Help? Getting a Green Cheek Conure

[ZephyrFly]

Hi Guys and Gals,
I'm from the UK and hopefully getting a green cheek conure sometime in the future. I've got a few unanswered questions though.

Starting off, I've found a breeder, they're lovely and their birds seem bright and healthy. They've been quite busy as of lately though and have been a bit slow to get back to me on some questions. I've tried to find answers online but a few I've had problems with.

Questions!

What's the normal age most breeders sell their birds? I assume it's after weaning (weening?)

What would be a 'stable age' for a young bird still taking formula?

The breeder offered for me to go over and help feed formula to some of the young bird when they're old/stable enough.
I've not owned a bird before so I have no real experience, but I know I should wait to get a bird til after the christmas and newyear period if I can help it.
Note: They said at the begining of September that their birds were looking ready to nest (this was the last I heard from them).

Any help/advice is welcome!

 

[hacatta]

Mine green cheek were all weaned and did not need formula,one that was born here was weaned when she was 6 weeks but heard it can be 8 weeks.
Seeing as birds may not be sold here unless they are weaned and may not be seperated from there parents in this period,i do think that if you never fed formula to a bird you should just get a properly weaned one,seen too many problems.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Well I assume they are weaned when sold as these breeders also offer a starter pack of feed and suppliments (not including formula).

I've read that they can be weaned anything up tp 12 weeks of age but I don't know if thats average or not. maybe not as you've said 8 weeks. But does that mean the few weeks under all that is the 'stable' age?

 

[lucy1]

Hi, and welcome Where in the UK are you?

It is illegal in the UK to sell an unweaned bird. If this breeder is offering to sell you one which is still taking formula, run away quickly and report them... The bird must be FULLY weaned, not still taking 'comfort' feeds or "stable".

 

[ZephyrFly]

No no no, they've never offered to sell a bird before it was on solid feed. They just offered when the next lot of birds are old enough that I go over, see and maybe try helping feed the little guys.

Will admit I didn't know that selling unweaned birds is illegal, though that is obvious now, but thank you the heads up.
As for where, both me and breeder are the middle of nowhere, southwest. I have to admit that my choice is birds/breeder is limited. I have a car but after this breeder the next closest I can find breeding green cheek conures is over an hour away, most being a couple counties away. I did my research before approaching the breeders though, but I did get a little tunnel vision when I first found someone breeding these little guys.

 

[Selestine]

I don't see any harm in assisting the breeder with handfeeding under their direct supervision, at their house. It could be a fun and rewarding experience. As others have said, you don't want to buy an unweaned baby, but it doesn't look like that is going to be a problem

Both of our conures were about 12 weeks old when we brought them home.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Thank you Selestine. 12 weeks seems to be the common, and I haven't yet asked the breeder whether it's possible if they can hold on to the (eventually) chosen bird a little longer yet. I say that because I think (by my guess as I'm still waiting on a response from the breeders for confirmation) the next lots of bird they'll be raising will be weaned by early to mid December. Nice Christmas present but I'd like the start the new year with a new friend, where I can spend the appropriate time with the bird; as opposed to running around with a new bird on Christmas day and new years. Seems more sensible after newyears I mean.

 

[Selestine]

Yeah, the holidays can be a rough time to bring a new pet home.. so much activity and confusion..