For those who prefer GCCs over tiels... curious to hear why?....

[Tropical]

I LOVE my little 3 yrs old male tiel to death... but I hear many people telling me they much prefer green cheek conures. Anyone here who has owned or currently owns a tiel as well as a GCC and you generally prefer GCCs... I'm just curious to hear why? I don't know if I'm more of a tiel person or a GCC person since I've never owned a GCC before.

I'm planning on hopefully getting a GCC early next year I cannot wait... I just keep my fingers crossed they won't hate each other and my tiel will be safe so long as they are not caged together of course.

 

[Aquila]

I've had both, currently have a breeding pair that aren't particularly social with people. My tiel right now is overall quieter than my GCC Berry that I had in the past, more cuddly, and clingy. Berry was much more independent. I'd say they both have pros and cons but I love both equally. I think they have totally different personalities, on an individual basis and a species basis. I couldn't choose one or the other!

 

[chris-md]

I haven't had both. But when I had a conure in the past I did handle a few tiels. I certainly preferred the conure for sure. For me it was because I preferred the beefier feel of the more muscular conure. I didn't really like the lighter-than-air feel of the tiel. Too delicate-feeling

 

[TacoNTiki]

I keep answering your posts because I went through the same stuff... I love my tiel but a GCC is hard to resist. I won't say I prefer GCC over tiels - they are just different. The biggest difference is that I can cuddle with my GCC. He loves to snuggle in the cup of my hands and I can pick him up by cupping my hand over him. I cannot do that with my tiel. I have to get her to step up. They are also very comical. Tiki makes me laugh every day with his silly green cheek antics. I would describe them as kittens with wings. They do require a watchful eye on them at "ALL" times, unlike my tiel, who I can trust to not get into trouble if I leave her to do dishes. Not my GCC, I would have to put him back in his cage. I am hoping that he will out grow this behavior and be more of a perch potato when he's older. My favorite thing (at the moment) is how he grabs my finger with one foot while playing or doing whatever with his other... kinda makes me feel special that he doesn't want mommy to leave while he "checks out" whatever catches his interest.

 

[Tropical]

I keep answering your posts because I went through the same stuff... I love my tiel but a GCC is hard to resist. I won't say I prefer GCC over tiels - they are just different. The biggest difference is that I can cuddle with my GCC. He loves to snuggle in the cup of my hands and I can pick him up by cupping my hand over him. I cannot do that with my tiel. I have to get her to step up. They are also very comical. Tiki makes me laugh every day with his silly green cheek antics. I would describe them as kittens with wings. They do require a watchful eye on them at "ALL" times, unlike my tiel, who I can trust to not get into trouble if I leave her to do dishes. Not my GCC, I would have to put him back in his cage. I am hoping that he will out grow this behavior and be more of a perch potato when he's older. My favorite thing (at the moment) is how he grabs my finger with one foot while playing or doing whatever with his other... kinda makes me feel special that he doesn't want mommy to leave while he "checks out" whatever catches his interest.

I have to admit one of the reasonss I asked this question is because I'm still not sure... STILL cannot make up my freaking mind!!!.... as to whether I should get another tiel or a GCC. I have never owned a GCC so I don't know if I would really be ""missing out" if I got another tiel instead of a GCC? It would be MUCH SAFER for my tiel if I got another tiel (I'm positive my tiel would rather have another tiel around than a GCC)... but I have this really tempting urge to get a GCC... so I guess I was trying to hear what others think of GCCs vs tiels if they strongly prefer GCCs...

 

[Doublete]

Gccs I don't think ever become perch potatoes. The only way I can keep mine out of trouble is having him on my shoulder.

 

[Tropical]

Gccs I don't think ever become perch potatoes. The only way I can keep mine out of trouble is having him on my shoulder.

My tiel is a massive perch potato... he is extremely laid back and sleeps as much as a dog. He seems very bored all the time, poor thing all he wants to do is be on me. Do GCCs always jump off the cage? As it sounds like they are always all over the place?

 

[Roanoke]

it sounds like they are always all over the place?

'All over the place' is exactly how I would describe Teeko. It's go go go all day long with him, constant supervision, the only breaks being for preening or drying off after bathtime. When he does stop moving for a while I really sit back and enjoy it, haha! He's definitely a high-energy bird.

 

[Mimsy01]

Foo usually sticks to her own places-Play gyms and the cage tops (not necessarily her own). Or she is heading for one of the humans. No big deal if she flys, but she has a habit of hoofing across the floor which freaks me out cause I'm worried about her being stepped on.

I have only interacted with other peoples tiels so I can't say I favor one over the other.

 

[TacoNTiki]

Oh, one thing I prefer GCC over tiels on is the lack of powdery down/dust. I don't have allergies but at times I am sensitive to my tiels dust if she is in my face too much. I can't imagine having two dusty downy birds.

 

[PickleMeDickles]

I had a few tiels many years ago. I have had 1 GCC (which I have now...or she has me?).

So, on the energy I would say that my GCC is about 2X that of my tiels. But....my Suns are 4X the GCC, so it may just be a matter of the bird and situation, but it sounds like GCC are, in whole, are a higher energy bird than a tiel.

If you wan't a bird that "interacts" more with you, I would have to vote a GCC. But "interact" is not always a good thing. It also means: biting, chewing, climbing, swinging, regurgitating & "some" screaming at you. Most of which my tiels would have NEVER done.

And, yes, there is that aspect of "cuddliness". I never in my life imagined a bird would "snuggle" with me as much as my conures. I think that may very well be a rather common trait with conures. (but again, "cuddle" can very easily mean "don't leave my sight or I might die" to a conure as well).

I would say that you could generally narrow down what basic type would best suit you, but in the end it will be up to you, the bird, & the environment. My first love was Jake, a blue budgie. We were the best of friends for many many years.

 

[Tropical]

I love how laid back my tiel is but at the same time would love it if my tiel were more interactive and I love super cuddly birds.... I wish I could borrow a GCC for a week... I think it would definitely help make up my mind this decision is seriously driving me nuts!

 

[Flboy]

I love how laid back my tiel is but at the same time would love it if my tiel were more interactive and I love super cuddly birds.... I wish I could borrow a GCC for a week... I think it would definitely help make up my mind this decision is seriously driving me nuts!

Funny since I already have a GCC I would really hesitate getting a second one!
Reason being I love to spend so much time with JoJo, I would not want anything to take away from it. A second high-energy bird is three times the work not two times the work! The dynamics of adding to a two-party relationship increases it by fourfold. You now have you plus a, you plus B, you plus a and B, and a plus B! As you add you can see it is exponential!
Where this leaves me? No idea!

 

[Tropical]

I love how laid back my tiel is but at the same time would love it if my tiel were more interactive and I love super cuddly birds.... I wish I could borrow a GCC for a week... I think it would definitely help make up my mind this decision is seriously driving me nuts!

Funny since I already have a GCC I would really hesitate getting a second one!
Reason being I love to spend so much time with JoJo, I would not want anything to take away from it. A second high-energy bird is three times the work not two times the work! The dynamics of adding to a two-party relationship increases it by fourfold. You now have you plus a, you plus B, you plus a and B, and a plus B! As you add you can see it is exponential!
Where this leaves me? No idea!

The good thing in my situation is that my tiel is NO work at all... he is super laid back and I've also mess proofed his cage area, so no more vacuuming a dozen times a day As long as my tiel is able to sit on my leg as I work on the computer all day and I always have him on my shoulder if I need to get up and use the bathroom... as long as he is on me or at least in the same room... then everything is nice and peaceful LOL I have this growth on me..... the growth is this little bird I cannot get rid of him. I don't mind it at all though... I love how clingy they can be it's cute.
... but if I had 2 wild n' crazy GCCs... I definitely wouldn't be able to handle that. I really think I'll end up getting a yellow sided baby GCC... I think I need to STOP driving my self crazy because the only way to really ever find out if it's going to work out is to get the GCC. Even though I love my tiel I would also LOVE to have a super cuddly playful more interactive bird. My tiel always loves to sing to other birds... I think... I HOPE my tiel will enjoy it.
If I see it's not going to work out with the GCC I could always make sure I find the GCC a REALLY good home and re-home him to someone who has a massive cage and can PROVE they will be spending insane amounts of time with a bird... of course let's hope this will NOT happen and I don't expect this to be the case.

 

[TacoNTiki]

Tropical - I have read your threads on the tiel site about lil' Rascal, I think any gcc would be lucky to have such a caring mom. I say go for it!

 

[Tropical]

Tropical - I have read your threads on the tiel site about lil' Rascal, I think any gcc would be lucky to have such a caring mom. I say go for it!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm going to stop this indecisive nonsense once and for all and have finally made up my mind.... looks like I'm going to be getting a baby (that's finished weaning) GCC. I'm so excited but a little nervous lol
It won't be until early next year though.... maybe sooner if I find a good breeder who has GCC babies. But I'm getting a GCC!! I'm going to post a new thread on what I should name the GCC... I am stuck between 2 names... "Coconut" or "Kiwi"... or something else... I think I'll be getting a male rather than female GCC.