Should I sell my Sunday conure?

Hi, new to the forum. I've had a Sunday conure for the past 5 years ("Sunny", yeah, I know, really original) which I bought when the bird was about a year and a half old. At the time, I bought her (I just call Sunny "her", I haven't had her sexed) mostly because I loved the colors and had heard from other owners that conures were bright and funny and very loving, and in this case, the conure was selling for a pretty low price ($250, other conures I had seen for sale in the area were up near $600). I found later that I hadn't done enough research; I only read afterwards that conures are usually recommended for experienced bird owners, whereas I had never owned a bird before, for example. I also underestimated the volume level.

All that isn't really the problem, though. I can live with the noise and the mess and all that. However, there are a few things that are really making me think I made a big mistake buying Sunny:

1. I know I'm not giving her enough time and stimulation. When I bought her, my work schedule was mostly at night, so I had a decent amount of time to spend interacting with Sunny directly; she would tend to settle down for naps or full-blown sleep once it got dark out anyway. My schedule changed a couple years ago, however, and now I get maybe an hour or an hour and a half with her in the morning, and I go to work and by the time I get back it's dark and she really doesn't want to come out and visit or play then. I don't see that schedule changing anytime soon, either.

2. Later, probably May, I'm going to be moving in with my girlfriend, who has two cats and a chocolate labrador. There's a room with double doors that I could keep Sunny in, but she already freaks out when she sees shadows or hears strange noises, and I have no idea how she (or the other animals) would react to being in the same house. My girlfriend has said she won't be bothered by the screeching, that she knew it was a package deal with me and Sunny, but I keep thinking, "she doesn't really KNOW what the screeching is like." I know conures just screech, it's part of their nature, and they're always going to screech, for all sorts of reasons. But the move will, I think, also put a lot of stress on Sunny.

3. Conures who are taken care of tend to have fairly long lives (15 to as much as 30 years) and I don't like the idea of her spending her entire life in a small room for fear of the cats or dog making her into a snack when I'm at work. It seems to me that it would be cruel, and like I said, I'm already not giving her enough attention and stimulation.

So I see points that would be beneficial for both me and Sunny if she were to be sold to an experienced bird owner who would have the time and patience to work with her. Obviously I don't want to say goodbye to her, but maybe it really would be for the best? So I have a couple of questions:

1. Sunny has been with me for 5 years and hasn't had much interaction with any other humans in that time; she seems bonded to me... if she finds a new home, is she going to be too stressed and depressed, or will the increased contact and stimulation be enough to overcome that?

2. I do love birds; is there another species which, given my work schedule, would be better for me to get? I was thinking if I got a pair of birds to keep each other company, it would be much better than a solitary bird.

Don't get another bird if you aren't willing to make things work for Sunny. You will still have the cats and dog issue. You will still have the long hours at work. He'll still be in a small room for 30 years. The only thing that will change is the bird.
Can your girlfriend spend some time with Sunny when you move in?
If you want a pair of birds, get Sunny a friend. But remember, the noise, the mess, the cost - everything will be doubled.

Yes I suggest that if you are getting rid of Sunny, please don't get another bird. There aren't many birds that are better about schedule then Sunny. But if you don't want Sunny to be alone, maybe get him a friend like a green cheek who aren't as loud. Oh and I don't mean put them in the same cage but maybe put it in the cage next to Sunny. And if it seems like even more work to play with both birds, maybe get a bird who doesn't want to be held and is content with being in its cage. So that's an idea. And maybe your girlfriend can play with Sunny?
I hope this helps! Good luck!

My girlfriend has said she won't be bothered by the screeching, that she knew it was a package deal with me and Sunny, but I keep thinking, "she doesn't really KNOW what the screeching is like." I know conures just screech, it's part of their nature, and they're always going to screech, for all sorts of reasons. But the move will, I think, also put a lot of stress on Sunny.

Hi, if your girlfriend is true to her word then Sunny can benefit from additional human interaction won't she? From what you said you think she could do with more. Acclimatize Sunny by taking her to your girlfriends for visits if poss so she can get used to the poss new home in stages. From my experience Conures screech when not sure about things, as a warning and at either end of the day so hopefully if you work together and she settles this noise will lessen? She stands a good chance of out living the cats and dog! I'm sure there are a lot of parronts who only have the same amount of time to devote to their fids and make it work. At the end of the day though everyone affected needs to be happy with this and committed to making this work and if your heart is not in it you know what needs to be done. I don't wish to appear harsh and wish you luck.

5 days a week my green cheek has 1-1.5 hours out with me, more on weekends when I'm not out/busy. but with my boyfriend, that means Pazu can have more time out, and it's great for him to learn other people. He doesn't get lots of extra time as the boyfriend does work too and is busy once home but that's still a possible few hours through the week.

And I agree with the others, you've had sunny for 5 years. Why drop him for another bird? especially when your girlfriend is happy to give you both a try.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! We'll give it a go and see what happens when I move in; I'll be getting a different job anyway, maybe the schedule will be better.

This is why I love this forum! Always sound advice to be given. I actually feel there will be more stress with rehoming her. If you really love sunny you'll have to make a change that would benefit her. There are people here that work and have multiple birds! You just have to sit down and figure out a schedule and STICK TO IT! Birds do well with a fixed schedule also!

When I had my sunny I would wake up and first thing I did was take him out to spend that hour of so with me while I got ready. Same thing when I got home, I went straight to his cage to say hello and get him out. It doesn't necessarily have to be your full attention on her every second she is out. I'm sure she'd be content riding your shoulder while you did chores. Or watched tv.

I also had two 15 minute training sessions a day to have that 100% attention on him. It really isn't that much time when you think about it. You mentioned she isn't wanting to play much when you get home and it's a little dark out. How about having night time Cuddles! Just a fun as physical playing in my opinion. Where are you from if you don't mind me asking? (generally)