Sun Conures. Tell me everything!

[RedneckCowgirl]

Hi!

I'm considering purchasing a Sun Conure and I was wondering what the best diet for them is? Also, what are some things I should know as a first time bird owner?

 

[Conurekidd]

Well expect alot of noise. Expect bites. Except the worst.
Understand this bird is living 30+ years. And it will create an extreamlly strong bond.
Will love you forever and ever and will never give up on you.
There great birds. Fantastic. I have one.

O yea and they chew everything lol. Lots of toys. Lots of attention and lots of space.
You'll love him/her forever. Congrats

 

[Garnet]

I have two sun conures. One is relatively quiet, never bites, loves to snuggle and destroys everything in his cage. The other is louder, still never bites, likes to sit on your shoulder but will only tolerate the people she loves, never plays with toys and will not eat anything other than her seeds/pellet mix,rice, pasta and the occasional hot pepper.

The quiet one will eat anything I give him and loves his veggies and fruits. Both of them will eat whole grain rice and pasta. One loves sweet potatoes too.

Enjoy your sun. I love them, lots of personality and energy. Congrats.

 

[andrea.faerie]

Here, this is a started guide I made for conures. Enjoy!

2shared - download vol1.pdf

 

[RedneckCowgirl]

Thanks What is the best daily diet to feed them? How hard is it to teach them to talk? The one I am looking at is just hatched now, but will be handfed and weaned then they will go to their new homes. I'm really torn between a Sun Conure and an African Gray, I've had som experience handling both, its just the nutrition and daily stuff I am still learning.
andrea- I will take a look at that! Thanks

 

[wibitywab]

Sun conures might be a little too loud for a first time owner, but if your ok with the noise, then why not...If not, GCCs (green cheek conures) are great for first time owners!

 

[andrea.faerie]

If you're looking for a first bird i highly suggest starting with a conure than an AG. AG's are for a more experience handler I think. ANY bird can be taught to talk with the right amount of training and persistence Lucy is on a pellet/seed diet for small hookbills.

 

[RedneckCowgirl]

A friend is considering getting rid of their AG, so I might be getting him. He does have some issues but I'd like to try to make it work.

 

[RedneckCowgirl]

If you're looking for a first bird i highly suggest starting with a conure than an AG. AG's are for a more experience handler I think. ANY bird can be taught to talk with the right amount of training and persistence Lucy is on a pellet/seed diet for small hookbills.

I have worked around and with birds, I've just never owned them.

 

[Sabbath]

Sun Conure can be some of the greatest birds and the worst. They ARE loud when they want to be, though if trained right or treated right, they will understand that being too loud=bad.

I personally will be giving my Sun Conure a pellet diet and introduce seeds such as sunflower as treats. Most parrots love fruits so introduce those early if possible. If I remember right the ration was 80% pellet, 20%treat/fruits.

Since you are getting one so young, he/she will not look exactly like you find in a book or picture(I'm sure you know that already), more green, but over a year the yellow will have fully developed and over a span of 4 years the colors will be at their brightest.

Be ready for everything, the bites do hurt but it is bearable.

 

[Garnet]

Strange how everyone says sun conures bite. Neither one of mine bite. My quaker parrot is actually louder than they are and the only time mine make noise is when they are waiting on breakfast. Once I feed them, they remain quiet until they want their nightly treat.

 

[darkling]

Pi has bitten me once and I think I startled her into it. She appeared to be "caught" on my cat tree and I was trying to help her get loose. The bite didn't hurt much. Shocked me more than anything. I think if she'd wanted to really hurt me, she could have.

Pi is also pretty quiet for the most part. In the morning I get a couple of semi-loud squawks when I uncover her cage and every so often she'll call out during the day but its not constant or anything. It doesn't disrupt my life in any way.

For the most part she likes to play in her cage or sit on my shoulder and snuggle.