New conure owner with a few questions.

[kpla51]

Hello new to the forum and new to birds. We just got a green cheek conure from a fellow service member. My wife stays at home and no children so she has plenty of time to play and interact with the bird. The previous owner didn't know exactly what food it was on and gave me the very small amount that they had left. Ive read that you should transition them slowly but theres not enough food to do this. What would be the best approach?

Luckily he came with a nice cage stand and all of his toys so he seems happy and at home so far. He let us pick him up and bit me once but nothing I didn't expect since I am a new face. Any tips you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Can anyone Identify this food?

 

[TacoNTiki]

Hi and welcome. I am fairly new too to being a conure mom, but we have had a 'tiel for almost two years. Can't help with identifying the food other than it looks like a millet, seed blend. If you can, try to get him to eat pellets, it's healthier for them and feed a mix of fruits and veggies, just make sure you DON'T feed avacodos. Do you have a water dish I his cage? Definitely more perches of varying sizes would be nice and more toys as well. I am sure others more knowledgeable will chime in. Browse this forum as much as you can. I got tons of very helpful info here to help us out.

 

[kpla51]

Hi and welcome. I am fairly new too to being a conure mom, but we have had a 'tiel for almost two years. Can't help with identifying the food other than it looks like a millet, seed blend. If you can, try to get him to eat pellets, it's healthier for them and feed a mix of fruits and veggies, just make sure you DON'T feed avacodos. Do you have a water dish I his cage? Definitely more perches of varying sizes would be nice and more toys as well. I am sure others more knowledgeable will chime in. Browse this forum as much as you can. I got tons of very helpful info here to help us out.

Yes theres a food and water dish that attach to the two feeding doors for easy access. Were going to buy more perches tomorrow.

 

[mekat]

The bird breeder we use has always indicated seed to seed transition should be easy and it has been true so far for us. You have to take it slow though if you are transitioning from seeds to pellets because a bird used to a seed diet may not recognize pellets as food. If I were in your situation I would buy a small bag of good quality seed and then work on transitioning to pellets after the gcc is more acclimated to his new home.

 

[Flboy]

Pellets, yes! What part of the world are you in?

 

[kpla51]

Pellets, yes! What part of the world are you in?

USA Kentucky/Tennessee

 

[Allee]

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on your new addition!

You'll find great diet information in the following link. According to the GCC's age and what foods he's familiar with, he may need time to adjust to the new foods.

Parrot Food, Recipes and Diet - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

Your little guy would probably appreciate a larger cage. He'll need space for toys and a variety of perches and he'll also need enough space to play and exercise.

If you are new to birds you may want to have a look at these links too.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/12857-top-10-hazards-companion-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Kae]

Congratz on your new GCC!
I would definitely work on switching his diet to pellets and veggies so he does not become accustomed to only seed. The food that the previous owner gave you is millet seed and in my experience works as a treat but not as a main diet. How old is he? If he is young then he may need more toys to keep himself busy.
Good luck!

 

[kpla51]

Congratz on your new GCC!
I would definitely work on switching his diet to pellets and veggies so he does not become accustomed to only seed. The food that the previous owner gave you is millet seed and in my experience works as a treat but not as a main diet. How old is he? If he is young then he may need more toys to keep himself busy.
Good luck!

hes 1 year old. Were going to get more toys tomorrow. We picked him up late this evening and the stores were closed.

 

[Mimsy01]

Gratz on your new friend.

You can probably find a food similar to the one he's on at a local pet store. It looks like a typical type seed one. Try adding fresh veggies, fruit and cooked grains/lentils and such to his diet and you can slowly move to pellets as well if you wish.

The cage size isn't bad if he is out most of the day. I have a huge cage for Foo, but she is mostly on the play top and only goes in to eat and when we put her to bed at dark fall. Basically-the more time spent in the cage the more important a larger cage becomes-imo. The cage you are using, looks from the picture to have guillotine style doors, don't be surprised if he learns how to open them, conures are smart.

Green cheeks are sassy little social birds, and can be nippy. Consistency is the most important thing on training. Don't get too animated when they bite-that can excite them and make the situation worse. There are tons of information on training on the board.

Lots of toys are great, introduce the toys slowly. Some birds can be wary of new things and some love new things. Ones that are wary need to come to trust the new toy.

Different sized perches keep their feet healthy. Having one that helps file nails is great, just don't put it somewhere they want to spend too much time on it, cause it can hurt their feet.

Kristine

 

[Ann333]

Congrats on your new GCC!! I have one as well and can say you will love having one in the family. I agree to buy a good seed mix and slowly try to switch him to pellets from there. You can also try sprouting the seeds and let him eat that as well as offering veggies and a bit of fruit. When possible you may look into a larger cage as well. These little birds are full of energy and appreciate lots of room to climb and flap around as well as a wide variety of toys. My GCC loves anything he can shred and destroy as well as anything with a bell. Have fun decorating the cage with different types of perches and toys, your new friend will thank you for it.

 

[Kyoto]

http://sarahjanebottomley.zenfolio.com/p843587129

Just a snapshot of my cage set-up. It measures 32" by 21" by 40" in the cage. I am someone who works 8-4 6 days a week, so having a large cage is essential for us. As you can see, I have rope perches, a pediperch near the middle, and natural branch perches at the roosting parts of the cage, where she spends most of her time.

I am also investing in a smaller cage for our living room. We have cats so Kyo has her own room. We have slowly been bringing her downstairs in the safety of her carrier, slowly getting the cats to leave her alone. Last time we were able to keep her down with us for an hour without the cats bothering her. I spend 80% of my time at home in her room with her (I'm a correspondence student) but I always feel bad going downstairs for dinner, so this is our plan to give her more time with us. Plus when my husband is home instead of leaving her upstairs he can bring her down with him while he edits (he is a photographer).

One thing I can't stress enough about conures is how important socialization is. Kyo currently doesn't like my husband. He has done nothing wrong with her, other than showing her that he is timid when she bites him. So she bites harder >< but make sure you and your wife both spend as much time as possible with him so that he doesn't overbold with one of you.

hope this helps.

 

[kpla51]

We bought him some more perches and a few more toys today. He immediately started playing with the disco ball. So far he seems happy his wings are not clipped and found out today when he flew from my hand back to his cage. Don't worry no ceiling fans or windows in the room. Also bought his one of those snuggle sacks hoping he will take shelter in it.

 

[jiannotto9492]

Congrats on the new bird! A seed to seed change shouldn't be bad but you should probably get him on something healthy like a mixture of fresh fruits and veggies and pellets. You can do the pellet transition probably rather easily. If he doesn't take to an offering of pellets you could shove them through a processor and mix them with seeds. You might want to get him into a bigger cage or one without the dome top. You end up losing room with the dome top and birds just end up getting hurt on them. You could fine a nice Prevue cage on Amazon for around $150 if you choose to upgrade. The cages come with bird proofed doors which are nice considering the cage that you have isn't so bird proof and if your bird gets bored he will break out. Best of luck!

 

[Flboy]

Pellets, yes! What part of the world are you in?

USA Kentucky/Tennessee

Am so glad you are semi in the USA!

Am having fun, your baby will be fine! Proof? You are asking=cares! = healthy fid!

 

[kpla51]

When we open his cage he will sit on top and walk and play for hours. I tried to interact with him today and he made me bleed. I kind of just let him dig his beak into my finger and I didn't show him a reaction. I hope he will come around Ill just be patient with him and spend as much time with his as I can.

 

[Mimsy01]

Ouch! when we say don't over react, we don't mean let them eat you! A time out place would probably be nice, since you say he's flown back to his cage, you don't want to use the cage that will just be training you to bring him to the cage when he bites. A small perch on a table or something can work, just a few minutes their attention spans are short. It can take time for him to adjust to your home, plus I don't know if he had any training prior to you.

don't put yourself in a position to be bit.

First training should be step up if he doesn't know it. (the forum has extensive posts on how to do this) Several explain how to initially train with a stick or dowel if they are bitey.

Many parrots can be very territorial about their cage. So training and playing that involves flesh may be better away from his cage right now.

To clip or not to clip? Check on posts on this. Training may be easier on your if he can't fly, it's a definite attitude adjustment. You can let them grow back out.

Once you find a training style you like-whether it be for biting or stepping up-stick with it and be consistent. Consistency will get you the furthest it training your little guy, and avoid confusion for him.

 

[kpla51]

I threw a chair by his cage and have just been sitting with him. I don't pay attention and he gets closer to me and is relaxed and grooming himself. I hear gloves are bad to wear for birds. Would thin gloves be ok just so he cant pierce the skin? Where would you buy a t perch or can I make one myself.

 

[jiannotto9492]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=t+perch"]Amazon.com: t perch[/ame]

I would avoid wearing the gloves. I would keep him clipped while you are trying to gain his trust. Your best bet is to not be hesistant and don't show that you're afraid as it will make your bird more nervous.

But it does sound like your bird is territorial towards the cage. Maybe getting a new cage might help or even letting him get off of the cage before you try interacting with him might do the trick.

 

[Mimsy01]

As far as a separate perch or play area, look up some of pvc play gyms people have made. Cheap to make and the sky's the limit as far as how big you want to go, or small if you would like something to sit on a table.