How young is too young?

[Qball41]

(this is a double post from the Conure forum)

I am a past bird owner (conure and a cockatoo) that has not has a bird for a few years and have decided to get back to bird ownership. I have decided that a green cheek conure is the bird for me. I have found a local breeder, and would prefer to go that route rather than a bird show.

My question is how young is too young of a bird to get. as stated, I have experience with birds, but not babies and not breeding.

Here she is. 9 weeks old.

She is weaned and eating pellets and seeds.
Friendly and used to being held and in hand, but not taught to step up yet (i can teach this).
She has been kept in an aquarium with bedding, but not kept in a cage yet. Will climbing the bars come natural for her?

I'm confident in my ability to keep and care for a bird. I'm just not sure how young is too young to get a baby bird. At what age do they start acting like mature birds and no longer need special care?

I'm asking for your input and am willing to answer questions to help you advise me!

 

[clark_conure]

nine weeks is pretty young, the major issue is it can eat solid foods, but in abundance? I'm not a breeder so I dunno but usually it's more like three months at least, sometimes more...so 12 weeks I'd say minimum.

But I've never hand reared....

Climbing will be natural....

As far as acting like a mature bird.......is there such a thing? Maybe for a GCC around the time they turn 30-35 or so?

 

[Qball41]

Thanks Clark!

As far as acting like a mature bird, I was referring to not needing special care.

I can take care of a bird, but a little worried about getting one too young.

Breeder is saying the bird is fully weened onto seed and pellets, no more hand feeding. Hand feeding would be a definite "no-go" for me.

Thoughts from others?

 

[clark_conure]

OHHHH I just thought of this, get yourself a gram scale, on amazon it's like 20 bucks and start weighing your bird like she's a supermodel for the next few weeks.

If weight starts to drop......well you know what to do; avian vet and further help.

Also the scale is good for cutting your H for a bigger profit margin...and by H I of course mean human hair. (this is a joke)...

 

[bug_n_flock]

I don't know conures, but are you sure that little cutie is a whole 9 weeks old? Maybe it is the angle of picture, but the tail looks a little short.



Regardless, allow me to squeal at the adorableness real quick...




EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!


So excited for you. I loved playing with the GCC's at the parrot shop, but not had one of my own(yet? Hee hee)

 

[clark_conure]

oh yeah srsly........SO CUTE and you can tell likes "Hoomans" and touching.

 

[Qball41]

I was told she will be 9 weeks on Wednesday.
I didn't think a couple days would matter, but if 12 weeks is a good minimum, then 9 weeks or even a bit younger than 9 weeks gives me pause....

I don't know conures, but are you sure that little cutie is a whole 9 weeks old? Maybe it is the angle of picture, but the tail looks a little short.



Regardless, allow me to squeal at the adorableness real quick...




EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!


So excited for you. I loved playing with the GCC's at the parrot shop, but not had one of my own(yet? Hee hee)

 

[clark_conure]

If they are completely weened....I'd say it's ok, but SRSly get a scale.....I have one and it is like a thermometer to a five year old human kid....It has other advantegs like weighing a pellet then pouring pellets in and knowing the exact count...etc. Lots of science can be done...

 

[Laurasea]

I'd say wait one more week, and check again.
While 9 weeks and eating can be old enough. Each baby mature's at a different rate. The pictures looks like a baby that needs more time.
But cuteness plus! And so exciting!

 

[LaManuka]

I agree 9 weeks is a little too young. Ideally you want your bird to have been eating independently for a good 2 weeks before you take it home, this forum is unfortunately chock full of heartbroken owners who have lost a baby too young to have left the breeder’s place.

Other than that, you have one very cute baby there, congratulations and welcome!

 

[Qball41]

Thank you all for the input! I have decided to wait at least a week before going to visit (to not be tempted to take her early).

We all know how anxious we can be to bring the new parrot home, so practicing discipline.

 

[ParrotGenie]

Like everyone pretty much stated 9 weeks is kind of to young, usually most breeders will give them a extra couple of weeks, just in case they reqress. Usually a cockatiel it take about by 10 to 12 weeks to be fully weaned.

 

[LaManuka]

I admire your being strong enough to resist that gorgeous baby for just a bit longer. Now if only you could teach me to be more disciplined and not buy so many pairs of pretty shoes

 

[Noahs_Birds]

9 weeks is too young IMO
Parent birds/ the handrearer should be doing regular 'Top up feeds' to get them going, instead of setting them to eat food on their own straight away
Thanks
Noah Till