Green Cheek Conure ?

[dlaura]

Our green cheek is about 7 years old and is frantically ripping paper from undereneath the cage grate up thru the grate and shredding it. I am wondering if this is some sort of nesting attempt? What age do these birds become sexually mature? This morning Einstein was making a kind of chirpy noise which I would compare to cooing -- except it was not a cooing noise, just reminded of that. Hope someone can help me and any suggestions along with answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[Gems]

they are mature around 1 yr old, and mine all do that paper thing when they are getting ready to nest.
WOOHOO :eek:

[dlaura]

Do they usually always lay eggs when they do the paper thing -- or just go thru the nesting ritual? Do males also do nesting behavior - in order to help the female?

[Gems]

mine lay eggs, in thier nestbox. I don't know what yours would do without one. It may. If it does, just toss them.
I've seen my males tearing it up too, but it might be just cuz it's so much fun.

[dlaura]

Thanks Gems. Our keet laid eggs twice - but once we took out the nesting log she no longer does so. She laid 4 and when I removed them about 2 weeks later she immediately laid 5 more and we were very concerned about her depleting her vitamin levels.

[Britta]

You should leave the eggs that she lays in the cage with her to prevent her from laying more and depleting her vitamin levels. If you don't want them to hatch remove them and freeze them then return them to her. She will not lay any more eggs if she has some already.

[KeetLover]

I've read somewhere on this site ages ago you can get like...marble eggs or something to put in when they lay their eggs. I have never had a female bird so I'm not experianced in that sort of area. :)

[dlaura]

Thanks everyone! Well our GC seems to be back to normal thank goodness. Guess it was just me being paranoid. I know birds will hide illness until it is sometimes too late so I always try to be alert and on top of odd or different behavior.

[jonesy zoo]

I use pine shavings in the bottom of my cages and i have found most birds just love shredding the paper for fun...My corella will tear up any thing that is made of paper so I really think it is a toy forthe bird...i have found that they like toilet paper rolls the cardboard centre just in case you thought I meant the tissue...as for leaving the eggs there personally I think it is a bad idea as it just encourages them to keep laying...I have tried leaving them there as some one suggested and it coarses more problems...but I do think it is best that all birds are given a hardboiled egg shell and all smashed up with about a 2 teaspoons of farex...as this helps with the bones and of course if they have been laying replaces valuable iron and vitiams...I give all our birds this once a week...It is when a bird has become fluffed up is when we really notice but by then most often it is too late...as birds are great at disguising the sickness...

[SunConure]

I do not think the egg shell it self is good for birds it might be a bit to hard for there diegestion. Try feeding your bird just the hard boiled egg,fresh fruit and vegies,high quailty seed and pellets,and nuts. Also give him/her some cuttlebone to chew on as it has alot of vitamins,and minerals. Millet is also good for them you could also give your bird dryed fish that you can get for cats the dryed fish has some good oils for the birds feathers and brings out the color in the bird. Most people on here won't agree with me but julie a friend of mine has a sun conure and shes been feeding these dryed fish to her bird for a couple of months now and lollie thats the birds name has more color then she did when she first got her.

[jonesy zoo]

SunConure, do you give your birds shell grit? Everything that I have read suggests that ALL birds need some kind of roughage in their diet as this aids with their digestion.. example peanuts in the shell

[SunConure]

i don't own a bird right i will in april. What i will be doing is leaving the skins on the fruit and vegies i will be feeding him. I have never heard that before.

[jonesy zoo]

So you are saying that you have never heard that birds need roughage in there diets to help with digestion interesting...I would recomend that you go to your local pet store/vet and ask them about the need for it in their diets...with their fruit and veg leaving there skin on is great as long as it is throughly washed and any bruised bits removed...I do not put sand or shell grit in the bottom of their cages because when they down to nibble on it all they are doing is eating their own poop...not a charming thought...with the colour of your sunconure as they mature the colour changes and they become a very bright yellow/orange...I would be very careful myself feeding them a long of dried fish...not saying it is a bad idea but I have never tried it before...I would be a little worried as this is something that is really not found in their diet but as I always say each to his /her own..I look at what they would eat in their natural enviroment and expand from there..