Need some advice for my new Sun!

MarshallSpears

New member
Jul 17, 2013
14
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Arlington, SD
Parrots
Sun Conure
I got a Sunburst Conure on the 4th of July. He is already spending 3 to 4 hours a day with me on my shoulder and lap. I just love him! However I notice some sneezing when he is preening or scratching his nose. He sneezes and some discharge will hit my face! But it seems to be clear. Like I said its usually when preening or scratching his face. Maybe I'm just worrying too much. I moved his cage to the opposite side of the room so it wouldn't be by the AC vent. Should I make a trip to the vet? He seems very active and friendly.

My next question is how much fruit and veggies....and what kind should I be giving? I've been giving corn, carrots, and green beans but he doesn't seem to love them.

Another question! He seems to enjoy biting my ears! Usually not hard just a nibble. But sometimes it's painful! Any suggestions on how to train him not to do that?

And last but not least. I'm thinking of adding a Pineapple Green Cheek or another Sun to my home. I have a separate cage but wonder how much louder it will be with 2. So if anyone can help with those questions I would greatly appreciate it!! Thanks!
 

ruffledfeathers

New member
Aug 23, 2012
1,970
Media
5
3
NJ
Parrots
Gilbert Oliver, Blue Crown Conure; Georgie, Sun Conure (2/8/01-8/8/12) RIP little girl; Percy, budgie 1993-1999. RIP Pepito-spanish timbrado canary
Congrats. July 4 is actually my blue crown's hatch day, although he came home in September.

Birds will sometimes sneeze if they breathe in a little dust or something, but, that being said, if you didn't take him for an exam when you got him, you would probably want to set up an initial exam anyhow, and can discuss any concerns then. Honestly i think those exams and bloodwork can be really helpful with pet parrots. [I was feeding my sun what i thought was just what she needed (i was really trying to do everything just right for her) and on one exam she showed signs of malnutrition. It was easily corrected, and caught before she had any type of illness.] It's good to have that starting point to know where your bird is.

For the diet--there are so many bird recipes and lots of info in the diet/recipe section of the forum. I have been doing pellets & fresh foods for my conure. (Do not ever rely only on pellets because even though supposedly balanced, they can become ill from pellets alone.) I feed pellets a lot during the day because i am out of the house for many hours at work and i don't want things sitting around and getting nasty. (sometimes his main bowl is pellets and a nutriberry, and then a small bowl has some veggies and pasta, in a tiny amount that he can finish before it gets yucky.) Then we always have dinner together, that is 'real' food. I usually give him what i am eating (i am vegetarian) but often put his in his bowl before i do all the seasoning of mine (i like salt....) I think he REALLY likes that we eat dinner together.

My sun was weird about what foods looked like and maybe yours is too. Sometimes making more of a 'chop' works for birds like that because it's all small and mixed together. (My Georgie would eat and enjoy things that typically she threw across the room, if they were visually altered. Sounds nuts, i know...but she didn't like the sight of some veggies.)

Maybe reserve 'shoulder time' for special times, to avoid the ear bites? Gilbert sees shoulder time as his very special time with me and he doesn't seem to want to do anything to mess that up (if he gets too fidgety, he isn't allowed shoulder.)

Up to you getting another one....but i always liked having multiple pets, particularly being a working person. There is more of a lively sound to my home and it's not like one pet just waiting around for me. :)
 

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