New Green Cheeked Conure Owner Has Questions
John and Margie Hammond
We have recently acquired a green cheeked conure (our 1st parrot). We have had her
about 3 months and she is 7 months old. She's probably the best pet we've ever had
and we are head over heels in love with her. The following are some general
questions we have about her.
MOLTING
Her feather quality is not as good as when we got her. Although individual feathers
look good, her cover is not as thick or as smooth as when we got her. She appears
to be molting as many "quill" type stiff feathers are sprouting and she has lost one
tail feather. We don't know anything about molting - how often, how long does it
last, what to expect, etc., and don't know if we should be concerned. If attitude
and alertness are any indication, she's very healthy. We give her the opportunity
to take a bath daily. She actually takes one about every other day and air dries
after being wrapped in a towel for a short while.
DIET
We feed her the highest quality parrot mix we can find supplemented by grapes,
apples, and oranges. She seems to love "people food", however, and she gets a bite
of whatever we are eating/drinking any chance she can. Her favorite items seem to
be macaroni and cheese (I feel a little sheepish writing this), any kind of pasta,
lime sherbert, chocolate milk, orange juice, and coca-cola. Could any of these
items be harmful to her? Particularly the dairy products, since it doesn't seem
that any of these would be found in their natural environment (like Kraft dinners
and coke would be, huh?). Should we be supplementing her diet with any vitamins?
SPEECH
Do these birds talk? We were told they do by the pet shop, but we see no evidence
of this so far. If they do, at what age should it start developing?
We would appreciate any other information anyone out there thinks would be useful to
a new owner.
Joanne L. Konrade
In <32693C...@ix.netcom.com> John and Margie Hammond
<jh...@ix.netcom.com> writes:
>
>We have recently acquired a green cheeked conure (our 1st parrot). We
have had her
>about 3 months and she is 7 months old. She's probably the best pet
we've ever had
>and we are head over heels in love with her. The following are some
general
>questions we have about her.
>
Babies play hard and don't take care of their feathers as an older bird
does. Also, baby feathers are very soft. Older birds have a slightly
coarser feather.
>MOLTING
>Her feather quality is not as good as when we got her. Although
individual feathers
>look good, her cover is not as thick or as smooth as when we got her.
She appears
>to be molting as many "quill" type stiff feathers are sprouting and
she has lost one
>tail feather. We don't know anything about molting - how often, how
long does it
>last, what to expect, etc., and don't know if we should be concerned.
Expect a moult twice a year. It lasts about 2 weeks. Baths are very
helpful during moult. She will feel better and preen herself after a
bath.
If attitude
>and alertness are any indication, she's very healthy. We give her the
opportunity
>to take a bath daily. She actually takes one about every other day
and air dries
>after being wrapped in a towel for a short while.
>
>DIET
>We feed her the highest quality parrot mix we can find supplemented by
grapes,
>apples, and oranges. She seems to love "people food", however, and
she gets a bite
>of whatever we are eating/drinking any chance she can. Her favorite
items seem to
>be macaroni and cheese (I feel a little sheepish writing this), any
kind of pasta,
>lime sherbert,
NO CHOCOLATE . . . toxic
COKE IS NOT GOOD . . . loaded with caffein
> chocolate milk, orange juice, and coca-cola. Could any of these
>items be harmful to her? Particularly the dairy products, since it
doesn't seem
>that any of these would be found in their natural environment (like
Kraft dinners
>and coke would be, huh?). Should we be supplementing her diet with
any vitamins?
You never mentioned vegetables. Include a wide variety. NEVER GIVE
AVACADO . . . HIGHLY TOXIC
>
>SPEECH
>Do these birds talk? We were told they do by the pet shop, but we see
no evidence
>of this so far. If they do, at what age should it start developing?
>
>
>We would appreciate any other information anyone out there thinks
would be useful to
>a new owner.
Green Cheeked Conures are not known for good talking ability. You may
get a few words. I've heard mine say things once only, then never
again. Naturally there will always be one little smarty pants in the
crowd who can talk better than others.
I'm sure you love your bird. Cricket was my first bird ever. She is
the love of my life. I never would have believed what an intelligent
and strong willed little soul came in such a beautiful little package.
Sincerely,
Joanne \|/
job...@ix.netcom.com <o)
( >
/ \ >>
=="==="====
EXOTIC LOVE AVIARY
Broomfield, Colorado 303 469-8544/469-9162 FAX
Umbrella Cockatoos - Severe Macaws - Congo African Greys
Maroon Bellied Conures - Green Cheeked Conures - Painted Conures
All birds are Polyomavirus Vaccinated and Closed Banded
Love comes from where love goes.
If it's right for you, then it's right . . . . . for you!!!!!
Carrie
John and Margie Hammond wrote:
>
> We have recently acquired a green cheeked conure (our 1st parrot). We have had her
> about 3 months and she is 7 months old. She's probably the best pet we've ever had
> and we are head over heels in love with her. The following are some general
> questions we have about her.
I got a green cheek in March and he is a good pet. He was one year in
July.
> MOLTING
> Her feather quality is not as good as when we got her. Although individual feathers
> look good, her cover is not as thick or as smooth as when we got her. She appears
> to be molting as many "quill" type stiff feathers are sprouting and she has lost one
> tail feather. We don't know anything about molting - how often, how long does it
> last, what to expect, etc., and don't know if we should be concerned. If attitude
Mine started molting two months ago and is finally stopping. I think
he went into a huge molt because I took him off seed and put him on
Harrisons. He started moting big time about three months after I
switched him. He gained many new colors he didn't have before the molt.
Especially on his head, green and blue near his eyes.
> and alertness are any indication, she's very healthy. We give her the opportunity
> to take a bath daily. She actually takes one about every other day and air dries
> after being wrapped in a towel for a short while.
No matter how often I take him in the shower he ends up taking a bath
in his water dish. I think he likes playing in it.
> DIET
> We feed her the highest quality parrot mix we can find supplemented by grapes,
> apples, and oranges. She seems to love "people food", however, and she gets a bite
> of whatever we are eating/drinking any chance she can. Her favorite items seem to
> be macaroni and cheese (I feel a little sheepish writing this), any kind of pasta,
> lime sherbert, chocolate milk, orange juice, and coca-cola. Could any of these
> items be harmful to her? Particularly the dairy products, since it
No caffine products of any kind. ( chocolate, coke, coffee, etc.) I
have read it is ok to give a little bit of dairy but not alot. My
guy will not eat any pasta but loves fruit the best. He will eat some
veggies, carrots, but not many.
doesn't seem
> that any of these would be found in their natural environment (like Kraft dinners
> and coke would be, huh?). Should we be supplementing her diet with any vitamins?
It depends on the diet you are feeding her. I feed mine Harrisons,
nutriberries, fruit and veggies. My vet put him on this diet and I
was told he wouldn't need vitamins. You should check with your vet
to see if you need to supplement her diet with vitamins.
> SPEECH
> Do these birds talk? We were told they do by the pet shop, but we see no evidence
> of this so far. If they do, at what age should it start developing?
Mine just started saying his name, his full name, which is Asta. Until
he got the whole name down he would say "Asss..." Other than that he
just imitates the phone and tries to whistle like my Amazon. It depends
on the bird and the environment whether they will talk. Many do but in
a donald duck voice.
> We would appreciate any other information anyone out there thinks would be useful to
> a new owner.
I read many books on parrot care and behavior, read this newsgroup
and talked to my vet to get most of my information. If you need any
more info feel free to e-mail me.
Carrie Pippin
terr...@warwick.net
In Article<32693C...@ix.netcom.com>, <jh...@ix.netcom.com> write:
> Path:
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ews-peer.gsl.net!news.gsl.net!ix.netcom.com!news
> From: John and Margie Hammond <jh...@ix.netcom.com>
> Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
> Subject: New Green Cheeked Conure Owner Has Questions
> Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 13:38:34 -0700
> Organization: Netcom
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>
> We have recently acquired a green cheeked conure (our 1st parrot). We have
had her
> about 3 months and she is 7 months old. She's probably the best pet we've
ever had
> and we are head over heels in love with her. The following are some general
> questions we have about her.
>
> MOLTING
> Her feather quality is not as good as when we got her. Although individual
feathers
> look good, her cover is not as thick or as smooth as when we got her. She
appears
> to be molting as many "quill" type stiff feathers are sprouting and she has
lost one
> tail feather. We don't know anything about molting - how often, how long
does it
> last, what to expect, etc., and don't know if we should be concerned. If
attitude
> and alertness are any indication, she's very healthy. We give her the
opportunity
> to take a bath daily. She actually takes one about every other day and air
dries
> after being wrapped in a towel for a short while.
>
> DIET
> We feed her the highest quality parrot mix we can find supplemented by
grapes,
> apples, and oranges. She seems to love "people food", however, and she gets
a bite
> of whatever we are eating/drinking any chance she can. Her favorite items
seem to
> be macaroni and cheese (I feel a little sheepish writing this), any kind of
pasta,
> lime sherbert, chocolate milk, orange juice, and coca-cola. Could any of
these
> items be harmful to her? Particularly the dairy products, since it doesn't
seem
> that any of these would be found in their natural environment (like Kraft
dinners
> and coke would be, huh?). Should we be supplementing her diet with any
vitamins?
>
> SPEECH
> Do these birds talk? We were told they do by the pet shop, but we see no
evidence
> of this so far. If they do, at what age should it start developing?
>
>
> We would appreciate any other information anyone out there thinks would be
useful to
> a new owner.
Seven years ago , a baby green cheek started us on this wonderful road to
madness. :) Now I breed birds.
My Indiana Jones, started on an all seed diet and it took me a long time to
get him to eat veggys and even longer to eat Harrisons pellets.
//Since his conversion, I have seen a Huge improvement in his feather color
and quality. He absolutely shimmers!
Birds require more protien when they molt, so you may want to try hard boiled
eggs and converting to pellets.
Indy started talking at about 6 to 8 months. He is a very good talker. Don't
give up, I have some breeder GC that say a few words. they have a harse
sounding vioce and lack the clarity of an amazon or grey , but they speak
clear enough to understand.
I highly recommend green cheeks as pets.
Good luck with your baby.
Pat Coyle.
Chase Kimball
In article <32693C...@ix.netcom.com>, jh...@ix.netcom.com says...
NO CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is poisonous
to birds! My Briseis is very loving to me, and used to be loving to
everyone until she(?) got jealous when we got another bird. Now she
is basically a "one man" bird, and is especially jealous of human
females, which she apparently views as rivals. She talks a
little: "baby birdy," and "watcha doin'" but not very clearly.
What do you mean by "parrot mix?" This could mean seeds (bad)
or pellets (good.) Briseis trashed her tailfeathers when she was
little, preening them altogether too hard, but now they are beautiful.
She seems to have a small but continuous supply of pinfeathers growing
in, and in three years I have never seen what I would call a molt, not
compared to canaries I have known. Briseis eats off my plate, and I
let her have most anything she wants, but try to avoid fatty salty
stuff, even though she loves cheese. Keep her wings clipped!!! Just
trust me on this, Briseis turned into a little feathered Hitler when
she was able to fly around, and was totally disobedient and nippy. If you
would like further information, please email, I love to talk about my
birdies!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Chase Kimball (ch...@aros.net), nom de plum "Lord Brancaster" +
+ +
+My heart in hiding stirred for a bird, the achieve of, the mastery+
+of the thing! "The Windhover" Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. +
+ +
+Visit my home page at http://www.aros.net/~chase to view the +
+virtual gallery of fantasy art of Jesse Allen, and the home site +
+of the Wasatch Avian Education Society. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++