Thinking about a blue crown

[Charliesmom]

Hello. This is my first post here. I am the proud mom of a cinnamon green cheek. I love him so much and cannot get enough of him. He will be a year old in a couple weeks. We also have a "Sunday" conure but she is my daughter's. I have always wanted a blue crown conure. My mom had one when I was young and he was the greatest/ funniest bird. I am strongly considering adding one to my family but I'm worried it will change my Charlie's personality. I know he might not be happy in the beginning but i love everything about his silliness don't want him to change. Ive bought almost every bird behavior book i can get my hands on and find no info on that. He did ok with the Sunday coming into the home but because it's my daughter's bird my interactions are minimal. Looking for opinions on blue crowns and behaviors with other birds, and opinions on this. Thank you

 

[RemiBird]

I don't have any experience with blue crown conures but I have a green cheek conure, just like your cinnamon only the regular green.
I can tell you that he is a territorial little guy. I had the same thoughts some months ago - thinking of getting him a friend green cheek but I changed my mind. Everyone says that there is no guarantee that they will get along, and that's true. I didn't want to stretch my time between two birds, letting them out of the cage at different times etc. He seems to enjoy our company and all the time and attention he is getting right now. I just have a feeling he would be jealous and I would have a problem on my hands. My advice is enjoy what you have.
Also, something to think about - your green cheek is about to hit birdie puberty (almost a year old) and that will be a challenge in itself. You may want to deal with that first, lol.

 

[noodles123]

Also, your first bird is still young. They can change a lot when they become sexually mature. I do agree that there is no guarantee they will get along.

 

[Flynhigh]

In my personal experience, the little ones of the same species seem to get along better , my Grey was first so when I brought home my pineapple he tried to buddy up and my grey would have none of it. So it started squabbles. The conures are very protective and territorial as I'm sure you already know with their things and their humans. It meant a constant eye on both for several months in case one of them lost their minds and challenged each other. Unfortunately they dont see size and the conure armed with a pocket knife and the grey with a cannon.... winner Mr grey. So would I do it again YES , even though their not buddies there's still a flock mentality and they do communicate all day long. They see each other all day as well and that also provides some form of comfort to the loneliness that may be present when the daddy human is aloof.
I can say for the most part they have learned fighting is unacceptable and the occasional landing on someone else's things is not the end of the world , the grey will not challenge the conure but the conure will verbally tell him to GET DOWN !! and confront him physically if on his things and try to get him to move on. On that note IF it gets to that they are quickly removed from the situation and separated. As someone else mentioned not wanting to separate their time for another bird , this is important as if your not willing or dont have the time to keep at least one eye on them while they are out together then more thought needs to be had on another flock member. Mine are both flighted as well so while you would expect one or the other to fly away instead of fight at least with my boys I can say this has not been the rule. While I now know they dont hate each other and much if not all is simply territorial and mostly with my little guy. I always have my head on a swivel to prevent a potential problem. As recommended previously there are no guarantees but if you have the time and patients it can be done. However , dont add another bird for a buddy to your current bird do it because you want another companion.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[EllenD]

I have been actually looking for a Blue-Crowned Conure myself for a few months to add to my flock, I've always wanted one, they are a wonderful species of Conure, the are intelligent, funny, cuddly, loving Conures...I have worked with a few over the years at the Avian Rescue I have worked at for a long time, and I've loved every single Blue Crown we've had...I'm actually having trouble finding one, either an adult that needs a home or a hand-raised baby...That's really the only thing holding me back right now...

As far as your Green Cheek goes (I also have a Green Cheek, a male Yellow-Sided who is turning 3 next month), there is just no guarantee that he will get along with any other bird that you add to YOUR FLOCK, since he is bonded to you and the new Blue-Crown will also be your bird and bonded to you, or at least that's the plan. Green Cheeks are very territorial, jealous little birds, and my Bowie is absolutely without a doubt the most-jealous of my 4 (in addition to Bowie I have a Senegal Parrot, a Quaker Parrot, and a Cockatiel), and Bowie will definitely be the one who has the most trouble with any other bird I add to the flock, though again you just don't know what is going to happen with them, whether your Green Cheek will get along with the new Blue Crown, OR vice-versa, you don't know how the new Blue-Crown will get along with your Green Cheek.

The bottom-line here is that you have to be 100% certain that you are going to be able to have enough time in your daily schedule/routines that you will be able to spend enough time with each bird separately , if need be, as well as be able to set-up your home where both of their cages are located in the main-room of your home, where they can both be present but separated across the room, and where you'll be able to provide them both with enough out-of-cage-time as well as with enough one-on-one time with you that they will both be happy, just in-case it turns out that they cannot be out of their cages together in the same room with each other...If you're not sure that you can do this, then I don't suggest that you get any other bird, regardless of the species, gender, age, etc. And that's because they may love each other and bond-closely with each other, they may like each other enough to hang-out together but not really bond with each other, they might just simply "tolerate" each other but not like each other much, they might really dislike each other and just need to be kept separated (especially when around you), or they might have a very strong dislike for each other, probably based on the jealousy of your Green Cheek, at least in the beginning, and may not be able to be out of their cages at the same time AT ALL without being aggressive and violent with each other...Or any combination of all of these...You just can't guess or know, and you must be able to provide them both with enough one-on-one time with you, separately and at different times if need-be, otherwise it's just not fair to either bird...

My daily schedule is nuts due to the different flock-dynamics between my 4 guys (and the Ringneck Dove that is bonded to my Cockatiel but who the other 3 hate, lol), so we have a set routine/schedule that allows each of them equal time with me based on who gets along with who...And it works well for us, actually very well. And you learn what you can and cannot do while you have them all together at once, you learn to give each of them there own "territories" to sit on while you're with all of them at the same time and they're out of their cages, and you figure it out...But you have to have the time to be able to do so...

And as mentioned above, your Green Cheek has yet to go through puberty, so his personality may or may not totally change afterwards, and his relationship with you may become horribly territorial and he may become horribly protective and jealous over anyone or anything that go nears you, you just don't know. So I'd wait until your Green Cheek is at least a year and a half old so you can see what he is going to be like with regard to you and others in your home before you bring home another bird to be your companion too, because your Green Cheek might start biting/attacking everyone who goes anywhere near you, even your family, or he might transfer is bond to someone else in your house, who knows what will happen once he becomes hormonal...

 

[RemiBird]

Remi will waddle across the table towards my husband with his head feathers all up and try to chase my husband away from the plate of food. He is fine with my son and I but seems to see my husband as an outsider sometimes.
Also, the dog. Remi sometimes doesn't want to share the loveseat with the dog if they are both next to me. He will chase the dog away.
So, there you go. They are territorial little buggers.
I keep bringing up my cockatiels, but they were so friendly and peaceful compared to my little terror Remi.

 

[Charliesmom]

Thanks everyone for replying. I appreciate everyone's input. Such a hard decision. On one hand I want a blue crown so bad but on the other im so devoted to making Charlie happy.
Im more then willing to accept the fact that they might not like each other and I may need to accommodate whatever might need to be done for them to be happy. And iI I Charlie will be upset in the beginning, I'm just worried it will change him. I think im going to follow the advice of at least waiting until he is 1.5 if I do decide to get a blue crown. I have found 2 breeders within 2 hours of me.
I just love my Charlie. He is blowing me kisses right now. I call him my genius bird because he's so smart, says alot and copies lots of noises. He's always making me laugh. I have a high stress job and love coming home to the cutest stress reliever there is!!

 

[Charliesmom]

Ok I also have to add that I love this site. Everyone thinks I'm nuts. Im always talking about my bird. Showing the newest selfie or video ive taken. I feel their eyes roll when i pull out my phone lol. One person last week said how can you love a bird? I replied for one my bird is constantly telling me he loves me! Lol but people just don't get it. So it's nice to read people's posts on here and know im not the only "crazy" one

 

[RemiBird]

Ok I also have to add that I love this site. Everyone thinks I'm nuts. Im always talking about my bird. Showing the newest selfie or video ive taken. I feel their eyes roll when i pull out my phone lol. One person last week said how can you love a bird? I replied for one my bird is constantly telling me he loves me! Lol but people just don't get it. So it's nice to read people's posts on here and know im not the only "crazy" one

I know what you mean. I also have a pretty stressful job and my dogs and my birdie are my therapy, lol.
I talk about them at work all the time.
What do you do for a living by the way?

 

[Charliesmom]

I work with some of the states highest behavior people. I help them gain Job skills and everything that pertains to. Some days are good but some days I negotiate my safety and the safety of others and on really bad days I come out injured. I've been doing my job a long time but I'm getting old. In a few months im looking for a new state job. Case management or something less physical. How about you?

 

[Owlet]

We just had a blue crowned surrendered to my workplace and despite being left in a cage for months after the owner got a new dog, he's pretty nice. He's pretty rambunctious and it's kind of hard to read his body language as oppose to other conures I've met.

 

[RemiBird]

I work with some of the states highest behavior people. I help them gain Job skills and everything that pertains to. Some days are good but some days I negotiate my safety and the safety of others and on really bad days I come out injured. I've been doing my job a long time but I'm getting old. In a few months im looking for a new state job. Case management or something less physical. How about you?

Wow, that is a high stress job for sure!
I, on the other hand, work at a grocery store. Right now in training for dairy manager. I don't think it's as stressful as yours, but it can get hectic.

 

[Charliesmom]

You must work at a rescue? I hope he will recover and trust people again. Im glad those people have him up instead of leaving him in a cage for any longer.
Ive only met one blue crown and that's the one I grew up with and he was the greatest bird. He was my mom's but he loved everyone. I know each bird is different but would love another one. Plus I just love all conures

 

[Charliesmom]

Manager is hectic! Congrats on promotion! Job stress..... that's why we need these cute companions to come home to! ( I have kids and husbands to but they don't compare lol) I have dogs and tortoises too. Full house. But i love my time and conversations with Charlie who swear said something new again today! While i was in kitchen, he was chirping at me and i said Charlie i hear you ,and my husband and i swear he said I hear you. He's so smart

 

[BAMM17]

I've had a BCC for close to 2 years now and my experience with parrots is relatively recent, so weigh my suggestions lightly.

As far as my personal experience with my BCC, and compared to other parrots & conures I've dealt with, they are definitely a great pet to own, like most conures; Affectionate & personal, they do get attached to people they become familiar with. They're bold, intelligent, can be cuddly, and can be territorial.

Likely would have a different personality than GCCs, though I think the most important factor with Blue Crowns and other Aratingas like Sun's (though I know technically BCCs aren't classified as Aratinga anymore) is to properly socialize them; Both with people and other birds.

They bond pretty easily with good families, but on the flip side "non-flock" personnel can be very "unwelcome" in some circumstances (especially in their territory). And BCCs are significantly larger than GCCs, so their is some inherent danger if confrontations should occur.

 

[Charliesmom]

Thank you for your reply. And I just love the pic of your bcc.
Im pretty sure im going to get one but i am going to wait a few months. Im have to wait anyways as they are hard to find here and the4 babies found are spoken for now.
Of course I hope for the best for all my boys to get a long but I knowit's wishful thinking so I'm prepared for the worst. The thing I story about most is Charlie being mad forever. But when I got my daughter her bird he did ok...... but that is NOT my bird. I do spend time with her here and there and talk to her everyday but not like iI I if she was mine...... so I know it will be a different case with my own new bird.
Charlie is spoiled. He's my boy.
But I have wanted a bcc so badly. I know every bird has their own personality but my mom had one wheni was growing up and he was the greatest. I have type 1 diabetes and in the"old school"days i had to have fruit with every meal. That bird knew that and every dinner would grey on my shoulder and take the pineapple off my spoon aside tried to eat it. This was an everyday thing. He was so funny. Anyways iI is would love one and don't want to wait to many more years before im to old to get an animal that lives as long as they do lol

 

[Charliesmom]

I read my last post and some of it does not make sense. Some makes me sound like im 10 years old with the grammar lol. I assure you im not10, it's this stupid swipe business on my phone and auto correct.
Oh and it's not "my boys get along" or whatever I said... it was supposed to say BIRDS! Dang phone....

 

[BAMM17]

Haha I understand the keyboard trouble, it's no issue; Modern tech is "smart", but like birds sometimes they think they know better than their owners lol.

They are a much less abundant species than other conures, so I understand the trouble in finding an available baby. And fortunately (for the bird, unfortunate for hopeful owners like yourself), I don't see them rehomed or adopted as often, as they seem to become loved family members in most cases.

I actually found my BCC through a breeder beyond driving distance, and thus had to have the bird flown to my local airport. I know online dealings and airline travel are of contested positions among the avian community as they come with certain inherent risks, but I was able to find a great & honest breeder and my experience was secure and porblem-free. But I know that will not be the case for everyone, so that is more anecdotal.

Yes, I think conures as a whole are generally protective, strong-bonding, and mindful of their territory so I could see how your boy Charlie might be possessive or hostile toward a new member. I doubt he'd hold a grudge forever. Many people introduce birds together successfully, I think it comes down to the individual bird and how they're introduced. It's hard to predict. But you'd definitely want to consider the possibility they don't get along and need to be separate. Personally, I don't have much experience introducing BCCs to other birds. I have a budgie but they don't interact much. You'd definitely have to take it a step at a time. Even if they don't get along, if your passionate about that species, it'll be worth the extra effort to make it work so I wouldn't let it deter you.

I've heard of BCCs living as long as 30+ years! So definitely a bird with longevity haha. I wish you luck in your search.

 

[Charliesmom]

Who did you get your blue crown from if you don't mind me asking. My sister had an African ring neck flown to her from finch farm and it died within 2 weeks. She thinks it was from the stress of it from being shipped though....

 

[EllenD]

Who did you get your blue crown from if you don't mind me asking. My sister had an African ring neck flown to her from finch farm and it died within 2 weeks. She thinks it was from the stress of it from being shipped though....

Parrots/birds don't die from the "stress of being shipped", they are shipped by air-shipping every day, all day long, and they're perfectly fine. Thousands of them...If your mom purchased a CAG over the internet from a breeder without ever meeting the bird, and it died within 2 weeks of arriving (regardless of it's age), then something was medically wrong with it, and I hope she went after the breeder, because IT'S SOMETHING THE BREEDER MUST BE AWARE OF IMMEDIATELY because chances are that the bird was sick for weeks if not months and months, LONG BEFORE it was ever shipped to your mom, probably with an Avian Viral Disease, and that means that the breeder's birds are also most-likely sick!

I hope your mom got a Necropsy done on the bird, but it doesn't sound like it unfortunately. Many parrots die in the weeks following coming home from either their breeder or the pet shop they came from, and that means that they were sick, as were other birds where they came from...