How many Conures?

Hi,

So I'm hopefully going to be a newbie bird owner in January (apart from owning untamed budgies when I as younger). I'm looking into different species and keep coming back to Conures.

I would be moving away next year to live in London and study for 3 years so would love my bird to accompany me. I'm just wondering, if I were to get a conure, would it be best to get one or two?

I've read online that some birds prefer to be alone and some enjoy company, I just worry that being away during the day would cause the bird to become stressed/needy - particularly as I would be moving away from the family home, where my bird will live with me until I move.

Would siblings from the same hatch be able to live together? Would this effect their training & socialisation? Would a single bird be best to start with and then I could introduce a companion?

Any help would be great, I am also looking at Sennies as I know someone who has an adorable Sennie. I'm taken by Indian Ringnecks and Eclectus parrots too but I understand they may not be the best species for a beginner like me!

Generally speaking, it's recommended to buy two birds separately (i.e. at different times). Train first bird well, months down the way, get a second bird and put the bird in quarantine. Train that bird well before introducing the two.

That said, if you want two sibling birds and know how to train well, then it can work out. The only thing is that if you do get two birds, together or separately, although they will be able to entertain themselves, if you don't train both birds (together or separately), they may prefer each other over you. Heck, even with good training, they may still prefer each other!

That, and it would be best to get two birds of the same sex so as to avoid breeding, if you aren't interested in that.


I've had two conures of similar species at the same time in one point in time... but both were complete opposites and just didn't get along! That is to say that one thrived off of human contact and the other was fine without it, and actually preferred human interaction to be kept to a bare minimum. Likes, dislike and overall health were also complete opposites.

I would get a single bird. as long as you spend as much time as possible with the bird im sure he won't become needy from being alone during the day just make sure he has lots of toys for entertainment and if your still worried you could leave the radio on or tv. i've heard that helps alot most people with birds have to work full time jobs and they have lots of birds and they're all are happy and healthy so i wouldn't worry about that too much.

the only thing i would worry about is they noise depending on where your going to live while your in school. i don't know if they have dorms like here but i'm sure a bird like a sun conure would not be a good match but maybe something like a green cheek or maroon belly would probably be a better match. don't get me wrong green cheeks can still be loud just not near as loud as a sun, gold capped or nanday.
i don't know too much about senegals so i cant put an imput on them

Good luck!!

I had my one year old for three months then brought a baby conure. I lost my bond with the one year old completely and neither are comfortable around me now. However my eight year old that had never been around birds prefers me. He loves the other two but always wants to be with me. I would recommend one year apart conure smart lol