Tree Top Bird Center

[Blaine]

So I went to Tree Top Bird Center today. It's probably the best bird store i've ever been in. All of the birds looked very healthy and playful, they had lots of fun toys and such for sale and in the cages. There were also some playful ones I could pet. There was this umbrella cockatoo in his cage, he was really eager to play through the bars. It stuck it's foot out to my mom (she's not a big bird person) and grabbed on. It did that to me too. It was so cute!

What I was really there for was the baby green cheek conures. They had a clutch of 4 yellow sided ones that were 6 weeks old exactly. They were all happy and playing in their cage when I walked up. They seemed really healthy. Thgey are on a mix of half fruits and veggies and some seed mix. I asked the lady who worked there a bunch of questions on them. We're paying 30% up front, and the rest later when I can get them in 3 weeks to a month. They want you to play with it first, so they allow you to go up there all you want and play with the bird before you buy it. You can even walk around the store with it! They seem really knowledgeable about green cheeks. They are sexing them and are going to call us if they find a male. My mom said we can drive up every Sunday after church and a few times in between to play with the bird. That's what I like about this bird shop, is that they let you play with it all you want before you buy it. So in 3 weeks I should get the new green cheek!

I have also found a home for Juniper. He's going to go to a bird Sanctuary or another bird lady who has a lot of budgies. The good thing is wherever he goes I get to visit him whenever I want!

[Berserka]

That is excellent Blaine! You won't regret getting a Green Cheek, they are one of the most fun birds you can get.
It's good you've found a nice home for Juniper. If he's with other budgies even better.
Well done you!

[kiwi]

Blaine thats fantastic news! They sound a very helpful and experienced pet store too!

Great news for Juni too - he will love having others of his breed around.

You'll be counting down the days till you get your new baby I bet

[Blaine]

I practically got the worst new ever. My mom had a conversaton with the bird sanctuary, and the lady who worked there said that green cheek conures are overpriced, loud, annoying, harmful, ear piercingly loud, and monsters with beaks. She said that in a year they become ear piercingly loud. Now, my mom has refused to buy a bird.... I've been planning this and researching for a long time, and we were planning to make a deposit on the new conure Sunday. My mom already told me yes and promised she's get one, and then in a 10 minute talk it's all gone..... I don't know if I want another bird now.

[Berserka]

Green Cheeks are not that bad. Sun Conures are the ear piercing ones.
Handraised ones don't bite that bad - they like to test everything. I reckon that lady just didn't like them.
I've had a handraised one and 4 aviary ones and my budgies were just as loud most times.

[Liz]

Aw, Blaine, I'm sorry!

Like Karen said, that lady probably didn't like them for some reason. Maybe she has only seen unhappy ones. Wish I could help some other way.

[Blaine]

The lady who runs the sanctuary seems to be a cockatiel lover. ;D She convinced my mom (even I can't do that) into letting me get a cockatiel. She also suggested some other kinds, some of them being an eclectus or a congo african grey. I haven't begun research on them yet. I don't know what these are like. Are these birds kid friendly? Well, i'm assuming they are if she suggested them. Well.... What are they like?

[laurie]

its a shame that lady said that to your mom about the green cheeks! mine are actually not bad at all..even my breeders that arent hand tame are not that loud at all, infact the lovebirds I have tend to get louder..my bird room is connected to my bedroom, when the birds get chatty in the AM all I have to do is tap the wall once & they go quiet lol now the suns or jendays YES! they are screeching machines, but my green cheeks are quiet..they have 2 times per day that they communally go off (so to speak) & it lasts less than 35 seconds & all goes quiet again.. maybe over time your mom will let you go ahead..cockatiels make fabulous pets as well , you cant go wrong in my book with either of those birds, if you can, check out Pionus! they make very sweet gentle & quieter pets as well..

[Berserka]

Don't get an African Gray, they are like 4yo human children intelligence wise and are very high maintenance.
I would advise against an eclectus too.
Green Cheeks are the better birds. Cockatiels also get very noisy too.

[Blaine]

I talked to my mom, and she yells at me every time a mention green cheeks telling me how she'll never get a squawky bird. I think the only way she'll let me get a green cheek is to have the recomendation come from the sanctuary. I'm talking to the lady myself tonight, i'll go ahead and ask her a few questions. If green cheeks and cockatiels wind up not working, what do you suggest?

[Tigger]

Hey Blaine, how come you are planning on giving Juniper away? Did things not work out with him?

[Blaine]

He got really nippy and started biting everyone. He stopped coming out of the cage and wouldn't let me in, not even twice daily to change the water without his stress levels going up. I just don't think he would have gotten anything out of me. I thought it would be best for him to be in a place with other budgies he can play with.

[Berserka]

Caique are a beautiful bird and are also known as being little clowns.

[Blaine]

I researched caiques for a while, and couldn't find them anywhere for sale. I also herd they can get pretty loud.

So I talked to the lady at the sanctuary and she gave 3 recommendations. Cockatiels, senegal parrots, and africaqn grey parrots (specifically congo african greys) She said that if I were to choose congo african greys, this would be a challenging bird to have, but very rewarding.She said they can live up to 80 years in the proper care, and are wonderful birds to have. I think my mom actually showed hints that she liked them when I researched them with her today. She gave me some useful information on cockatiels and sengels. Right now i'm more leaning towards senegals and congos..... Any thoughts on those two?

[Berserka]

Honestly at your age Blaine I wouldn't go for a Gray. They take way too much work - yes it can be rewarding but in my opinion they are a bird you should wait until your well into your 20's. I'd strongly suggest waiting until your 20's and then deciding, in a few years time you might get tired of having birds altogether. In the US there are alot of birds that go to rescue centre's because people grow out of them.
Out of CAG and Senegal, I reckon go for a Senegal.

Look, better yet, join this forum and ask their opinion, give your age and how long you can spend with it each day, this forum is an African Grey forum: vdnent.proboards41.com/