Try and convince me why conures are better. :-D

[martin]

I've been looking at pet birds lately, and I've taken some interest in the black headed caique and the GCC/Nanday Conure. I'm favoring the caique because they tend to be less noisy, more playful, more outgoing, and less attention demanding. I also can't handle how cute it is when they hop around. There is, unfortunately, a HUGE price difference between caiques and conures, caiques being easily 5 times as expensive as conures. Please convince me why a conure would be a better pet than a caique. (besides price, of course)

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Here and in your other post you answer your own questions. Neither one is "better," that word doesn't even have meaning here. But they are DIFFERENT. I think you encapsulated their differences pretty well, so the question is which one do you want - no one else can answer that for you.

But as far as the price difference I've never heard such a thing, certainly not 5 times! Either you have found a ridiculously good deal on a conure or someone with caiques is really trying to rip you off (or maybe both). In my experience the price of caiques and many conure species are comparable - though either one can vary widely based on other factors - there is no reason one of those species should cost that much more.

 

[martin]

Thanks for the reply
I know, that was my mistake "better" is most certainly not the right word to use. I was referring to the fact that ive seen GCC that go for 200, and caiques that sell for around 850. Perhaps not 5 times the amount, but comparable. The reason I asked on both the caique AND the conure forums is because i'd like to hear from owners themselves what they find REALLY admirable about their birds. It's less hard facts here than it is passion for pets. Someone who owns both caiques and conures would probably give great advice, though I hear that's not very common because caiques tend to be vicious to other birds. My real problem is that I'm having REAL trouble deciding. It's not a problem though, because I plan on getting one two years from now when I'm done with college.

 

[splitbeak]

Hey Martin,

I feel your pain. I have two caiques and they cost me a fortune. But they have been worth every penny. They're very quiet, especially compared to conures, and they know the hopping thing is so adorable, so they do it all the time when they want something. I see there's some disagreement on the prices, but what you quoted is about what I've experienced too. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but good luck.

-Splitbeak

 

[martin]

Well I keep hearing that conures are loud loud loud, but can't caiques be loud too? I've read from several different sources that caiques are NOT good apartment birds, and on many sites that give a short description of conures, the green cheek is apparently just as noisy as a parakeet, which is pretty low for a noise level.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Perhaps I'm wrong on the prices, I've never shopped for Caiques - though if I wanted another bird they'd be on a VERY short list. I'm just recalling seeing price tags on occasions when I see them in the stores - could well be remembering wrong.

 

[animalfan]

At the shop I work, the greencheek conure sells for $250.00 while the Caiques sell for $1000.00. They are the most expensive of the smaller birds. Other stores in the area sell their Caiques for $1,200.00 - 1,500.00. Greencheeks are quieter than many other conures and they are absolutely wonderful little guys with BIG attitude. They fear nothing and they think they are as big as macaws!

 

[martin]

That surprises me if you're looking at stores, as they tend to really overprice them in pet stores. I would definitely buy from a breeder in my area if I wanted a caique. I'm pretty sure that's what I'm settling with. I'm not getting one for a long time, probably three to four years, so I just need to start saving my $ and I'll have enough in no time.

 

[martin]

At the shop I work, the greencheek conure sells for $250.00 while the Caiques sell for $1000.00. They are the most expensive of the smaller birds. Other stores in the area sell their Caiques for $1,200.00 - 1,500.00. Greencheeks are quieter than many other conures and they are absolutely wonderful little guys with BIG attitude. They fear nothing and they think they are as big as macaws!

I've also heard that conures can be quieter birds than others, but how quiet? They must tend to scream every now and then, I hear most conures just have the urge to scream. Would you say they're tolerable in an apartment setting?

 

[animalfan]

There are two types of conure, the Aratinga family and the Pyrrhura family. The Aratingas are loud, loud, loud! these include the sun conure, blue crown, and cherry heads. The Pyrrhura are the green cheeks, black caps, and pearly conures. The pyrrhura are the quieter of the two and although they can be loud they are not normally and do make good apartment birds. I have noticed they get loudest when there are more than one together.

 

[martin]

Yeah, that's my leading influence in choosing between pyrrhura and arantinga. If they were both quiet, i'd most definitely take a sun, nanday, or a jenday conure, but despite their beauty, they are SO noisy from what ive seen on youtube and stuff. I'm still thinking that a caique is the bird for me, but i'll also definitely go and visit some baby green cheeks/adults at a breeder to see what their true natures are. Price and noise level are the biggest factors in choosing my feathered friend.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Conures in general are CERTAINLY NOT quiet birds. I've often heard conures are rated as the loudest of all parrots. But this is certainly carried by the Aratinga genus as mentioned previously (as well as Nandays). Pyrrhura's are relatively quiet compared to their cousins - but they still can be quite loud.

These are some of the smallest parrots, but they have anything but the smallest voices.

 

[Shmexay]

They just are.

 

[Tumbala's Girl]

I don't know alot about other birds or even other conures but my Sun Conure, Tumbala, is actually pretty good about his screaming. He never does it just to do it. It's always because he wants my attention when he's in his cage. He gets very excited when I get home and he will scream till I come and get him from his cage. He screams if he gets put back in his cage for naughty behaviour but only after he's been in there for a little bit and he thinks he's been punished long enough. The only other time he screams is if he's in his cage and there is a cat on my lap. He really doesn't like the cats and he gets very agitated. I think he's trying to protect me. Trying to tell me to watch out cuz those naughty kittys will hurt me! That's just a guess though. Either way he's not generally loud. We really enjoy having him! Good luck with your decision. While your saving up your money I would also suggest learning as much as possible about training and all of their many needs. I started learning them after I got him. It would have been much eaiser if I had know what I was getting into from the start! But we're working on it!

 

[conures&caique]

Hi everyone! I am new to the forum. I own 1 female sun conure (Merlyn), 1 male jenday conure (Jenday), 1 male sunday conure (mango), and 1 male white-bellied caique (Bowser).
I have had Merlyn and Jenday for 5 years, Mango for 2 (he is the offspring of the former two) and Bowser for 1 year. Mango has to stay separate from his parents due to aggression on both sides. The conures are aggressive to the caique; the caique stays in his own cage.
Since I own both a caique and 3 conures, I figured I could give you some input.

The conures are LOUD. They scream all the time. They scream at wild birds, squirrels, the neighbors when they are outside, each other, you name it, they scream. I love them to death though; I guess I am used to it They stay in an outdoor cage during the day. In the wild, conures scream to communicate to other members of the flock, especially in the morning and evening. Since I have 3, I guess they have their own little flock. They even scream when my husband comes home from work, and if anyone pulls in to the drive. I call them my "guard-birds". Even just one conure will scream at you, since you are a member of his flock.
The conures are one-person birds. The two parents will only allow me to pick them up, change their food, etc. Mango, the offspring, is partial to my husband and will bite the crap out of me except when he is ready to go to his sleep cage. With strangers, the conures are very reserved, even shy. They are wary of strangers, and will bite if they are pushed too far. They seem to get stressed out when riding in the car or going to the pet store. That being said, I can put my two in the bed with me and they are so loving and playful; they will groom my face and cuddle under my neck. But only with me and not in front of anyone else. Same with Mango and my husband.

Bowser the caique can also be loud. Not as loud as the conures, but he does squawk when is playing in his cage. He stays inside the house. He doesn't care whose hand is there, he will get on it. He makes the funniest and cutest noises most of the time. However, he can bite pretty hard when he starts getting wild and crazy playing. He loves to ride in the car and go places; it doesn't seem to stress him out at all. He plays and cuddles and doesn't care who is watching. He loves going to the pet store and the local elementary school. He is fearless, and can be a little obnoxious at times. But he is definitely more "hands-on" than the conures are.

Hope this helps, I know my experience may not apply tno other people's caiques or conures. They are each different in their own unique way, and each one has its ups and downs. I would recommend a caique, just because they are fearless and playful; also quieter. I also find that the caique makes less mess than the conures.

 

[conures&caique]

You might want to check out shadypines.com. That is where I got my caique from, they are reasonable on prices and shipping costs. Bowser came on a plane from Florida and he did just fine.

FYI I paid $550 and $500 for my sun and jenday conures (and that was 4 years ago)

I paid $800 for the caique.

 

[miamore]

i say that it all depends on the bird. my gcc is quiet but i know others who have ones that are a bit loud. my friend who had a caique that was louder then her sun and green cheek conures. now i have 6 tiels,3 budgies,a gcc,and a parrotlet. my parrotlet is louder then all of my birds combined. he can scream louder then them and they can all be going at the same time and thats all you here is the parrotlet.

 

[Catch]

I can not comment on the Caiques, but I recently became the proud owner of a baby Green cheeck, very sweet ,does not make loads of noice, loves to play, not afraid of anything, became after a while great friends with my Scotish Highland bred black Labrador and he now rides on his back throughout the house, if he is not flying around that his, he is effectionate, brave, playfull extreemly funny, laughs his head off when he sees Marge of the Simpsons, he says three words but he is only 19 weeks. My parents have a larger Conure I think its a blue headed, he is very noicy but talks and I mean talks a lot too. The Green cheeck is brave has loads of attitude (not in a bad way, sofar) and as some one said before me thinks he is a Mackaw.

 

[Emiiu]

caiques cost 5 times as much as green cheek conures? green cheek conures cost around $200, which means caiques cost $1000? that's expensive! but if you really want one, money wont be a problem..right? kay maybe im dreaming on that one.

ive never had a caique before, but i have had a green cheek conure! and i love her to death! she's healthy, loving, and extremely social. she loves everyone in my family, and she loves meeting new people too! she is a bit loud at times, but only when i leave the room.. she must be just really attached. ^^

as to which one is better.. i dont think thats a fair question! different birds are for different people.. you can ask which bird is better for YOU.. but no bird is better then another.

you should do some research on the birds personalities and such, get to know which one is right for you.

good luckk!!