Please Help, i regret buying a conure

[munami]

I don't know if it's of any help, but if you're in Ontario Canada, I know a few rescues I can direct you to. Honestly, it's not ideal at all. However, the incense and vaping is not good for birdies at all and it would be safest to move the bird out of the home as fast as possible.
The vague answer your friend gave about how his bird died makes me very uncomfortable rehoming to him. Assuming he is telling the truth, the reality is that the factor that caused his conure to die is most likely still unresolved. These birds very easily live into their twenties when properly cared for and properly bred. Of course, sometimes accidents happen.

I think maybe in the future you could have a companion bird like Scott has mentioned. You'd need to properly talk it over with your parents about using certain products or maybe wait until you have your own place where you can have more control over something like that.

Thank you for coming to consult with people on the forum. Honestly, like everyone else says it takes a lot of guts and maturity to admit you made a mistake. Thank you for the transparency as well. It makes it easier to give an unbiased opinion.

 

[bill_e]

You can return the bird with the receipt and the pet agreement (cant remember what my daughter said it was called) within the time specified on the agreement. My daughter used to manage a Petco but cant remember if it's 15 or 30 days but said that if you're nice about it they will likely take it back even beyond the date because they don't want the bird to be somewhere it won't be properly taken care of.

If you're going to return it, don't wait or they may not take it back (for a refund).

 

[CallumConure]

I'd also just like to point out that anyone who says a bird passed away mysteriously generally wasn't following the Do-Not-Use rule (such as the use of Teflon or those house smellies/freshners) and was somehow unaware, or the bird died from a known illness and decided not to disclose that bit of information. Am I ragging on your friend? Not necessarily. I just don't usually trust a person whose bird died at the shockingly young age of 2 and not 32 or something. I've had pet store budgies and even with their terribly inbred genetics (that I now fully understand and know and will never support again), they lived a good chunk of their lifespans. Even if their genetics were THAT BAD, dying at 2 should be a rarity, even for inbred birds. And generally birds that die that young have obviously signs of illness or obvious congenital effects, even in our Illness Hiders.

Please don't be scared of the unknown, such as "My bird could die tomorrow." In all honesty, no one knows for sure. Anything can happen to any one of us by any moment. Living in the constant fear of "My friend's conure died suddenly, mine could too" is not going to necessarily help you or the bird. You'll be more vigilant to illnesses, yes, but the stress that puts on you could negatively affect YOUR health, which then may also harm the bird.


Obviously, I'm always up for supporting that the owner keep their animal, but if the owner feels overwhelmed or underprepared, then the animal should find a new home, or be returned. It's nothing to feel bad about.

 

[conureluver77]

Okay let me start this off, i just turned 17 and realize how immature i am for doing this. About almost 2 weeks ago i went to petco with my friend, keep in mind that i wasn't planning on buying an animal, just looking. We saw this pineapple green cheek conure alone in his display, my friend used to own a conure for almost 2 years, he was a pretty cool bird, but i've never been interested in owning a bird. He and another one of my friends pretty much peer pressured me into buying this bird, as soon as they were getting him out of his cage i instantly regretted it, i figured it was too late at that point to say i didn't want him. I honestly didn't think they would sell us the bird without an Id. $400 for a bird at my age is not a small purchase, and i realize how much work a conure is. He can be very stubborn, he bites me HARD and only steps up when he absolutely wants to. I feel like such an idiot, because i realize i really don't want this bird anymore, he's too much for me right now. I've been thinking about returning him to Petco, but i don't want to be a dickhead. I don't know what to do. Another thing that worries me very much is that this bird will get sick or die easily, because he came from petco. This was VERY impulse and i take full responsibility for letting other people make decisions for me. I know i don't have the best friends. I just need advice. Should i return him to Petco? Maybe sell him to someone? I feel like someone else will be able to take much better care of him. I'm an idiot

Aww I understand completely. In May I did similar thing except I got 2 baby conures that haven't had much handling. I love them but I'm currently trying to find them a new home or I might keep them. Not sure so I understand. I bought on impulse and peer pressure as well. I don't think the little guy hates you. Probably just wasn't handled much. That can make a huge difference!

And yes birds are a handful. I used to have 3 cockatiels. I have to keep mine in their cage at the moment because all hell breaks loose when I let them roam a bit. I have let them out on occasion but I'm always watching them.

 

[noodles123]

Okay let me start this off, i just turned 17 and realize how immature i am for doing this. About almost 2 weeks ago i went to petco with my friend, keep in mind that i wasn't planning on buying an animal, just looking. We saw this pineapple green cheek conure alone in his display, my friend used to own a conure for almost 2 years, he was a pretty cool bird, but i've never been interested in owning a bird. He and another one of my friends pretty much peer pressured me into buying this bird, as soon as they were getting him out of his cage i instantly regretted it, i figured it was too late at that point to say i didn't want him. I honestly didn't think they would sell us the bird without an Id. $400 for a bird at my age is not a small purchase, and i realize how much work a conure is. He can be very stubborn, he bites me HARD and only steps up when he absolutely wants to. I feel like such an idiot, because i realize i really don't want this bird anymore, he's too much for me right now. I've been thinking about returning him to Petco, but i don't want to be a dickhead. I don't know what to do. Another thing that worries me very much is that this bird will get sick or die easily, because he came from petco. This was VERY impulse and i take full responsibility for letting other people make decisions for me. I know i don't have the best friends. I just need advice. Should i return him to Petco? Maybe sell him to someone? I feel like someone else will be able to take much better care of him. I'm an idiot

Aww I understand completely. In May I did similar thing except I got 2 baby conures that haven't had much handling. I love them but I'm currently trying to find them a new home or I might keep them. Not sure so I understand. I bought on impulse and peer pressure as well. I don't think the little guy hates you. Probably just wasn't handled much. That can make a huge difference!

And yes birds are a handful. I used to have 3 cockatiels. I have to keep mine in their cage at the moment because all hell breaks loose when I let them roam a bit. I have let them out on occasion but I'm always watching them.

It doesn't have to do as much with the handling as the trust level (if they are babies). Even tame birds can take months to trust new people and it can be a very slow process. Just because a bird is tame does not mean you should try to touch it...Also, birds kept in groups often struggle to bond with humans as easily. Finally, unless you have a MASSIVE aviary, you need to start figuring out ways to allow your birds out safely...

 

[conureluver77]

Okay let me start this off, i just turned 17 and realize how immature i am for doing this. About almost 2 weeks ago i went to petco with my friend, keep in mind that i wasn't planning on buying an animal, just looking. We saw this pineapple green cheek conure alone in his display, my friend used to own a conure for almost 2 years, he was a pretty cool bird, but i've never been interested in owning a bird. He and another one of my friends pretty much peer pressured me into buying this bird, as soon as they were getting him out of his cage i instantly regretted it, i figured it was too late at that point to say i didn't want him. I honestly didn't think they would sell us the bird without an Id. $400 for a bird at my age is not a small purchase, and i realize how much work a conure is. He can be very stubborn, he bites me HARD and only steps up when he absolutely wants to. I feel like such an idiot, because i realize i really don't want this bird anymore, he's too much for me right now. I've been thinking about returning him to Petco, but i don't want to be a dickhead. I don't know what to do. Another thing that worries me very much is that this bird will get sick or die easily, because he came from petco. This was VERY impulse and i take full responsibility for letting other people make decisions for me. I know i don't have the best friends. I just need advice. Should i return him to Petco? Maybe sell him to someone? I feel like someone else will be able to take much better care of him. I'm an idiot

Aww I understand completely. In May I did similar thing except I got 2 baby conures that haven't had much handling. I love them but I'm currently trying to find them a new home or I might keep them. Not sure so I understand. I bought on impulse and peer pressure as well. I don't think the little guy hates you. Probably just wasn't handled much. That can make a huge difference!

And yes birds are a handful. I used to have 3 cockatiels. I have to keep mine in their cage at the moment because all hell breaks loose when I let them roam a bit. I have let them out on occasion but I'm always watching them.

It doesn't have to do as much with the handling as the trust level (if they are babies). Even tame birds can take months to trust new people and it can be a very slow process. Just because a bird is tame does not mean you should try to touch it...Also, birds kept in groups often struggle to bond with humans as easily. Finally, unless you have a MASSIVE aviary, you need to start figuring out ways to allow your birds out safely...

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. When I had the cockatiels they weren't babies. Right now I haven't been really trying to handle or touch them because I've only had them a month. I've mostly just been talking, singing with them and of course feeding, cleaning their cage etc. Truth be told also I've never had baby birds. This was going to be something new for me. I let them out today in my room and they seem to do better going in on their own. When I put some fruit in then went and watched them they went back to the cage and started attacking the fruit! I'm still seeing there are more ways to let them out safely. Still thanks for giving me some advice. I've been reading about them non stop but there's only so much books can help with.

 

[EllenD]

I totally agree that you need to take the Green Cheek back to Petco, that is what is BEST FOR THE BIRD! Your friend can't even afford the $400 for the bird and has to "save it up", and that means that he cannot afford the montly food bill, and especially cannot pay for a proper Avian Vet (they need an annual Wellness-Exam every year with an Avian Specialist Vet or Certified Avian Vet that includes complete Fecal Testing and Blood-Work, that is how you keep ahead of illnesses/diseases. And if your friend cannot afford to support the bird, then he shouldn't have the bird!

***And a Green Cheek Conure should live into their 30's, and your friend's Conure likely died at 2 years-old because they used either Bakeware or Cookware, or had a small appliance that contained Teflon and that killed the bird (it's not just pots/pans that contains Teflon, it's pretty much ALL small-appliances, like hair Blow-Dryers, Griddles, George Foreman Grills, Microwaves, Convection and Toaster Ovens, Space Heaters, Air Purifiers, etc., basically ANY appliance that creates any type of heat, because they coat the inside components with Teflon or other non-stick coatings that contain Perfluorinted-Compounds such as PTFE's, PFOA's, etc. So it's not just Teflon non-stick coatings (Teflon is actually just a brand-name of one of the hundreds of these non-stick coatings)...It takes literally 1 little whiff of a fume from a Perfluorinated-Compound to kill a parrot/bird pretty much instantly, within minutes, and this can happen even if your bird is behind a closed-door and on a totally different floor of the house than where the bakeware/cookware or appliance is being used)...OR, if it wasn't fumes from bakeware/cookware or a small appliance that killed your friend's bird, it was most-likely fumes from something else, such as cleaning products, incense, a candle, any type of "Plug-In" fragrance creator, an oil or wax burner, etc. AND NO, YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT VAPE ANYTHING AROUND A BIRD!!! IT'S NOT AT ALL SAFE AND WILL KILL YOUR BIRD!!! Even Vape Juices, Oils, Waxes, etc. that are 100% Vegetable Glycerin will kill the bird, let alone ones that contain PG, which most or at least many do. The best way to think about a pet bird/parrot and what types of fumes can kill it or make it very sick is to basically assume that if something lets-off any type of fumes, odors, scents, smoke, vapor, steam, etc., then it might kill your bird and you cannot use it inside THE SAME HOUSE AS A BIRD, REGARDLESS OF BEING BEHIND DOORS OR ON A DIFFERENT FLOOR. So if you want to Vape, you'll have to go outside. Period. And you can use cleaners, but they have to be all-natural cleaners that are made from 100% plant-products/enzymes. Most grocery stores now all carry these types of cleaners in their "Natural" Section of the store...

****Just because you bought your Conure from Petco does not mean he is sick or that he's going to die, or has any health or physical/mental issues at all. I'm certainly not a fan of Petco/Petsmart either, and they do buy their young birds/parrots from large vendors who do not at all Hand-Raise their babies, but rather only "Hand-Feed" their babies, which is why the tag at Petco says that your Green Cheek was "Hand-Fed" rather than Hand-Raised. There is a huge difference between the two, as being "Hand-Fed" just simply means that they remove their babies from their parents when they are at least 2 weeks-old but no older than 3 weeks-old, house them in a large Brooder from that point forward, and they remove each baby 5-6 times a day to "Tube-Feed" them with a Crop-Needle, which takes all of 30 seconds, they quickly fill up their Crops with formula and then they go right back into the Brooder. Most of the vendors they buy their baby/juvenile birds from get no more human-interaction than this...There are some exceptions, as my own Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure came from a Petco, I would never have purchased him but he found me, he chose me, it was a weird situation and just happened by complete chance...Bowie was 13 weeks-old when I brought him home from Petco, I got a Hatch-Certificate from Petco with him, along with a Health-Certificate, which means absolutely nothing from Petco except that they will refund your money in-full within the first 3-days after you buy the bird, after that you can bring the bird back but you will not get your money back...I can't believe they sold a 17 year-old a living creature without carding them, depending on the state it's illegal to do that, so that might be your way out, having your parents call up Petco or rather go to Petco and tell them that they "just" found out about the bird, that you have been hiding him in your room and they just today found out he was there, and that when they found out that this Petco sold a living parrot to a 17 year-old kid and didn't even ask how old he was, let alone ask to see his ID, they were extremely angered and immediately wanted to bring the bird back, as you are only 17, you're still legally a minor who lives in their home and is still supported by them completely, and that it's not only unethical to sell a minor a living parrot, but it very well may be illegal in whatever state you live in, and that if Petco refuses to take the bird back and refund your money that they will get an attorney and involve law enforcement if it is in-fact against the law to do so...This all depends on what state you live in and whether or not your state considers pets/animals as being "Personal Property", in which case it's totally legal to sell a minor a living pet, or if your state considers living pets/animals as not being "Personal Property", but rather as living creatures that must legally be cared for properly by their human owners. In that case it's typically against the law in the state to sell any living creature to a minor...I would also complain to Petco corporate, because I do believe that their own store-policy is to ask to see ID when selling a live-animal and confirming that the buyer is 18 years-old or older...

But as far as your Conure dying/being sick simply because they came from Petco, that's just not true, just as many young birds that come from private breeders and especially from Parrot Brokers, as well as privately-owned Pet Shops and Bird Shops die as do birds from Petco. Your concern about your Conure's health shouldn't be because he came from Petco, but should be that no matter where a young Parrot comes from, when their first owner brings them home, they should go to an Avian Specialist Vet for a full Wellness-Exam that includes full Fecal-Testing to rule-out Bacterial and Fungal infections, Protozoan Infections, Parasites, etc. that ALL BABY BIRDS CAN GET from their parent birds, their siblings, and their surroundings, no matter where they come from. This first Wellness -Exam should also include complete, routine Blood-Work if the bird is old/enough and weighs enough to do a blood-draw, which a Green Cheek from Petco should be, as they are typically at least 3-4 months old at the time they arrive at the stores, and then also a full visual/physical exam by the Avian Specialist Vet...And this should happen within the first couple of weeks of you bringing the parrot home...And it typically costs around $200...Obviously your friend is not a suitable home for this Conure, as he can't afford even the cost of the Conure, let alone proper Avian Vet Care, and even proper monthly Food for him, and whatever killed his prior Conure at only 2 years-old may still be being used in his home. Whatever you do, thank you for doing the responsible thing, which is what is best for the bird...

 

[EllenD]

***Also just an FYI so that you aren't so frustrated about him biting you and not "training" well after only 2-weeks...He's a Conure who was not Hand-Raised by a person, he was simply "Crop/Tube-Fed", or what Petco calls being a "Hand-Fed" Bird, so he's had little to no contact with people at all. So this isn't a tame Green Cheek Conure that you can handle without getting bitten, that will step-up for you willingly or without biting, or who isn't scaared to death of you and especially your HANDS...And your HANDS inside of his "Territory", which is his Cage, whenever he is also inside of his cage, well, that typically will not accomplish much at all except upsetting the parrot and getting your hands bitten badly. So trying to "train" him while he's sitting inside of his cage, or even while he can still see the cage or is in the same room as his cage is not usually very productive...That being said, 2-weeks is like 2 milliseconds in parrot-time...You must FIRST Earn the Bird's Trust before you will be able to bond closely with him or be able to handle him, pet him, etc., and I'd bet the average time for this to happen with most non-tame Parrots is between 6-Months and 1-Year, at the least...So you can't expect much of anything at all from him after only 2 weeks. This is going to take you months and months of working with him, every single day, and allowing him to be out of his cage with you for hours every day, and you obviously having patience and dedication to Earning his Trust...We will all be happy to help you with your Green Cheek if you do decide to keep him and you want to commit to him the time, attention, and affection that he needs from whomever he ends up with. But understand that your friend wouldn't be doing any better with him than you are right now, it's just all about time, time, and more time, and great patience from the person trying to earn the parrot's trust and bond with them. So don't get upset or frustrated over him not responding after only 2 weeks, I'd not get frustrated or worried unless a year has gone by and you aren't getting any where with him. Seriously, it's a long, long, frustrating process...But the end-reward of bonding with a parrot and being "Their Person" is worth it...If you are not able to give as much of yourself, your life, and your time every single day as he is going to need, then we can also help you find him a good, experienced home, depending on where you live, we may have a member wanting to adopt him...