Aspiring parrot owner:)

So, I'll start with a bit about myself.
-I am a 15 year old male sophomore in High School (Going on 16 in 10 days from this time!)
-I'd like to say I do well in school, and hope to go to college in the not so far future.
-I love science (specifically Biology!) and Art.
-I have recently fallen in love with parrots - and birds - of all types!

But that's not quite what I'm here for. I've recently been extremely anxious for what my father has agreed to do;
buy me my very own Sun Conure!
We are on the top of a reserve list for a local pet shop who had just recently layed two Sun Conure eggs. We've already bought a VERY large cage and everything!
I've been at this for days. Researching, watching videos, looking at forums, ect. At this point, I'd like to say I'm aware of the time and commitment you MUST put into a bird. Now, on my journey across the parrot community, I keep getting more and more worried; am I not cut out for this??
I know that many will not recommend Sun's for starting birds, but I feel... Ready. And yet I don't?
My dad is on board with the idea (Or else he probably wouldn't be getting it.) he knows how loud they can be, and how silly they can be. (Just note that he's never had one.)

I know it may be better just to step down to a Cockatiel or even a Budgie, but I feel confident. All I need is some advice. I have a lot of time to devote to any feathery friend every day once I'm home from school and have my homework done. I plan to work hard at this and develop a true bond.

So - finally - Should I go with this? If so, where should I buy any supplies for him/her?

Thank you so very very much,
Aspiring parrot owner,
GlitchTown

Well here are some questions that might help you decide whether or not this is the right time in life to be adding this bird:

-what are you planning to do when it comes time for college? Sun conures can live up to 30 years and they form extremely deep emotional attachments, some might argue that they bond even more deeply than humans. If you are the main human in his life, he may well see you as his forever mate, not just his best friend. Will you leave him behind for college? Rehome him? What about after college when your life is full of new jobs, new homes, potentially new relationships, marriage, even kids? At 16 all of those things, and the financial strain that goes along with all major life changes, are likely to be happening for you in the next 10 years. Do you have a plan to protect your new buddy from the uncertainty of early adulthood?

-why did you choose a sun conure? I ask this because you seem to think that cockatiels and budgies are somehow LESS awesome since you mention taking a step down to those species. That tells me that you really don't yet have a good understanding of the difference in species. Cockatiels and budgies certainly aren't LESS, but they are DIFFERENT. I personally think cockatiels are the IDEAL pet parrot. Less likely to bite, quieter (typically) extremely smart and friendly, and actually MORE likely to learn to talk and whistle than a conure. They are also less likely to become "one person birds" who bite everyone out of jealousy. They don't come in quite the same colors, but they do come in a lot of patterns and of course they have that amazing crest!

Budgies are a barrel of laughs and actually the current holder of the world record for largest parrot vocab is a budgie! They are so spunky and cute, can also be really snuggly, and they come in just about every possible color!

I guess I just wonder why specifically you chose a sun conure? There are so many species out there, and they are great, but if I were you noise would be a huge concern since you won't be living with your dad for much longer and will need to find a place where your bird doesn't bother your neighbors. If that happens I would say a sun conure is on the list of species I would AVOID no matter how darn cute they are.

I personally live with my flock in a very small apartment. I've been there for about a year and a half and only ONCE have I had any complaints from my neighbors; it was the day my friend brought her sun and Jenday to visit. They destructed two of my neighbors enough to say something.

Sure, tons of conure owners live peacefully with their suns, but usually when a bird is upset they are going to be at their most vocal, and moving to a new place typically upsets them. Between the ages of 16 and 26 I personally moved 7 times. The next decade is likely going to be the least settled of your entire life; try to keep that in mind when choosing a companion. Which species can handle those transitions, and which are going to be able to adapt well enough for you to be able to afford to keep them? Because you might find a land lord willing to let you have a bird, but once your neighbors start complaining he may change his mind, with you already locked into a year or more lease.

I'm not saying don't get the bird, I'm saying have a plan. Here is the plan I suggest if you intend to move forward with this:

-choose a quiet and easy to manage species

-plan to go to college in your home town, so you can live at home. Most colleges require freshmen to live in the dorms if they don't live with their parents. I have NEVER heard of a college dorm that allows birds.

-start saving now. Try to get at least a few thousand dollars into savings before you graduate so that you have a little bit of a cushion if you need to rent a more expensive place in order to have your bird allowed, or so you aren't homeless the second you lose your job because of something that wasn't even your fault.


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I agree with everything SilverSage has to say. There's a lot to think about. I do want to comment on her comments about budgies and cockatiels.

As you can see, I have a lot of different species, including some of the larger, flashier birds. I adore them all. My son brought home a couple budgies a few days ago. I wasn't thrilled at first, but I have to say that after a few days of watching their antics, they are absolutely as fun and engaging as any of the other birds, including the macaw! They really are great little birds. Don't discount them just because they're small. Also, we had a cockatiel for many years (he passed from old age last fall), and he was just as wonderful and engaging as the rest of the flock.

Thank you... So much.
I really appreciate so much of your in depth information... You've released a lot of stress off of my shoulders. I'm now confident in my second, and final choice:

I'm getting a cockatiel or two.

But I'd like to clear this up;
I don't think any of these birds are any "lesser" or "less special" to have. I LOVE all birds. My reason for saying "step down" is more of suggesting the commitment level. Now, I know, cockatiels... and most all pet birds require commitment, but like what you said cockatiels tend to be more moderate about things (And certainly just as fun!!!) and those crests are certainly very cool!

That being cleared up, I have a few questions about my new choice if you don't mind.
1. If I get a pair of cockatiels; what is the best matchup? Is there gender bias? (Such as male and male or female and female)
2. Wing clipping has been high on my mind. In my situation, I think it's safer to clip the wings (Especially when I first get them, seeing as how I'll have to "tame" them.)
3. Generally the same question here; but I hear pellet diets are best. Where can I purchase those other than online?

Thank you, and thank you again. You really have helped me!

Just a snapshot of a few of my budgies and cockatiels, and life with them! There are MANY small bird species to choose from, I'm just including these two because you mentioned them. I've shared my life with everything from finches to eclectus (and even a macaw for a few weeks) and each one is so unique and completely different from the others. One person's dream bird is another person's nightmare even if they seem the same online. You really need to get some hands on experience if possible.





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GlitchTown said:

Thank you... So much.
I really appreciate so much of your in depth information... You've released a lot of stress off of my shoulders. I'm now confident in my second, and final choice:

I'm getting a cockatiel or two.

But I'd like to clear this up;
I don't think any of these birds are any "lesser" or "less special" to have. I LOVE all birds. My reason for saying "step down" is more of suggesting the commitment level. Now, I know, cockatiels... and most all pet birds require commitment, but like what you said cockatiels tend to be more moderate about things (And certainly just as fun!!!) and those crests are certainly very cool!

That being cleared up, I have a few questions about my new choice if you don't mind.
1. If I get a pair of cockatiels; what is the best matchup? Is there gender bias? (Such as male and male or female and female)
2. Wing clipping has been high on my mind. In my situation, I think it's safer to clip the wings (Especially when I first get them, seeing as how I'll have to "tame" them.)
3. Generally the same question here; but I hear pellet diets are best. Where can I purchase those other than online?

Thank you, and thank you again. You really have helped me!

Click to expand...

I recommend getting a single pet cockatiel rather than a pair if you get two, I recommend two females. Two males can also live together but two females should be significantly quieter.

Wing clipping is a personal choice, but for your first bird I HIGHLY recommend getting a bird that is already extremely tame. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a breeder with extremely sweet and well socialized babies, and they will be MUCH cheaper than a conure so the slight extra for a tame baby shouldn't make a difference.

Pellets are recommended as a major portion of the diet, any pet store should have a decent variety. Cockatiels should also get lots of fresh leafy greens, sprouts, and a SMALL amount of dry seeds.




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Alright, cool! I'll settle for one for now.
I'll go out and start looking for any breeders that may have some available, in fact that same shop I was talking about just hatched two little cockatiels! I'm thinking getting them as youngsters will help a bit as far as bonds go; this shop/breeders allows us to go in and hand feed the babies until they are ready to go home.

That being said, I think I'm settled. And you might have saved me some times of stress!

Good choice ! Cockatiels are so cute.

I've had small, medium, and large birds over the past 20 years. But I just got into budgies at the end of 2012, and I'm hooked on the little guys. I wish I had gotten into them sooner. In fact I don't think I want to ever be without a budgie or two. Beginner birds? No way! They're great. I think the commitment to care is the same as for my parrots. In fact they in a way can be even higher maintenance because I find that they're more messy than my other parrots!

Tiels are adorable too, and the attributes that SilverSage says about them make them very appealing to have, but the only thing is, personally I can't stand their natural calls though I can tolerate it better than a Sun lol.

I think Cockatiels are a great choice.
I had amazons for 20 years without having any real interest in the breed.
I had one land at my feet and then had to get another and another ect.ect.

As for wing clipping, it is a sensitive subject. I don't do it and I wont tell you what to do but...
Cockatiels are very acrobatic birds and a wonder to watch fly around. I try to let them out every day and it's like a free air show.

I will also say this. Most of the time when someone starts their post by saying they are a teenager, they have already 100% decided what they are going to do and WILL NOT consider changing their plans. Your post seemed different from the beginning, and I'm impressed by your obvious desire to make the right choice rather than to just have everyone agree with you.


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You're making a great decision. Cockatiels are great little birds. Here's my Cookie about a week before he died.



Awesome little bird he was, even if he was a cranky old man by this point.

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

You've gotten great advice on this thread, and like SilverSage I am heartened to see that you appear to be receptive to the advice given. That is a very good sign in someone about to get a parrot.

Cockatiels are amazing birds. I had one for nearly 18 years before he died of kidney disease. The bond I shared with him was deep and strong.

As I mentioned, you've already gotten great advice. So I'll just speak on the topic of clipping. Like TexSize said, it is a personal choice. But I would definitely recommend keeping your 'tiel flighted, especially if you are getting a baby. It is quite possible to tame a flighted bird, and the health benefits to a bird getting in the proper exercise from flying about are beyond measure.

Not to mention that cockatiels really are amazing fliers!

Here's a video that you may find helpful in this regard:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyZGdMp9kM&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyZGdMp9kM&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]

Either way, though, please keep us updated.

Thank you all again for such helpful advice; I don't know what'd I'd do without you all.

Here's a little update:

I went to that local pet shop I was talking about (It's called The City Zoo of Elmira, NY for anyone who may know or wants to look it up.)
Upon arriving and asking about their cockatiels, they immediately brought me into their breeding room (A very loud place once you walk in! Those Quakers sure can yell.) where I was greeted with 3 very small Cockatiel chicks! I fell in love instantly and was placed on the reserve list for them. They told me it would be about 4-5 weeks before I could take them home. I also requested for mine to not get it's wings clipped and for it to get a few flights in first. I've also been confirmed that I will be able to come in daily and hand feed mine once they start picking the chicks.

Such an exciting thought! Thank you all again I'll be back with more updates and I'll be sure to refer anyone to these forums if they are thinking of getting a first time parrot such as myself!

GlitchTown said:

Thank you all again for such helpful advice; I don't know what'd I'd do without you all.

Here's a little update:

I went to that local pet shop I was talking about (It's called The City Zoo of Elmira, NY for anyone who may know or wants to look it up.)
Upon arriving and asking about their cockatiels, they immediately brought me into their breeding room (A very loud place once you walk in! Those Quakers sure can yell.) where I was greeted with 3 very small Cockatiel chicks! I fell in love instantly and was placed on the reserve list for them. They told me it would be about 4-5 weeks before I could take them home. I also requested for mine to not get it's wings clipped and for it to get a few flights in first. I've also been confirmed that I will be able to come in daily and hand feed mine once they start picking the chicks.

Such an exciting thought! Thank you all again I'll be back with more updates and I'll be sure to refer anyone to these forums if they are thinking of getting a first time parrot such as myself!

Click to expand...

Sounds like an excellent start.
I hope you can post some pictures.
texsize

I highly recommend you do a LOT of research on flight and clipping. If you are getting a tame baby I would encourage you to consider not clipping AT ALL. Here is an article on some of the clipping myths out there

http://www.silversageaviaries.com/wingclipping/


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