Help/words of wisdom

Hello everyone,
I am new to this site and thought this would be a good place to ask a few questions. I wasn't really sure where to post this so I hope this is okay.

My girlfriend really wants a bird of some kind and has for quite awhile now. The main reason we have not gotten one yet is because I have an extremely complex work schedule and sometimes work all night thus I sleep until the afternoon. I am not a heavy sleeper and wake up very easily so naturally I just can not have a companion in the home that won't allow me to sleep. I recently compromised with my girlfriend agreeing if we can find a species that isn't loud all day long then I will be completely on board.

She has her heart set on something that will allow her to engage with it and be hands on. She has fallen in love with sun conures but upon doing a little research we discovered they can be very loud. Neither of us really minds noise when we are awake. I don't expect any species to be completely mute as I know that's not realistic. I would just like to maybe have something that sleeps when its cage is covered? I'm not sure if that's frowned upon?

I was wondering if you guys have any recommendations for a species that is "cuddly", sleeps until we cut the lights on, and doesn't make a ton of noise? We will also be first time bird owners so we would really like something well suited for beginners though we do not plan on purchasing anything for at least a few months so that we will have plenty of time to do lots of research before hand. Also one last thing, if possible we would like to keep it on the small-medium size. Something no bigger than the average concure would be great given the limited amount of space we have.

Thanks so much ahead of time. There are so many species out there a newbie like myself is completely lost! I really appreciate any help or words of wisdom any of you can offer me.

Hi, welcome! What is your GF's schedule for info?

It works best if the parrot you choose has a routine and approx. 12 hours sleep/rest per night. This can be covered. Covering during the day just to suit you is a bit unfair really. It is never easy sleeping days whatever bird you choose. Once my 'too heard the loo flush I was fair game in his mind and didn't get any more sleep.

I am not sure the perfect bird you want is available? You need to think very hard before committing.

I hope the Sun parronts we have on here will chip in with their experience in a bit?

some info for you http://myconure.com/sun-conure-screaming/

Hello & welcome.

I worked nights for many years and I used ear plugs when I slept during the day.
If you haven't already you may want to consider using them. IMHO

Good Luck,
Tami

Just my two cents.... My lil sun conure doesn't sit in his cage and just screech for the heck of it. When they make their calls its usually a locating call or a welcome home call or a please don't leave call. I would think if you are in your bedroom sleeping..and lil birdie is in another room with no one to interact with hes gonna be quiet. Now if your GF is home while you are napping it could very well be tuff to get any rest )..
Over time with a lil effort on my part I've actually got both my birds somewhat trained to be quiet when I'm taking a nap during the day. Believe it or not.. I simply tell them "daddys going nite nite" then head to the bedroom. Its rare I get screech or squawk from either one. They understand. Of course it took some time to get that level of communication with them.

Thank you all for your responses. I probably should've worded things much better my apologies. What I meant by covering the cage up was really my way of asking, will this ensure the bird rests all night when it's bed time? And would it keep the little one from awakening once the sun came up and began shining through the windows? Or even with a covered cage will he/she still awaken every once in awhile and squawk? I certainly would not leave him/her covered all day and night as that would be so cruel. My girlfriend is currently a college student her classes are usually over around 1pm and she is home the rest of the day. I am usually awake shortly after when I work night shift 3pm at the latest. So from 1pm onwards the little one could squwak its heart out if that's what he or she wanted to do haha.


I'm assuming the owners can determine what their birds sleep/wake cycle will be as long as they receive enough sleep? If so, Would it be unfair to take the cover off the cage and let the little one wake up around 12 or 1 when she gets home and allow him or her to go back to sleep around midnight? Sounds like an unnatural schedule but I do not know a lot about captive birds and certainly do not want to purchase one if this would be cruel.

Notdumasilook, I know every bird has his/her own unique personality but overall do you think a sun conure would be suited for this type of schedule? Or do you believe that would be too unnatural and cause stress? He/she would receive lots of love and attention from us both once my girl friend got home and I woke up. Now sometimes my work schedule allows me to be up by 6am but I wouldn't want to get the little guy or girl use to one schedule and then switch it up. I know first hand how hard that can be

I have a sun conure, and yes, they are loud. My sun conures cage is in my room and before I did not put a blanket over his cage. Every morning, when my sun saw me roll around or move, he would squawk cuz he wanted my attention. But lately, I've been putting a blanket over his cage and he sleeps in till 12 sometimes!! (but I try not to let that happen). Also, my sun is VERY cuddly. He'll snuggle right up in me! He enjoys to just sit in my shirt or sweatshirt, he'll be there all day and won't even poop in it (thank god!). Of course, your sun conure/any bird would have to get used to you before you could do that but it wasn't hard for Sunny to get used to me!

I love sun conures and think that they are great birds. Sunny is cuddly and sleeps till whenever I open his cage and he is so happy to see me. At night, I just put him in his cage and cover it and I will not have a problem and go to bed right away. His bedtime varies and sometimes it can be late. Sunny is sleeping on my chest right now as I type!!

I hope you find your special bird and when you do you will be happy!! I know that bird will!

My sun conure will go to bed any time between 10:30-12 and wake up around 10:30-12 lol! And yes, the blanket/cover will make your bird sleep till you wake him.

You could probably get them on any schedule if you can control some artificial day/nite cycle. I would not try switching them up. They are creatures of routine and once established I would leave it.

A special thanks to all of you. I was a little worried that I might have to break it to my girlfriend that maybe it wasn't the right fit for us right now which would completely crush her. But after reading all of your responses I really think this would work well. I was under the impression having a bird in the house would mean I'd never sleep again. But now I feel much better and am honestly really starting to like the idea of getting a new addition It will be some time before we make that move as we want to do lots of research so that we know how to properly care for the little one but as of now you guys really have me sold on a sun conure which will make my girlfriend so happy. She adores them so much and I have to say they certainly are adorable

My African Gray doesn't start whistling for me till sh ehears the toilet flush or something like that also. I dont cover her cage either.

Great that you have had some real life experiences and that has helped. It sounds like a Sun would definitely be better than a 'too for sure.

Will you please have a look for one that needs a new, good and loving home (rescue) over a baby from a breeder. They look adorable and consequently get chosen and taken home but for whatever reason they are not happy and make noise which bounces them right out the door. It is a shame that so many people think sticking a parrot in a cage is the end of their responsibilities. If you get everything right you have a loving, happy and healthy parrot, get it very wrong and you get a shrieking, plucking banshee.

A number of years ago we looked after a Sun for the weekend, think I was last call. The poor thing didn't know me and vice versa and shrieked all weekend LOL. Don't think my hearing ever recovered.

true there are quieter birds but they all make noise. A large part of it is personality. My GCC didn't really scream in the morning, he would chirrup a bit but that was it. It was the contact call that was loud. He would do it if I went to the bathroom or if he was sat by the skylight and saw the local ringnecks. He would also do an excited shout when he got over-excited. Earplugs are a must IMO just in case they decide they like the sound of their voice. I wouldn't recommend a sun though. their contact call is 100DB which in case you didn't know is LOUD!

Billdore said:

My African Gray doesn't start whistling for me till sh ehears the toilet flush or something like that also. I dont cover her cage either.

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The same here! Once I cover him at night he remains silent until I start down the stairs the next morning. My husband gets up at 5:30 & he never makes a sounds until he hears me. Than I get the, I'm awake chirp come get me, followed by, "What's Up Levi."

Thanks guys! I'll look into African Grays too before making and final decisions. There are so many different species and I know so little that I'm pretty overwhelmed. So I decided to make a list of each species that sounds like it could potentially be a good fit for us. So far I have Sun Conure, Senegal parrot, Caique Parrot, and just added African Gray as well If you guys know anything or have any experience with any of these I would love to gain insight.

Plumsmum, we are very interested in rescuing and would prefer to go that route if possible. We currently have a bearded dragon and cornsnake that are both rescues and it's something very special about these little ones that I just can not explain. I know rescues usually require more patience and work but we are up for the challenge. When the time is right I promise we will look for a bird in need of a good forever home before going to any breeder or pet shop.

Looking to get a bird... YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT!!!!!!!!
Reaching out, researching.
Welcome. I'm glad you found us.

A good idea when going the rescue route is to not go for any specific species. Let birds choose you then work out if it's feasible to have that species. So no matter how much that cute macaw wants to claim you they may have to find another person they like!

I also am a day sleeper, and this may just be mine, but my GCC is very quiet when I sleep during the day. He just insists his cage is close to the bed and uncovered. So long as he isn't missing anything exciting he seems to be fine like that. As soon as I get up though he fully expects me to take him everywhere. Until bedtime which is wen I go to work. So I get like 4 hours after he wakes up and a couple hours before bed. And then all my days off..

Thank you Clark_Conure this makes me much more open to a conure, not that I wasn't before finding this lovely forum lol just had read so many horror stories.

LordTriggs that is actually a perfect plan and most likely what we will do. I'm open to many different species and have even been looking into budgies (hope I spelt that right still trying to learn all of the names). I think allowing a bird to choose us would be perfect and feel the best

Not for nothing there is a big difference between the personalities of birds...make sure to do your research into how much affection you want to give your bird, how much you want your bird to ask for. Based on your very first post a green cheek conure is basically what you described. But I'd hit the breeders and stores and let the bird choose you, just understand what you want ahead of time.