What are baby Green Cheeked Conures like?

by Tracie
(Texas)

Buddy the Normal Green Cheeked Conure

I recently had someone ask me what to expect when they bring home their new baby bird. It was late and I was tired, but these are the things I came up with.

Widget is my Yellow-Sided Green Cheeked Conure and Buddy is my Normal Green Cheeked Conure.

I just thought I would share my limited experience with my two GC's. When they were babies, lots of different things happened that don't happen now.

1) I guess they were skinny, because they would fall through the bottom of the grate on the cage sometimes. Maybe they just squeezed through to get to the paper, I don't know really. I had to put a different grate on the bottom for the first couple of weeks until they fattened up.

2) They were very clumsy and would fall off things the first few weeks.

3) It didn't seem they knew what they toys were for and I thought they would never learn to play.

4) They were so desperate to be with me, they would always dive off the cage to the floor and come running to me. Once they discovered toys, they rarely do this unless I ignore them when they are obviously trying to get my attention.

5) Buddy went from loving me to hating me in a day's time. Now, about 9 months later, he is starting to like me again. I am, and have always been, the one who feeds them every day. Buddy just decided he liked my daughter and husband better. It didn't change my love for him and I did not take offense. Birds will be birds and they will also read your body language and I promise you they read your mind too!

6) From now until one of you die, your bird will always feel your tension, anger, peace and happiness. Every time my daughter comes in tense and calmly starts telling me her woes, the birds go nuts squawking and carrying on. They feel something is wrong.

7) These birds are NOT quiet when they want our food or attention. Do not believe the text books about GC's being quiet. I can hear my birds 70 feet away through 3 closed doors, 5 rooms away when they are trying to call me back.

8) Both birds went through a nippy stage and Buddy is still nippy, but rarely bites. (Unless you don't pay attention to his body language, then you deserve it!)

9) Both birds will protect their cage. If I want to change out food or toys in the cage without letting them climb out first, I have to wear long sleeves and be really quick so my hands don't get beak holes in them. They bring blood. Sweet and cuddly once out of the cage though.

Well, that's my list. Does anyone else have something to add for future Green Cheek owners?