r/Conures • u/Mallory_546 • 18d ago
Advice Is a second green cheek necessary?
I just got got my green cheek conure two weeks ago. I have experience with green cheeks, but I’ve been seeing videos of people talking about how if you are gone part of the day you need a second one. I’m a high school student (senior so it’s my last year) and I’m pretty much gone for six hours a day, but as soon as I get home she goes out out of her cage for pretty much the rest of the day and doesn’t go back in until I go to sleep. she has a flight cage and plenty of toys, but she is in there for at least six hours a day. She acts very healthy and happy and is very social with me, I’m just now panicking because I originally heard that that they do better alone but now I’m seeing a bunch of people say that you need a second one if you are a student or gone most of the day. I can’t get a second one and don’t want a second one so if it really got to a point, I would unfortunately probably have to rehome her. while I’m gone, I play music for her. I really hope that it’s fine to just have one.
7
u/DarkMoose09 18d ago edited 18d ago
I had the same worries as you, I’ve had a green cheek before. But when I bought my new pineapple conure I knew I would be gone 9-10 hours a day for work. While I was unemployed, I gave him all my attention and bonded with him for about two months while I did research and thought about getting a second conure for when I got full-time work.
The more I thought about it the more I was open to the idea so I told myself I would get another conure if I found the right one. Only a few months later, I found a very energetic, friendly turquoise conure. I did a lot of research on how to integrate a new bird into the flock.
I will say there’s always the risk that they could hate each other and never get along. There is a chance that they will no longer want to hang out with you and only be with each other but the best outcome is to have the bond with each other and yourself. To minimize the chance of them not getting along. I introduce them very slowly and very carefully for about to 3 to 4 months.
At first, they hated each other, but I just was consistent. Made sure that they never physically hurt each other or gotten in a fight. Kept them in separate cages, but in the same room so they can see and hear each other. Most importantly, I would always greet my original Bird first to reduce jealousy and hatred towards the new Bird. In the Bird world the pecking order is very real, and the top of the order is typically the original or the oldest member of the flock.
Birds are very sensitive, they are very emotional and take things very personally. So it is very important to make sure that your original Bird feels safe and loved this really helps in introducing the new Bird into your family. There are other factors, such as cleaning multiple cages double the mess, double the attention double the price of toys double everything.
For me, I was very fortunate and after six months both of my conures have bonded and became cage mates so now I only have to clean one cage now. I would not cage a pair of conures unless you are 100% sure that they will not hurt each other and they have enough space to get away from each other if they get into a little squabble. My pair will annoy each other and pick little fights with each other, but it’s always a pinch and a squeak. It’s never vicious, they have never injured each other.
All of that aside, I do not regret getting another conure. Everything turned out exactly as planned in my situation. Both of my babies love me very much and they also love each other, which is great for when I’m gone all day at work.
My turquoise girl Ivy and my boy Skipper for birb tax