bought a gcc

[znc07]

i bought a green cheeked conure a couple of days ago.
are their any kind of books out there that anyone would recommend about how to train these birds, get rid of bad habits?

[Valo's Moirana]

well, pretty much any parrot behavior and / or parrot training book will give a good overview of the techniques.
i'd teach him the step up command, handle him a lot (aka play, have him sit on your finger, let him observe the routine etc), and introduce him to new people.... after a little while to let him settle in of course.

congrats - greencheeks are adorable little birds with A LOT of character

[Addicted to Tequila]

Welcome to the club!
<hands her a box of bandaids>

They really are great fun! I am commanded by a GCC and it's henchman... a Sun.

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

Welcome to the club!
<hands her a box of bandaids>

LOL - already?!

i'd have waited with that for later... yip, the little greencheeks need a lot of socialization and handling - otherwise they can get a little nippy (which is not the same as biting), and bond closely to one person... my little greencheek loves me to shreds - doesn't prevent him from giving me a nip if i don't live up to his expectations (e.g. come home too late and the Sir is hungry). but nothing cuter than a fluffy greencheek on your shoulder, rubbing his little head against your cheek and making kissie noises.

one thing that a lot of people overlook is that they can be very strong characters... one thing that i love so much about valo - he has his own mind, his own ideas and he pursues them.

[Addicted to Tequila]

She opened with "are their any kind of books out there that anyone would recommend about how to train these birds, get rid of bad habits?". What... you think she is really farsighted and proactive... or psychic? <If she is psychic... I get dibs on the powerball numbers for Fridays Mega Millions! LOL)

Valo... loves you to shreds? Should we mention the fashion rules for conure owners? LOL
1) All shirts MUST have buttons... these will be removed. You are to replace or resew them before the next wearing.
2) Skin needs to breath... conures are VERY health conscious. They may try to assist you by "air conditioning" your clothes. This also applies to the skin itself if they are highly displeased!
3) Silky, slippery fabrics are evil. You must banish them from your wardrobe. Summer weight sweaters that can be easily scaled by little feet are just fine as long as it is below 120 degrees in the shade. It is an acquired habit. You will get used to it. It amazes my co-workers I eat lunch outside each day in one!

And as far as "has his own mind"... yea, and has a lease on yours as well... admit it!

Pursues ideas... yep, like greyhounds after a rabbit!

Now lets tell her the GOOD stuff...
1) They are wickedly smart!
2) They love to learn new stuff!
3) They are easy to potty train!
4) Although they can draw blood if REALLY mad/scared/etc... you will not need a plastic surgeon to reattach digits during breeding season! (BIG plus in MY book! LOL)
5) They are fearless!
6) They will actually APPRECIATE toys you make them (by destroying them)!
7) They are not overly loud.
8) When they tip their heads quizzically... they are SO DANGED CUTE!
9) They can learn to talk.
10) They cannot kill you in your sleep by ripping out your jugular! (OK... I am reaching here!)

And... they do not require a cage big enough to keep a gorilla in!

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

And... they do not require a cage big enough to keep a gorilla in!

you obviously haven't seen valo's cage yet

but you very OBVIOUSLY live with a greencheek LMAO.... they are characters, aren't they.
valo doesn't chew buttons, and the holes in my cloths are mainly bella's fault (she's very efficient though - she makes enough holes in 2 days to ruin cloths sufficient for 3 weeks). but here are things that you should know when living with valo:
*) walk around a corner SLOWLY - you wouldn't be the first person with a greencheek spread out all over the face (and needless to say, he holds on during the collision)
*) don't shut doors when you walk around - valo WILL follow you EVERYWHERE
*) did i already mention: BE HOME IN TIME FOR DINNER
*) provide sufficient time for head scritching
*) leave computer put away until mr. stinkefuss is in bed - otherwise you might have to chase a little bird with an ESC key in his beak
*) snuggle time is to be provided upon request (and not depending on schedule)
*) shower IMMEDIATELY after working out - valo will lick your skin until you loose your mind
*) your food is his food, and of course his food is his food (not that i'm keen on muffins with eggshells in them)

and now the biggest one - which is my fault as i live alone and didn't spend enough time socializing valo:
*) keep cage closed when visitors are around as the 70g bird sees everything 1000x his size as competitor - and as you said, they're fearless... that's why i always point out the socialization - i have experience with the opposite


now, have some more to add to the GOOD list:
*) yip, they can learn to talk - if somebody actually appreciates the "come here" at 6am is a different question (know, was already on the list - had to only make the point for the 6am thing )
*) they love to learn tricks and are good with it
*) they are small, hence relatively easy to transport (IF they want)

[Addicted to Tequila]

So... they are basically like having a high-maintenance, chauvinistic boyfriend that spends too much time channeling his inner child that that has major ADHD!

Yep... that covers it! LOL

<is going to bed before they come to lock her and Valo up!>

[Addicted to Tequila]

Perhaps we should give her a list of good mental health books for conure... specifically GCC... owners? LOL

[xafsmom]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

So... they are basically like having a high-maintenance, chauvinistic boyfriend that spends too much time channeling his inner child that that has major ADHD!

Yep... that covers it! LOL

<is going to bed before they come to lock her and Valo up!>

You forgot "...and is on a sugar rush."

You also forgot the part where you could clip their wings to the absolute maximum and they can still fly ANYWHERE that will:

a) put you in a panic to save them;

b) cause them to land upside-down in some form of potential, dire, near-immediate danger if not saved;

c) requires you to either contort your body until you need to be triple-jointed to retrieve them or just out of reach enough to need a step-ladder (or plumbers snake - we had an incident with Alton and the Dishwasher).


To which after the aforementioned situation happens and you've rescued (captured and foiled the evil plan of...) your innocent LOOKING gcc...

You will be rewarded with a 3 minute stern birdy lecture with the back of their little head feathers foofed out and a solid nip. Then, of course, at this point of your utter insanity and proof the brainwashing is nearly complete... you will then APOLOGISE to your gcc for saving his feathered butt and reward him with a treat for his narrow escape with certain demise!

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by xafsmom

You forgot "...and is on a sugar rush."

You also forgot the part where you could clip their wings to the absolute maximum and they can still fly ANYWHERE that will:

a) put you in a panic to save them;

b) cause them to land upside-down in some form of potential, dire, near-immediate danger if not saved;

c) requires you to either contort your body until you need to be triple-jointed to retrieve them or just out of reach enough to need a step-ladder (or plumbers snake - we had an incident with Alton and the Dishwasher).


To which after the aforementioned situation happens and you've rescued (captured and foiled the evil plan of...) your innocent LOOKING gcc...

You will be rewarded with a 3 minute stern birdy lecture with the back of their little head feathers foofed out and a solid nip. Then, of course, at this point of your utter insanity and proof the brainwashing is nearly complete... you will then APOLOGISE to your gcc for saving his feathered butt and reward him with a treat for his narrow escape with certain demise!

LMAO.... how true is that - especially the apology part... too funny

maybe we should extract all these posts and make it a sticky describing the gcc personality - sounds like my mr. stinkefuss is just a normally "behaved", equally adorable, average nerve-pulling, usually snuggly little boy, who managed to become the center of my world.... now, how did that happen?