Nicknames: Baby Borb, Chippy, Cinnamon
Species: Cinnamon green‑cheeked conure
Sex: Likely male (DNA inconclusive)
Hatchday: Very late 2017 in Charlestown, NSW, Australia
Adoption Anniversary: 3rd February 2018
Forever Home: 19th March 2019
Weight: 56 grams (6th June 2018)
Favourite foods: Corn, almonds, apple, salmon, sultanas
Personality: Adventurous and carefree, a bit of a clown
Chip’s Story
Chip came home in a tissue box - a tiny, messy Baby Borb who needed power naps with his sock friend and warm mush from mommy bird. He was the youngest of the flock, but what he lacked in size he more than made up for in personality.
The Sultana Heist
Within 24 hours of his cage parole, Chip orchestrated the most sophisticated, elaborate sultana heist in conure history - wry, charismatic, and playing entirely by his own rules. Three rules: don’t hurt anybody, don’t steal from anyone who doesn’t deserve it, and play the game like you’ve got nothing to lose.
The Flock Merge
When Chip arrived, he was the new guy. Pudge was already The Boss, and Tillie, the second‑in‑command, hid inside the cage to prevent conflict while Pudge met the newcomer outside. It all ended with quite a surprise for the resident siblings. Pudge didn’t always play nice; he was caught stomping on poor Chip in what became a tiny opera of bird tyranny. But eventually the three birds found their rhythm, partying around the cage together until the break of dawn.
The Clumsy Bather
Chip took what can only be described as the longest, most uncoordinated bath in the history of the conures - watched in disbelief by Tillie and Pudge. So adorable! He loves to bathe, though not every day. He’s a little goofy and clumsy, but absolutely captivating to watch. He’ll be thoroughly soaked by the end, every time. Tillie once jumped the queue at the watering hole, cutting right in front of poor Chip.
Upside‑Down Bird & The Cockroach
Chip enjoys eating his food while almost completely upside down in the food bowl and loves to do “the cockroach” - scaling the walls and ceiling of the cage, usually with Tillie hot on his tail. He taunts Tillie and she gives chase, but he can pull all the moves. He is, after all, the cockroach bird.
When he’s all snuggled up, he tries to feed off an ear or just bury himself in your hair. He once snuck into a birdperson’s hair attempting to build a nest. One thing you quickly learn with conures: more hair is more nest.
Headbanger & Mischief Maker
Chip headbanged with wild abandon, until he accidentally smacked into Tillie while she was eating capsicum. In fairness, she’d been at that bowl for about an hour. Chip’s also a destroyer of cameras, chasing the lens at every chance, often alongside Tillie in her their famous attack formation.
He’s been known to bite the people, “Chippy! Why!”, after a long and tiring day. And when Tillie was napping, Chip found his groove, stomping around on the perch like he was boss bird.
Personality & Quirks
Chip is very quiet‑spoken. He’ll occasionally peep out or proclaim a soft “Step up,” but not nearly as often or as loudly as Tillie. He has a sharper beak and claws, can get stuck on fabrics occasionally, and if he wants to bite, he’ll strike fast - lookout! After his second hatchday he should’ve mellowed a little more.
Sometimes appearing somewhat absent‑minded, you could think Chip is running on a slightly different track. He doesn’t seem to mind being separated from Tillie, whereas she frets. Perhaps a change really is as good as a holiday for Chip.
He enjoys napping in the mid‑afternoon - unlike Tillie, who never seems to sleep. When he’s sleepy, he turns eighty times grumpier. Tillie doesn’t mind though; she’s used to this sort of behaviour.
Chip is also adventurous - the first into the zone of danger, and also the first one to nod off. He shares a sultana box with Tillie one moment, then fights over its remains the next.
Farewell
The DNA test on feathers collected suggested both Chip and Tillie were male, though the lab warned against using unplucked samples. We couldn’t bring ourselves to hurt these little warriors. In the end, Chip went to his forever home together with Tillie on 19 March 2019.
The very last goodnight chirpies captured a bittersweet moment: “From tomorrow onward you will be in the care of another. I hope they take good care of you, you will be greatly missed. I won’t forget either of you.””
“If there’s trouble, I probably started it.”