Supplements?

[PetriTheGreenCheek]

Hi there Birdboards!

I'm getting my very own GCC this weekend (Saturday), and I'm very excited! However, I don't want the bird store to 'over sell' me too many things, but of course, I'm going to want my Petri to have everything he needs.

First, they're trying to sell me one of the younger GCCs that has not been weaned completely. What's your take on this? Should I buy a fully weaned bird, or a bird that's still being weaned? Is this boning experiance important, or life-threatening?(Side note: though I've bird experiance, I've never weaned a bird before).

Secondly, should my GCC get supplements besides the harrion diet, fresh foods and people food? It seems there are lots of water and food additives for healthy birds.

Lastly, when I go pick him up, is there anything all GCCs should have? Any wonderful toys or great things? Anything I might forget?

thanks!

[isoscelestri]

I've read a lot of posts here that say if you don't know how to hand feed and wean a bird don't get one that's not weaned. A person without experience could seriously injure the bird. You might want to think twice about that store if they think it's ok to sell an unweaned bird to someone who doesn't have experience in weaning; it doesn't sound like they have the birds best interest in mind.
I give my parrotlet just less than a days worth of supplement 3 days a week, this is because he eats both seeds and pellets as his staple diet (he gets fresh food as well). This was on my vet's recommendation. I would imagine that a bird whose staple diet is just pellets wouldn't need supplements, but that would be something to ask an avian vet to be certain.
In general all birds should have lots of different types of perches. Lots of people with all different types of birds say that a boing is a must have. It's a rope perch that hangs from the top of the cage and is twisted like a spring.