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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 13, 2008 22:52:05 GMT 10
Ok so, here's the deal. I will be getting my Alexandrine in about 3 weeks from a lady who is weaning it.
Well, on my visits to see Matches, I notice this quiet little GCC who looks to be weaned. He is gorgeous. Loves people, comes to the top of the cage for scratches and falls asleep when you scratch him. The only thing is he doesnt like other birds. I am so tempted to bring him home with me but I really don't want to at the same time.
I don't want to cut out valuable time with Matches while he/she will be settling in and I live with my dad at the moment and I dont know how he will take to me bringing home an extra bird. I have not heard this GCC make a sound. The GCC and my alex were the quietest she had there.
I am really hoping that this GCC already has a home to go to otherwise I have a HUGE decision to make. I work 8:30-5 mon-fri so don't have alot of time during the week as it is but it is driving me crazy trying to push this idea away.
That's all really.
Courtney
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Post by sebzpets on Jan 14, 2008 5:52:10 GMT 10
Courtney I think you might know what everyone is going to say but here I go anyway.  I think unless you can spend X amount of time with each of the birds and be able to fulfill both their handling and time needs you should stick to just one bird. You also have to take into consideration costs will be doubled having both birds,what if they both get sick and need a vet at the same time? Yes I realise you work fulltime but being only 19 I can't imagine you get paid loads of money (though it would be nice). The GCC also has "issues" with other birds...which is probably a major concern I have considering its age...and you need to seriously consider this as if it were to have a go at Matches and Matches didn't like it I am guessing the GCC will come out 2nd best and poor Matches would be blamed when at the end of the day in that scenario it would be your fault.  Sorry to be so brutal but I'd hate for either Matches or the GCC to end up looking for a new home in say a year simply because you couldn't get the GCC "out of your head". I will congratulate you though on having the forsight to "think" it through,rather than just do. |
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Post by abby-oldaccount on Jan 14, 2008 7:45:48 GMT 10
I'm so glad you're thinking this through Courtney. I've gotta go with the big man on this one. I'm an at home mum hence I have the time to spend with my birds and be able to handraise etc. I really think just stick with Matches for now. There's plenty of time down the track for another companion. GCCs can also be stubborn little sods. Little Rebel is one of my babies and will quite happily go out of his way to upset my grey and green quaker. His parents are exactly the same. Despite saying all that they are a great bird, but I think it would be good for you and Matches to have this baby time together without anyone else demanding your attention.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 14, 2008 8:24:57 GMT 10
Yes I agree. This is your first bird too. Give it time to get to know Matches properly and believe me once Matches has settled in he will make his "baby noise" for a few months and it will drive you crazy. ;D If some time down the track you think Matches could handle a friend and that you could handle another bird.........go for it, but for now, I would spend my time spoiling one baby bird ;D
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 14, 2008 9:38:34 GMT 10
This will be my first bought bird but I have been around and cared for birds (and other animals) all my life. I was thinking that if it isnt sold then I'll call the breeder and keep me updated so that once Matches is settled in I may be able to add it. I definately dont want to bring them home at the same time but if it doesnt get sold for a while after I will re think it. The bird doesnt attack other birds or anything it just prefers not to be near them. It tolerates them as long as it doesnt bother him. It wont come to you if you are holding another bird though.
I hope it is sold though, I don't see why it wouldnt be it's so sweet. But I definately won't get it the same time as Matches...My brother's birthday is coming up...wonder if he wants a bird lol.
Still I don't think i will get it but it's just so hard to get it out of my head.
Think it will just end up being me and Matches...it will hopefully pass.
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Post by petiel on Jan 14, 2008 10:33:55 GMT 10
Hi Courtney well |I have to agree with everyone here too. I know Alexandrine's and Greencheeks don't mix, Vincent my alex loves every bird he sees and comes in contract with but Greencheeks he is so scared of.
And Matches is quiet now so wait until you bring him home and you see how quiet he is them.LOL He will call out and cry for you and will drive you mad.
Enjoy Matches and let him be an only child for a while.
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Post by silvercloud on Jan 14, 2008 10:55:46 GMT 10
I gotta agree with everyone else Courtney. Don't be fooled by Matches quietness, alexs can be LOUD.
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 14, 2008 11:08:00 GMT 10
Lol i know matches will be loud, I have prepared for that. I don't think I will end up getting the green cheek. I'll see how matches goes for a few months and then I'll think about another bird. I am really taken with the GCC's though. So do you think I shouldnt get a GCC altogether or just dont get one now?
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Post by sebzpets on Jan 14, 2008 11:17:24 GMT 10
Just not for now Courtney...give Matches say 6 months at least. Don't forget you are becoming a new parent as well. GCC's will still be there next season afterall.  |
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 14, 2008 11:49:32 GMT 10
yep that is what I was going to say. But you will also need to house them separately. They can be next to each other but not actually together. So you would need to buy another cage and toys etc too.
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 14, 2008 14:28:36 GMT 10
Yeah, I have pretty much decided against getting it. Think I will get one but I will wait. I wouldnt house my birds together though even if they got along ok, ya just never know. Especially considering the size comparison. Also I would hate having to share my room with someone else lol. I know I could afford another and I would have enough love but I have alot to do with setting up Matches and settling him/her in. I do think I would like a Green cheek one day. At first i didnt think much of them but the more im around them the more i like them.
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Post by abby-oldaccount on Jan 14, 2008 15:37:36 GMT 10
When you're really ready to get your GCC there's a few of us here who have them as pets and also breed them. We'll be ready to help you out with any questions you may have.
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 14, 2008 16:01:59 GMT 10
I was looking at Quakers and Alexs to get and I decided alex, but what do you think of GCC and Quakers...I was like "my next bird is a quaker!!" now I have been around GGC i think i might like them a little more? What do you think about those two? Never thought much about GCC before but now I think they are gorgeous...am I right?
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Post by abby-oldaccount on Jan 14, 2008 16:18:04 GMT 10
Ok I've got both. I'm probably more partial to the quakers. They're an intelligent bird, (probably too intelligent for their own good at times) but with this intelligence comes some potential neurotic behaviours too. I know of 2 at the moment who are feather plucking and I think my green boy Barney may also be chewing at his feathers. Time for a big toy change with him. They can be absolute delights (like my blue pair) or living nightmares. Barney is very cage territorial, has worked out how to undo the nuts that swivel his feed doors and normal door (which often leads me to looking for nuts, bolts and threatening to weld the darn things shut  ) and isn't really a big one on talking unlike the blues. They can be downright obnoxious to everyone around them or sweet little teddy bears. With 3 of them I've seen the personalities come out. My advice would be after your Alex has settled in to try and spend some time with a few. Speak to other owners too. |
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Post by Jane on Jan 14, 2008 20:07:02 GMT 10
Everyone has given you great advice Courtney and it sounds like you are going to make the right decision. I'll just say the remember Matches will have the intelligence of a 5 yr old human and will need as much attention (which is heaps  ) I would love a companion parrot but realistically work 8-5 and could not provide enough attention so that's why I stick to my avairy fids. |
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 15, 2008 10:47:16 GMT 10
Yeah I have kinda gone off the idea, I'm pretty sure it would be taken anyway. People at my work want me to bring matches into work one day lol. I will probably do it when i need to see the avian vet (its about 4 streets from my work). I work at an xray and ultrasound clinic and am in with pathology. I have never been sick whilst working here so its a pretty clean place. I used to work in a shopping centre and was constantly sick (hence why I dont buy animals from pet shops in shopping complexes).
Anyway off the subject, dont think i will get a GCC yet, will wait a while.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 15, 2008 12:46:18 GMT 10
I have a friend who is a vet nurse and she takes her male ekkie to work with her quite often. He is used to being there but she found him "strutting" his stuff out in the waiting room one day. lol He isn't scared of dogs and cats..........but Jacki was worried the other animals might hurt him so she quickly grabbed him and put him back on his cage out the back.
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 15, 2008 12:51:04 GMT 10
Aww, I would probably have Matches out the back but will keep him/her caged most of the time (maybe out for a play when there's no patients). But that's only when I need to go the the vet. Can stay home otherwise and maybe if my brother is home sometimes he will let Matches out.
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Post by Jane on Jan 15, 2008 19:30:45 GMT 10
I thought about having a parrot at work but I would be too scared that I would have him/her out then the phone would ring and I'd get busy and something would go wrong oh and I have a cat already |
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Post by courtzrocks on Jan 16, 2008 10:21:00 GMT 10
I dont have a cat or dog or anything but fish that live with me (my mum has my tiel  and she has the dogs). I would only take it to work if i had to but as far as letting it out, I know the times it's busy and when it's not...for some reason its quiet early afternoon??? but yeah. I cant wait to get Matches and then one day add another bird to the house. |
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) and isn't really a big one on talking unlike the blues. They can be downright obnoxious to everyone around them or sweet little teddy bears. With 3 of them I've seen the personalities come out. My advice would be after your Alex has settled in to try and spend some time with a few. Speak to other owners too.
) I would love a companion parrot but realistically work 8-5 and could not provide enough attention so that's why I stick to my avairy fids. 
and she has the dogs). I would only take it to work if i had to but as far as letting it out, I know the times it's busy and when it's not...for some reason its quiet early afternoon??? but yeah. I cant wait to get Matches and then one day add another bird to the house.