If you’ve never owned a pet bird before then the green cheek conure is a great little bird to begin with. They have friendly, affectionate personalities and are low maintenance in comparison to some of the larger parrots available. If you’re considering buying one, then you’ll need to factor in the costs listed below:
Exactly how much does a green cheek conure cost?
The pricing for a green cheek conure has range which start at $250 for lower quality birds and ends up at around $500 for the best quality breeds. On average you can expect to pay $375. Unique color mutations such as the pineapple green cheek conure and the turquoise green cheek conure varieties can command higher prices of around $400 to $750.
Prices for different breeds & color mutations
People often buy their birds based upon their appearance over everything else. So if your conure has a particularly beautiful set of feathers then it will be priced higher. So if there is something unique about the appearance of the bird that makes it look good then this will also increase the price.
Conversely, if the bird has ugly features, blemishes, marks or poor feather quality then the price is likely to drop. The following color mutations are possible with the green cheek conure and each of these will affect the price, usually being much higher than a standard green cheek with ranges from $400 to $750:
- Pineapple green cheek conure
- Turquoise green cheek conure
- Cinnamon green cheek conure
- Yellow sided green cheek conure
- Violet green cheek conure
It’s possible to test the DNA of a pet bird and this will let you know what type of breed it is, its gender, plus if there are any genetic diseases. You’ll want to do this if you’re buying a breeding pair of green cheek conures so that you’re sure of the lineage and to prevent inbreeding. When buying a pair of conures you can normally get the price at a lower rate than if you were to simply buy each bird from 2 separate breeders.
Green Cheek Conure Cages, Supplies & Equipment Prices
Whilst the price of the conure will be the first upfront cost that you will incur, over the lifetime of the bird you’re going to encounter numerous other expenses:
- A bird carrier or travel cage will be needed so that first of all you can pick up the bird from the breeder. However, this won’t be a one time use as you’ll need it so you can transport the bird to the vet to be used as a backup cage in case you need to move or during the cleaning of the main cage. Good travel cages for green cheeks usually start at a minimum of $80.
- A bird cage for your green cheek conure is likely to cost at least $100 but it’s worth paying a bit extra to get a quality cage that will last you the lifetime of the bird. This will set you back $200, however, considering this is essentially the conures home we recommend the expense.
- Exotic animal insurance might seem like an unnecessary expense. But without it, a sudden emergency might hit you one day and you may not be able to cover this charge.
- Yearly medical trips to the local vet are also recommended so that the health of your conure is tracked by a professional.
- Food supplies for your conure may not amount to much each month $25 to $50 but over the lifetime of the bird this expense adds up.
- An initial investment in a few perches and toys for the inside of your bird cage is recommended to keep your conure entertained, this is likely to cost $30 to $60 in total to buy and set up a few of these.
- Cleaning supplies are the last thing to consider and might cost you $15 to $20 each time you need to top up.
You might be able to get a deal with a couple of these items when buying from your breeder.
How age affects the price of a green cheek conure
Green cheeks normally live 10 to 15 years, but it’s not unheard of for one to live up to 20 years. The older the green cheek conure, is the cheaper it will be to buy. You can identify the age of the bird by looking at the number on its bird band. You can even adopt a green cheek conure for free if contact your local bird sanctuary and find one. Just keep in mind, older birds might be cheaper as they will be harder to train, might get sick and will have shorter lifespans.
Green cheek conure babies are also more affordable since they have to be hand reared. However, these chicks are very vulnerable and so you shouldn’t really be buying the birds at this stage unless you’re an experienced bird owner. The most expensive time to buy a conure is after it has been hand raised and is in adolescence and is now turning into a young adult.
Male and female green cheek conures tend to sell for the same price. To see a green cheek conure playing, check out the video below:
How location and time of year affect the price
If you’re buying a bird that is far distance away from you then you’ll need to think about shipping or transportation. It is possible to send parrots in the mail as seen in our article here. However, normally people will drive to the breeder to pick up their bird. So you’ll need to factor in the cost of fuel when doing this. You’ll also need to consider buying a bird carrier or travel cage for the return trip. Some breeders will provide this as part of the deal so look at the fine print to see if this is included.
If you’re buying this bird around Christmas time then the costs are likely to increase due to demand. Lower prices can be found outside of this period and during the times after a number of chicks have hatched and now been raised by a breeder.
Legal requirement for owning a green cheek conure
Different countries and different states within those countries have different laws regarding ownership of parrots. However, generally the sale of green cheek conures is unrestricted because they are such common pet birds.
It’s still a good idea to look for your local or nation bird owners association to see what they recommend when it comes to making your first purchase. They’ll show you which certificates and locations are best of obtaining your bird.
Red flags to watch out for
If the conure doesn’t come with a bird band and isn’t from a registered breeder then this is usually a warning sign. Always check the Google reviews of the name and company of the seller. Only go with breeders that have good reputations. Scams include saying the conure has a specific genetic purity (without any DNA evidence to back it up). If the price of the green cheek is much higher than usual then there must be a good reason why and evidence for this. Low prices may indicate the bird comes from an unregistered breeder or bird mill or that the bird has a disease.
Time & Effort Required for Green Cheek Conure Ownership
Taking on a green cheek conure is a big responsibility. These creatures need plenty of out-of-cage time and interaction with their owners and several hours per day is optimal. This will allow the bird to play and stretch its wings around the house with you (don’t forget to close the windows!). This situation is best if you’re at home most of the day or have a job that allows you to work from home. If not then a secondary bird might be a good idea to prevent your conure from being lonely. Also keep in mind the extra space a bird cage and any equipment it has will take up in your home because large cages may not fit in small apartments.
You may also want to spend energy training your bird so that is better behaved, can perform some tricks and doesn’t unnecessarily squark. This includes training the bird to be around other people and not just yourself so that it doesn’t overbond and is properly socialized.
Where to buy a green cheek conure for sale?
Some places where you can begin your search for a Green Cheek Conure include:
Closing thoughts
The reason why green cheek conures are one of the most popular pet birds available is because they do make great pets as parrots. They’re cute, fun and fairly quiet so they make a great beginner bird. However, like any other type of parrot, these birds require a fairly large initial upfront investment and the ongoing costs to keep one each year will certainly add up over the lifetime of the bird. If you can afford the financial costs, the time required and the energy spent on looking after these birds then a green cheek conure may be right for you.
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References:
Petco
Petsmart
Birdsnow
Birdbreeders
hbw.com
