure and the color is called yellow sided. They are related to crimson bellies but not the same species :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
abphoto

abphoto

New member
Oct 6, 2018
9
Media
6
Albums
1
0
North Devon
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thank you for your replies he is a cute boy quite noisy at times though!! He was/is a bit of a biter but that has got better every day and part from him jumping in my glass of cider and having a good mouthful all is going well.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Welcome! I think it is great that you have given this bird a home!!!


I always feel like I have to warn new members about some dangers that they may/may not be aware of (especially since you didn't plan on owning a bird). If you already know all of this, ignore it, but here are some things I didn't know until I had a bird of my own. AGAIN..I always feel the need to volunteer this information, as it is not common knowledge to most non-bird owners and it can make the difference between life and death. Here we go :)

Pretty much anything with a scent shouldn't be used around your bird (no candles (scented or unscented-- it doesn't matter if they are "organic" etc-- they are still bad for their lungs), air fresheners (Fabreeze or car fresheners/oils/tags etc), perfumes, hairsprays, carpet shampoo, oil diffusions, spray-on deodorant, sharpie markers, hot glue guns, paint, shoe polish, nail polish, nail polish remover, cigarettes, BBQ grill smoke, bug spray, insecticide, burning food- esp smoking oil/butter etc etc)

Everyday household cleaners, such as Bleach, Lysol, Windex, Kaboom etc are also terrible for birds (their respiratory systems are SUPER sensitive compared to mammals). The only safe cleaners are vinegar+water, baking soda+water (on home surfaces), water+ grapefruit seed extract and/or avian safe veterinary cleaners/disinfectants (such as F10 SC). Do not ever mix something like vinegar+ water with an avian safe cleaner, as this can lead to unexpected chemical reactions.

Teflon/PTFE/PFOA is very very dangerous and it hides in things like ironing board covers, irons, curling irons, drip trays, bake-in-a-bag meals, space-heaters, self-cleaning ovens, some microwave popcorn bags, blow-dryers, curlers,toasters, rice-cookers, air poppers/fryers, humidifiers etc. If a product heats up, it often contains internal or external parts coated in teflon and this can be in the form of a clear-coat. Most people assume it is just in kitchen pots and pans, and while it is common there, it is in many other unexpected (and invisible) places as well.

If you haven't already, find a certified avian vet (CAV). Birds hide illness like crazy (because it would get them killed in the wild if they showed weakness). This means that by the time you notice symptoms, things are getting pretty bad. Tail-bobbing/pumping is a sign of breathing difficulty. Look out for that, as well as any sounds when breathing...Nares and vent (butt) should be free from discharge/waste. Google images of bird poop, because you will want to always check out your bird's droppings for health (There are 3 parts: 1. urates should be white, 2. fecal matter can vary in color but there are certain colors to look out for, and then there is the urine (3) which should be clear). Overly runny or bubbly poop can also signal problems. Finally, If a bird is hanging out on the bottom of the cage for no reason (E.G., not playing or destroying something) it is a SERIOUS emergency.
 
Last edited:
OP
abphoto

abphoto

New member
Oct 6, 2018
9
Media
6
Albums
1
0
North Devon
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Thank you for the info, i did do quite a bit of reading up as we knew that with the mother in law being terminally ill we may end up with Gino so have tried our best to make this as best as is possible for him, I also keep tropical fish and as well as my photography work (still need to get some decent shots of him) i do a bit of work in the essential oil business so know about the dangers to pets.
Im not for one minute saying i know best because i don't which i why im here.
Thank you all for your help so far.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
My condolences for the passing of your mother in-law.

Gino is a beauty, glad he went to a home to be cherished! Seems he is rewarding the sentiment!!
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother-in-law, but very happy that your family has taken=in her little baby! He's an adorable little Green Cheek Conure, and yes, he's a Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure...So his actual species is a Green Cheek Conure, and his color/mutation is Yellow-Sided. The Crimson Bellied Conure is a totally different species from the Green Cheek Conure, but they are very closely related and look very similar in both size and appearance (much like the Black Capped Conure, people think they are a type of Green Cheek Conure because they look so much like them, but they are not)...

I too have a male Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure, his name is Bowie, I brought him home from his breeder when he was 12 weeks old, and he's now about 2 years and 3 months old...and I love him dearly. I can tell you that Green Cheeks are extremely intelligent, and are often called "Velcro Birds" because of how closely they typically bond with one particular person, and then want to be with that person/on that person all the time. They are very loving, snuggly, cuddly little birds, and also tend to become very protective of that one person that they bond closely with. They do tend to be a bit nippy, but they typically don't actually "bite" people; they are also very stubborn and will not give up doing something if they get it in their head that they want to do it, lol...

****One thing that you might want to consider trying to do is to make sure he's getting more out-of-cage-time than it sounds like he is, as you mentioned that you "let him out every day for a walk around"...In all honesty, parrots like the Green Cheek Conure, who are so intelligent and who crave so much attention, really do need to be given at least 4-5 hours minimum of out-of-cage-time every single day, and that's the minimum, more is actually better. I'd suggest that you either buy or build him some type of play-stand, T-stand, Manzanita or Java Wood perch, play-gym, etc. if you don't already have one for him (PVC piping/fittings are extremely cheap and easy to make stands/gyms out of, you need a $10 PVC pipe-cutter hand-tool, and then you just buy the fittings to make whatever design you want to, and then simply wrap the pipe that is meant for the bird to walk on with different colored Vet-Wrap from Tractor Supply); you can make a huge PVC play-gym yourself for under $20, so you save a fortune from buying some type of stand/perch/gym from a pet shop. It's important that he get lots and lots of out-of-cage-time, flying time, and interaction time, because if he's inside of his cage all day long, every day, and only allowed out of it for an hour or so a day, he will become bored, and that's when the self-mutilation/feather-destructive behaviors start, along with screaming/squawking...Just do your best to try to let him out of his cage whenever you can; for instance, if I'm home, then that means all 4 of my larger parrots are out of their cages, period. It's the first thing I do when I walk through the door, I let both of my dogs out into the back yard, and then I let all 4 birds out. And all 4 of my larger parrots were trained/learned over-time that when their cage doors open, they automatically fly to their play-stands/play-gym, and that's "their space". They each have their own play-stand/T-stand, and then we have a massive PVC play-gym as well. So even though their cages are all located in the main-room of my house, where I spend most of my time when I'm home (it's my living room in my house, where I watch TV, read, play Playstation, play guitar, etc.), they are still all let out of their cages as soon as I get home. They either go right to their stands, or they go to their cage-tops to play. And each stand has lots of toys to both play with and chew on, and the big gym is covered with different types of toys. So even if I'm not directly interacting with them, they still are not locked inside of their cages, and they know that they need to stay in their areas and are very good at entertaining themselves...I had to teach/train them, but it doesn't take long at all for a bird to "take ownership" of their cage, their play-stands, etc. That's "their space" and that's where they automatically go. And this makes it much easier for you too, because he won't be flying all over the house and getting into things...Or, you can simply let him out and put him on your shoulder, and allow im to just hang-out with you whenever you're doing things like watching TV, on the computer reading, etc. Either way, try to make sure that he is getting at least 4-5 hours each and every day out of his cage, and that he has tons of different types of toys inside and outside of his cage, and that you rotate new toys in each month. Otherwise he will eventually become very bored...

Hopefully he's on a healthy, low-fat, varied diet as well...I don't know what your mother-in-law fed him, whether his staple diet is pellets or a seed-mix, but if it's a seed-mix, please make sure that it's not a seed-mix that contains any sunflower seeds, no peanuts or other nuts, and no corn...These types of seed-mixes are extremely high in fat, do not provide the bird with the nutrition he needs to be healthy, and are the main reason that birds in captivity die young from Fatty Liver Disease. If his main staple is a pellet then that's great...and of course lots of fresh veggies and dark, leafy greens...

Don't ever hesitate to ask any questions you ever have, it's always better to ask than to guess!!!
 
OP
abphoto

abphoto

New member
Oct 6, 2018
9
Media
6
Albums
1
0
North Devon
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Thank you EllenD he is out more each day, the first couple of days he was a real biter and as soon as we let him out he was quite viscous, today has been a bit of a breakthrough as he's been out on and off most of the afternoon with no biting at all. He stepped up on to my hand from his cage which is a good size 5ft x 3ft x3f and was very happy on my shoulder as i was preparing dinner.. So far today its been good just need to introduce him to our terrier which could be interesting the dog seems fine when Gino is in his cage but outside im not so sure !!
With regard to food he was fed mixed seeds which do have a lot of what you said is bad but we've been feeding him lots of fresh veg and fruit apple, carrot, green beans, figs and peppers which he loves and hasn't really bothered with his seeds so much, im going to get pellets and have got some seeds soaking which will hopefully sprout as well. Im a bit worried he's an alcoholic as he keeps going for my cider lol.
 
OP
abphoto

abphoto

New member
Oct 6, 2018
9
Media
6
Albums
1
0
North Devon
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Little update Gino is good and well and has in my opinion really started to colour up and seems really happy, he loves his fresh fruit and veg which he has twice daily and a seed mix which i am going to change to Harrisons but small steps. he comes out every morning while i chop up his fresh stuff and change his water and again all evening and loves to sit with me watching the tv whilst playing with my hair while he can old age is coming fast lol. can't upload a pic as forum seems to be having issues
 

wrench13

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Nov 22, 2015
11,383
Media
14
Albums
2
12,567
Isle of Long, NY
Parrots
Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
Welcome and be welcomed. so you may be doing a lot of reading on all the links posted. If you have questions, please feel free to ask.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top