Wanting to purchase my first feathered friend

[Ezekiell]

Hi Everyone,

My partner and I are in the process of buying a townhouse (small complex of 4, Australia) and I'm thinking this is the perfect opportunity to finally purchase a feathered friend.

When I was young I used to keep canaries so know a bit about bird care (little me would always scrub the cage out every other day and provide feed/water/toys). But I've always wanted a sun conure - beautiful colours and love the cuddly personality. Just unfortunate that growing up my mum was scared of parrots (moreso after the bird flu situation) and I've been renting until now so no pets were allowed.

Our new home will have plenty of space for an adequately sized cage and the complex allows for pet birds. I've done my research and understand that sunnies contact calls can be loud pitched but I'm planning to train the bird to not scream, provide lots of toys and entertainment when we're out at work (8am-3:30pm), and the bird will be let out for playtime and cuddles as soon as we get home until bedtime (~9:30-10pm). I also work in schools and I've been thinking that with permission from my principals the bird could sometimes come to work as a therapy animal (providing I train it up of course).

I'm wondering if there is anything particular I need to consider about this species before I dive in?
Also, is a sun conure considered a small sized bird? (I'm confused as some websites list it as medium, some small. I get the sense it's a bird that falls in-between these size ranges?)

Cheers

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome! I have 2 sunnies and I’m not sure if they are officially considered small or medium. I think of them as small personally (mine are both between 114-120g). I love my suns, they are awesome birds....but they are not quiet. They are absolutely loveable clowns, cuddly and playful. Mine have quiet times, but they do holler when they feel like it . No luck here training them not to screech, so I would encourage you to consider the noise factor. My green cheeks are much quieter and even when they get going - the noise doesn’t carry the same way. I look forward to hearing more as you decide what bird to have join your family!

 

[Ezekiell]

I should clarify that I don’t intend to attempt to train the bird to be absolutely quiet, that would be insanity! Moreso teach it to use ‘indoor voice’ most of the time and ensure it’s taught good habits to reduce likelihood it’ll become a perpretual screamer. Personally I can handle the sharp peep calls when they happen and the townhouse is solid double brick which helps dampen noise.

I’m not partial to IRNs, so no problem there! But I’m also not partial to green cheeks, I just didn’t really click with them personality wise in our birdshop when I visit.

If I’m honest the main drawcard for a sunny for me is the cuddly, bouncy personality and definately the colour. The only other consure available locally here that’s similar is a jenday - how is this bird species?

 

[Sunnyclover]

Jendays are exactly like suns but with a slight different jacket on.
If I were you I would not get dead set on a certain type of bird because you may end up acquiring one "at all costs" kind of deal. For instance: There is a scared sun conure who's know to be nippy and difficult and a green cheeks who's sweet and makes googly eyes at you but you want a sun so bad you take that one home. It screeches it's everliving head off and bites you constantly and you become scared of it. You now have a bird who is loud and in it's cage all the time that your terrified to touch.
Sounds a little "out there" perhaps? Nope...it happens more than you think. I volunteer at a bird sanctuary so yeah.
Please don't get caught up in the colors of the bird...you won't even see that part of them after a while. I have a sun conure and people always tell me he's so beautiful looking but all I see when I look at him is my dear dear loving companion whom warms my heart and is the reason I loved birds in the 1st place and I'd feel that way about him even if he was brown.
Bird's personally are all different and all green cheeks aren't going to be in some kind of personality genre and suns in another. It's just the bird and they're singular personality just like humans.
Oh and good luck with training your bird to use an indoor voice. That doesn't really work with a sun..my Ollie doesn't scream much (in fact he's unusually quiet for a sun) but when he does...well....let's just say some house guests have about jumped right out of their skin lol. To me..meh I don't mind a scream here and there... he's a Sun so oh well.

 

[YSGC]

"Teach a Sun Conure to use ‘indoor voice’ most of the time." ?????
Hope springs eternal, I guess.

Please don't rush this decision.
Suns are deafening loud!
Unlike dogs, parrots are not selectively bred for a zillion generations to please humans.
At most it will be just a few generations removed from the wild.
The loud calls of Suns is in their DNA.

If you can hear, and/or have neighbors within 12,450 miles of your home please consider a Green Cheek Conure instead of a Sun.
I have a GC and I can't imagine a sweeter companion.

 

[Ezekiell]

I’m finding it difficult to reconcile the comments with what I’ve read, watched on YouTube and been told by other sun conure owners regarding screaming; aka it exists, parrots do it, you can work with it. I am acutely aware that all parrots have an alarm call and it is loud. I’m also aware that there are different levels of loud with sunnies being known to be ‘loud’ because the pitch a very grating (something I honestly don’t mind). I know the level of vocalisation of a bird is down to individual personality too. Can anyone give me an idea of a typical amount of loud vocalisations in, say the average hour? And what is considered to be ‘loud’ (decibels? Frequency plus decibels of calls? Pitch?)?

I’m not too caught up on the colour but I do love largish, sturdily built (comparative to say lovebirds), bright and cuddly birds. If I could I’d be considering an ecclectus but at this stage in my life that species isn’t an option. When doing my bird research the past few tears I’ve been consistently told to consider carefully but ultimately get a bird I click with that I love that is the right fit with me, rather than a bird that is simply ‘simple’ or ‘better’.

My other options I’m considering apart from conures are a caique, Quaker and maybe a parrotlet. What are these birds like? These are really the only parrots my local bird store keeps that are hand raised, and I wouldn’t consider a bird not hand raised or having to have a bird freight shipped from one of the few breeders in the greater region where I live (Australia is big and reputable bird breeders are all country folk).

 

[RemiBird]

Conures are something else, I tell ya.
You never know what you are gonna get, lol.
It sounds your heart is set on a sun conure, but again, you never know what you're going to get. Cuddly? Screamer? Playful? Timid?
Just be prepared for anything, that's what I can say.
I have a green cheek conure. They are supposed to be playful. Mine? nope.
He won't play with the toys I bought but has no trouble destroying my keyboard.
He is also very bitey. Sure he cuddles, but is not reliable lol. Asking for scritches but then changes his mind. My cockatiels I used to have were more even tempered and generally very sweet.
He is fairly quiet but if spooked or angry he will let consistent shrieks that I think are pretty loud. I have heard that sun conure screams are way more loud than that.
But I love him. He is pretty cool. And he is a part of the family, with all his flaws and baggage he came with.
If you really want a sun conure, don't settle for a parrotlet or something else. Just be prepared to accept all the possible negative things that may come as well. Parrotlets are so tiny, not sure that they would be so cuddly either. Totally different bird.

 

[LaManuka]

Remibird is right, the conures are a whole different kettle of ... erm ... fish? My green cheek when I had him, lord rest his precious darling soul, was the sweetest cuddliest little angel that ever lived - when he wasn’t in the throes of a hormonal rage that is! He was definitely not a screamer, still I don’t know if I’d have been happy leaving him alone in the house all day, he had his little mate Fang the cockatiel for company. Kept in a separate cage of course!

From what I can gather, sun conures are very loud. As are quakers. Caiques seem to need companionship/attention more than most. For as long as I can remember I’ve always had more than one bird so I’m not sure how a lone bird of any species you’ve mentioned would go. Then again if you get two birds who don’t like each other you could have double trouble on your hands! My current trio don’t exactly love each other but they seem to have reached a workable arrangement between themselves and they get on well enough

 

[noodles123]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning to train the bird to not scream, provide lots of toys and entertainment when we're out at work (8am-3:30pm), and the bird will be let out for playtime and cuddles as soon as we get home until bedtime (~9:30-10pm).

I'm wondering if there is anything particular I need to consider about this species before I dive in?

Cheers

Welcome! It is great that you are researching etc. There is a lot of great information on this site and there are lots of nice people as well

When you say "cuddles" be very careful with that. Birds can easily misinterpret "cuddles" as foreplay, so you will want to make sure that you stick to petting on the head. Also, do not provide access to dark/shadowy spaces (like cuddle huts, underneath furniture, piles of shredded paper, blankets, inside clothing etc). Shadowy spaces trigger hormonal changes that can lead to all sorts of complications, including aggression, egg-binding, screaming, self-mutilation etc. Although a baby bird may not react hormonal, you want to avoid setting a precedent that you can't sustain.

If you already know this next part, then ignore it, but just in case you don't....Once you have a bird, you will need to stop using standard household cleaners (no bleach, windex, lysol, lysol wipes, scrubbing bubbles, comet etc), candles (scented or non-scented), scented wax warmers, hairspray, carpet cleaner, paints, polishes, nail polish remover, scented plug-ins, incense,vaping devices, smoke, bug sprays, perfumes/colognes, air fresheners, flea shampoos, burning food---especially oils and fats etc), aerosols in general and even essential oils (some are known to be very toxic to birds).

When cleaning, you will be mostly limited to vinegar + water, grapfruitseed extract+water, and a few other natural cleaners. There are veterinary-grade disinfectants out there (such as F10 sc) but you need to be sure that you get one that is avian safe if you go that route.

Most importantly, you must never use products containing Teflon/PTFE/PFOA and/or PFCs. PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon are most common in the kitchen (drip -trays, oven walls, pots/pans/trays/cookie sheets, rice-cookers, popcorn poppers air-fryers, griddles, waffle-irons etc), but they can also be found in fabrics, Scotchgaurd, space-heaters, irons, blow dryers, humidifiers, steamers, curling irons, microwave popcorn bags (as a clear coat) etc.

Since these chemical compounds are found in many unexpected places, shopping will become a lot more complicated. These chemicals (or related chemicals) are dangerous and for bird owners with regard to objects that heat or are intended to be heated. When heated, they release an odorless gas that can kill a bird in as little as 5 minutes and doors/walls/floors are not enough to prevent poisoning if the gases are in the air. A visual inspection of new products isn't adequate either (compounds can be applied as a colorful or black coating in pans, but they can also be mixed into the metal during the moulding process or they can be completely transparent or on internal components within machines that get hot). Consequently, it's important to always call the manufacturer and provide them with the full chemical names, abbreviations and common brand-names (e.g., Teflon). You have to ask about all of them because asking about only one does not full address the concern. It usually takes a few days to get an answer).

 

[EllenD]

Welcome to the community!! And congrats on your new home...

A good place to start here is to tell you that anything you see on YouTube is usually 95% BS, so please don't put much stock in anything you see on YouTube at all, regardless of what species of Parrot you decide on bringing into your family/home...

This Townhome you are buying, I'm assuming that you mean that it's connected to 3 other Townhomes that are owned by other people/families, correct? So noise is probably going to be an issue? If so, then you've got a problem, or you most-likely WILL have a problem with either a Sun Conure or a Jenday Conure, and I don't want you to bring home a bird, fall in love with it, and then have to either get rid of the bird or sell your new Townhouse to keep it due to it's constant, loud screaming/squawking/chirping/talking/singing etc. That's a horrible situation to have to be in, and unfortunately a very common one with Sun's and Jenday's, as well as Macaws, Cockatoos, etc.

***I would forget about "training a Sun/Jenday Conure to "use it's inside voice" or to "not be loud", because that implies that you'd already own one and are already in deep trouble...As a former breeder of Suns, Jendays, Green Cheeks, and other sparrot species, and someone who's mother also bred them for decades and who lived with many, many different Suns and Jendays, breeders, babies, and pets, you need to be aware that they are 2 of the loudest and most vocal parrot species, and there is NO WAY you can "train them" to not be loud or very vocal. Just not going to happen. At all. Period.

I hate to be negative, but the others above also know what they're talking about, and we're all telling you that if you live in an apartment/townhouse/condo/duplex with neighbors right on the other side of the wall, you do not want to bring home a Sun/Jenday Conure...The good news is that there are plenty of other parrot species (including other Conure species) that are just as cuddly, loving, affectionate, intelligent, etc. and that are not nearly as vocal or loud as the Suns/Jendays...

 

[Sunnyclover]

EllenD is right about YouTube being 95% BS. It's so hard to get a parrot to "train" out of screaming. If you're at the bird shop and the parrot makes noise there and is loud it will most likely be even louder when it gets comfortable in it's new environment. I think Sun Conures are a terrible 1st bird for anyone who is even a bit worried about noise. Like seriously...please do not think your bird will learn to quiet down...it might but probably not. My Sun Conure, Ollie is probably the best example of a quiet Sun and compared to my Black Capped and Green Cheek Conures he's not quiet AT ALL.
So Ollie screams may 50 times a day or more if I decide to walk upstairs a lot where he can't see me. He doesn't usually scream for no reason but every now and then he'll get a great idea to just scream to hear his own voice lol.
Also you say you want a sturdy bird but in your list of birds you have a parrotlet and I'm not sure how that's the bird you've been describing. They're wayyy smaller than a green cheek so now I'm confused.
Please do yourself a favor and don't get one of the loudest bird species in the parrot kingdom as a 1st bird. It's nearly always a mistake.. the bird sanctuary I volunteer at are filled to the brim with Sun Conure because their pretty but oh so very loud and add some nippiness (which is a common trait also) and yeah... needless to say there are many free birds to s good home on Craigslist. It's sad...

 

[LordTriggs]

deffo agree with what you see on youtube and really all social media (about everything) is dung

I won't say 100% don't get one but I will keep to an adage I've learn over the years. "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best"

Go in to parrot ownership assuming you'll have a bird that is vocal no matter what and prepared to take chunks out of you. then it can only go better than you think. Having heard a Sun do a normal call they are very loud and shrill. Too much for me and I used to be in a touring heavy metal band to give you an idea of sounds I'm used to.

Definitely take a look at suns but don't rule out other types of conure like Jendays, Nandays and even green cheeks. they're all relatively the same size (what I would call a "finger bird" as they happily sit on your finger) and all of them have their own looks and really personality wise I'd say they're all pretty similar species wise, you can get as loving a Green Cheek as a sun and as bitey and nasty a Jenday as a Nanday. Of course on top of that, let one pick you! Get your list of suitable birds together and see if one decides you're the best!

 

[EllenD]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning to train the bird to not scream, provide lots of toys and entertainment when we're out at work (8am-3:30pm), and the bird will be let out for playtime and cuddles as soon as we get home until bedtime (~9:30-10pm).

I'm wondering if there is anything particular I need to consider about this species before I dive in?

Cheers

Welcome! It is great that you are researching etc. There is a lot of great information on this site and there are lots of nice people as well

When you say "cuddles" be very careful with that. Birds can easily misinterpret "cuddles" as foreplay, so you will want to make sure that you stick to petting on the head. Also, do not provide access to dark/shadowy spaces (like cuddle huts, underneath furniture, piles of shredded paper, blankets, inside clothing etc). Shadowy spaces trigger hormonal changes that can lead to all sorts of complications, including aggression, egg-binding, screaming, self-mutilation etc. Although a baby bird may not react hormonal, you want to avoid setting a precedent that you can't sustain.

If you already know this next part, then ignore it, but just in case you don't....Once you have a bird, you will need to stop using standard household cleaners (no bleach, windex, lysol, lysol wipes, scrubbing bubbles, comet etc), candles (scented or non-scented), scented wax warmers, hairspray, carpet cleaner, paints, polishes, nail polish remover, scented plug-ins, incense,vaping devices, smoke, bug sprays, perfumes/colognes, air fresheners, flea shampoos, burning food---especially oils and fats etc), aerosols in general and even essential oils (some are known to be very toxic to birds).

When cleaning, you will be mostly limited to vinegar + water, grapfruitseed extract+water, and a few other natural cleaners. There are veterinary-grade disinfectants out there (such as F10 sc) but you need to be sure that you get one that is avian safe if you go that route.

Most importantly, you must never use products containing Teflon/PTFE/PFOA and/or PFCs. PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon are most common in the kitchen (drip -trays, oven walls, pots/pans/trays/cookie sheets, rice-cookers, popcorn poppers air-fryers, griddles, waffle-irons etc), but they can also be found in fabrics, Scotchgaurd, space-heaters, irons, blow dryers, humidifiers, steamers, curling irons, microwave popcorn bags (as a clear coat) etc.

Since these chemical compounds are found in many unexpected places, shopping will become a lot more complicated. These chemicals (or related chemicals) are dangerous and for bird owners with regard to objects that heat or are intended to be heated. When heated, they release an odorless gas that can kill a bird in as little as 5 minutes and doors/walls/floors are not enough to prevent poisoning if the gases are in the air. A visual inspection of new products isn't adequate either (compounds can be applied as a colorful or black coating in pans, but they can also be mixed into the metal during the moulding process or they can be completely transparent or on internal components within machines that get hot). Consequently, it's important to always call the manufacturer and provide them with the full chemical names, abbreviations and common brand-names (e.g., Teflon). You have to ask about all of them because asking about only one does not full address the concern. It usually takes a few days to get an answer).

This introductory post for new or soon-to-be bird owners by Noodles is fntastic...It's also EXTREMELY IMPORTANT/CRUCIAL for new or soon-to-be bird owners because we all know that the worldwide population in-general doesn't know anything at all about Teflon brand non-stick coatings and any other non-stick coatings contains any Perfluorinated-Compounds being INSTANTLY FATAL/LETHAL TO ALL BIRDS/PARROTS and that there is nothing at all you can do to help/save your bird once they breath-in even a little whiff of the Off-Gassed Fumes from these chemicals, even a tiny little fume from underneath a door or from up through a vent, etc. And the same goes for using ANY regular, household cleaners that you buy and use every day, like Windex, Lysol, Mr. Clean, any Bathroom Cleners at all, any Floor Cleaners, anything that contains any Bleach or Ammonia, basiclly any and all cleaning products that are not 100% all-natural and made from plant-enzymes and that are UNSCENTED.

And that also unfortunately includes ALL candles, incense (yes, even the "natural" or "hand-dipped/handmade" incense), Febreeze and all other spray odor-eliminators, Plug-Ins, Oil-Burners, Wax-Burners, etc. (YES, even "Soy" Candles and Wax that you burn is deadly due to the oils/extracts/chemicals put in them to create their scents)...People who have never owned a bird/parrot just don't know this stuff, and unfortunately this is exactly why they often lose their young, baby birds not long after bringing them home...Especially with the non-stick Pots and Pans, small appliances, bakeware, etc., I bet the majority of the population (at least in the US, and probably worldwide) have at least one set of Pots and Pans that have either Teflon-brand non-stick coatings or other non-stick coatings that contain at least one or more Perfluorinated Compounds...Luckily the Ceramic non-stick Pots and Pans are becoming more and more common because most companies are trying to be kind to the environment and "Go Greener", But it's also extremely important to point out to people that any Pots and Pans, Cookware, Bakeware, small appliances like electric and non-electric Griddles, Toasters, Toaster Ovens, Convection Ovens, Air Fryers, Deep Fryers, Coffe Makers, Microwaves, Space-Heaters, Air-Purifiers, Hair-Dryers, etc., pretty much ANY AND ALL small-appliances that produce heat or that heat-up after being plugged-in to electricity, and that are LABELED AS BEING GREEN, ECO-FRIENDLY, "GREEN-WARE", or any other brand-names/copyrighted names that indicate that the product is environmentally-friendly or "safe" and don't put-out any harmful fumes CAN STILL CONTAIN either a brand-name Teflon non-stick coating on them/inside them or other non-stick coatings on them or inside of them that contain one or more of the many Perfluorinated-Compounds that are all instantly deadly to birds/parrots when they heat-up and off-gas...

(I bet whatever multi-billion dollar company that owns the Teflon brand-name has not been very happy in the last few years, and it's only going to get worse for them, hopefully, not that they will feel the financial-loss much, but "Teflon" has been the major brand of non-stick coating used by EVERY COMPANY in the world who uses a non-stick coating in or on their products for decades and decades, probably since what, the 70's or 80's? As long as I can remember Teflon has been a huge brand-name, and I was born in 1979, so you can imagine how many homes contain products with Teflon in them...Scary.)

Thanks for writing this post Noodles, it's something that EVERY new and soon-to-be bird/parrot owner needs to know, and if that means ramming it down everyone's throat over and over and over again then that's what we gotta do to save their birds!!!

 

[ChristaNL]

I totally agree on the ramming it down peoples throats


OP: I get the totall stunning beauty of the bird and you being smitten by it... but plze take note of the huge amount of noise and the attitude! Esp. from people who have/ had them.

If the noise is allright and you don't mind not having a cuddly bird-- there are plenty of people who are completely content just watching the antics of multple birds in an in/outdoor aviary... there are all sorts...

but it is like some people and dogs: the love the look, but forget/overlook that "walkies that exceed a marathon every single day" also come with the breed.
Don't be one of those people


I am an idiot: I adopted a macaw even though I am surrounded by neighbours, only because she really needed another place and after consulting with almost all my neighbours about what was going on and with my assurance that if she turned out to be a screamer I would definitely (cross my heart and hope to grow a full bushy mustache - as a woman!) find another place for her.
I got lucky-ish (sofar...) but every time Sunny screams my stresslevels go through the roof!
Not something I would wish an anyone.

 

[Ezekiell]

Thank you everyone.
Thankfully I do know about the Teflon problem and landing products. I’m very sensitive so really the only cleaning product I would need to ditch is windex, otherwise I almost always just use water with lemon or bicarbonate soda and vinegar to clean. Teflon, However I wouldn’t know what to do about though. We have at least one Teflon coated pan that we use all the time and a few others that have a non stick coating but I wouldn’t know what’s in those. And as for all the other appliances named I wouldn’t really want to refit literally everything we own. As I said before though I used to keep canaries and they never were adversely affected by the things we had around the house (tbh when the birds died it was usually because my parents constantly did things that I now know as an adult stressed the birds too much). Advice?

The parrotlet is in my list because it’s the only bird available to me that’s not a budgie, ‘tiel, or lovebird that is available to me that fits everyone’s criteria of not a beginner bird, not loud, and apparently suitable to a dwelling in a city surrounded by other dwellings. Unfortunately, after having cared for budgies and cockatiels I can honestly say I dislike those species (except lovebirds but I dont quite trust myself with such a small bird) so I wouldn’t want to get a species I dislike as that will directly impact my motivation to care for them which ultimately isn’t good for the bird!

I am acutely aware that a parrotlet can take up as much time as a dog care wise if not more. I have kept cavalier King Charles spaniels my entire life and for such a small dog their bark is shrill and constant when they get going, they’re princesses, one of my dogs was nippy, and the one mum got and I helped raise before moving out requires 1-2 hour long walks daily because of all her energy. Please don’t think I’m disillusioned about the care leveled need for a bird.

When I mention YouTube I mean that I watch Manda and Rio’s channel and look up videos of the birds behaviour including screaming, rather than all those ‘information’ videos people post (I agree those are often bs).

I am still confused though from the comments as I am getting the impression that experienced bird owners would recommend I limit myself to birds like budgies, ‘tiels, GCCs or small aviary birds because they are quiet. This is confusing for me because I work with a colleague who has kept a jenday in an apartment for years and hasn’t had problems (I also doubt she has no Teflon pans or has done away with household cleaners but that’s another issue entirely).
I already know I have to be considerate of neighbours but I am planning to do what I’ve called screech tests using a number of YouTube videos cranked up to 100% volume once we move in so I can get an idea of how insultated the house is to sound (something I need to basically do anyway to select an appropriate spot for my piano to go). So basically, apart from the noise factor what are the other reasons for the strong opinions against my preferred species (all of which I already know are loud by nature)?

 

[Sunnyclover]

So if you don't mind your bird being loud then you could get a Sun Conure if you wanted.
Also parrotlets are just as small as a love bird so I still don't understand why you think they're the more medium sized bird you want.

As for the Teflon issue. Please get rid of it all if you get a bird. Please read this story of one of our active members on the forums as it's truly horrible but informative.
http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/77950-devastating-post-must-read-now-teflon.html

 

[noodles123]

Teflon is complicated--- It off-gasses at various temperatures and deaths have been reported at temperatures of 300...DuPont (manufacturer of the brand-name, Teflon) claims that the fumes aren't an issue below something like 500+ degrees, but this is not the case. Any Certified Avian Vet (not just an exotics vet or a vet that accepts birds) will confirm that no Teflon is safe around birds[/B]....A college (MU) lost a ton of their birds when they installed heat lamps with teflon coatings on the reflector portion of the lamp shades (and those weren't 700 degrees--not even close)...Also, just because you use a pan around a bird once and the bird survives, does not mean it is safe. The off-gassing effect increases as a pan ages and it also can be impacted by the type of food you are cooking. It is a real issue and it is the leading cause of death among pet birds. If you aren't ready to revamp the way you cook etc, you shouldn't get a bird, because they are super expensive and that is just one of the many lifestyle changes that will have to occur... if buying safe pans and pots is a daunting financial prospect, then you will likely be really upset when you start seeing vet bills/toy bills/food bills etc. In terms of other appliances that you already own, will have to look then up using the manufacturer information/model number and find a contact number online.
https://www.ewg.org/research/canaries-kitchen/teflon-kills-birds

Please see the link above. All of those stories also link to legitimate sources...Sadly, there are hundreds more (including many on this forum).
Just because someone has done something for years doesn't mean it won't significantly harm their bird one day, cut life expectancy in half and/or kill their bird suddenly. Remember, years (aka 2,3,4,5,6= not even middle-aged for a conure).

The screech-tests don't capture reality...Think about being hungover, or sick, or dealing with a deadline, or vomiting, or caring for a child, or having a migraine, or following the news of a noise complaint etc---The bird will not care..and it can even happen in the middle of the night....They also wake up early, which means you will likely be waking up early for the next 20 years if you get one and take care of it well.

With regard to potential noise- what will you do if you get noise complaints and eviction is threatened? If your answer is re-home the bird, then 500% do not get one. If you have a plan and are able to break your lease (if needed) and find a new place to live with your bird, then just understand that this is a real possibility (one person's experience may be very different from another, but all birds are very loud). I lived in a place with a 3 strikes policy and it was a major source of anxiety. Understand, that if you get this bird and then decide that it is too annoying or too aggressive or too loud or too expensive etc and then re-home it, you will create permanent trauma and potentially, a bird who bounces home-to-home...So if you take the plunge, you need to make sure that you are ready to regret your decision without giving up on the bird...Trust me, you will probably regret it from time-to-time (I say this, even though I love mine very much). Just understand that re-homing a bird is not like rehoming a dog and owning one is a lot more work . With this purchase, you will be surrendering a large number of freedoms that you probably take for granted currently (including travel, scented products, cleaning, sleeping, and the ability to attend social functions without worrying about getting home to interact with/feed/cover/uncover the bird- the list goes on). There are also positives, but the negatives can and do overwhelm.

Also know that at sexual maturity, birds change A TON, so do not expect that a sweet little baby bird will stay that way (they get loud and their preferences change, as do their moods). An adult bird is a lot like a defiant teen with the emotional competence of a 2-year-old and the intelligence of a 2-4 year old...When your bird matures sexually, he/she may decide that he hates you and loves you partner (and vice-versa)---or he may hate both of you from time-to-time. It can be very difficult for people not to take it personally when their once sweet baby starts biting and going after others within the house etc...especially because the contrast is stark (e.g., "my baby used to love me, now he is a monster---no option but to re-home.." etc etc). It's easy to say that you wouldn't be that person, but without having lived it, it's hard to say that honestly.

Finally, please consider that with two people sharing the home (be it, married people, partners, couples-whatever) if you do break up, that could also cause extreme upset and behavioral issues for the bird (especially if the bird prefers the one who leaves). I am not saying that you guys will break up, BUT, birds are often re-homed following divorce.

 

[RemiBird]

Would you be interested in a green cheek conure ?
They really are pretty cool and affectionate as well.

 

[Ezekiell]

I completely understand and agree that owning a bird is a commitment for life with both the good and bad.

We won't be renting. We will be owning so there's no chance that we will be 'evicted' because we will own the home.

I'm not saying that I 100% will go out and purchase a sunny. Not at all. More that a sunny is my first preference for bird. I'm completely open to walking into my bird shop and having a bird that's one of my other preferences choose me; in that case I'd be like, ok guess you are coming home, regardless of species.

My partner is completely on board with this and I highly doubt we will divorce, we're literally not that kind of people. Plus there are other factors at play that would make that eventuality highly unlikely that I won't go into.

As for the comment regarding the screech test I agree only in part. With due respect, you could say the same about having a child; that child won't care if you have a migraine, are looking after a pet, have a deadline, are sick, etc. That's just life. Just as I wouldn't rehome a child I have because it limits the things I do or is annoying, I wouldn't rehome a pet. And although I will talk with my neighbours to show consideration before bringing a bird home I'm not really asking for permission as legally I'm not required to and if we use the baby/child example again no pregnant woman would knock on their neighbours door and say "I'm going to have a baby, it will cry, yell, and scream at indeterminate times and frequencies throughout it's life. Is that ok with you?"

And as for freedoms I have ASD so the 'freedoms' most people seem to love, crave and can't give up I basically never had in the first place. No scented products exist in my home because I'm hypersensitive, I love routine including getting up early, I'm a clean freak, I hate social functions so don't go to them, will only occasionally go out to the theatre maybe 2-3 times a year at night, and travel is basically a 1 week holiday (maybe) once a year and in that case my local birdshop has a boarding facility that is very very good. So not too worried on those fronts.

Teflon however, no way would I consider bringing home a baby when there are things in my home that could kill it in an instant. Upon quick review of my kitchen I have 1 pan, 3 pots, and 2 dubious trays that definitely have to be replaced, everything else is already stainless, ceramic coated, or cast iron. But that seems manageable - I like tefal cookware so I might investigate their ceramic range and replace over this year before I get a bird (we're not planning on a bird until early next year because of various things happening this year).
I'm more worried now about things like my iron, hairdryer and winter bar heater from bunnings - how can you tell if they have teflon coatings?

 

[noodles123]

"I'm more worried now about things like my iron, hairdryer and winter bar heater from bunnings - how can you tell if they have teflon coatings?"

You have to look at the model number etc, and then call the manufacturer--so, go to the Bunnings site and have your model/serial number handy (as well as any other ID information---sometimes it's on the cord--they can help you find it if you aren't sure. Before you do, have the full spellings and abbreviations for each of the following:

SAY the abbreviation and spell the full name (they will get back to you):
1. PTFE and Polytetrafluoroethylene (MAKE SURE that when you spell, you say, "p as in parker, o as in octopus, l as in light" etc (because not doing so has caused problems for me in the past lol)
2. PFOA and Perfluorooctanoic acid (also called c8)
3. PFCs= Perfluorinated chemicals AND perfluorocarbons (spell both)
4. Teflon (a common brand-name for the aformentioned compounds).
5. fluoropolymers

You really have to ask about all of them, because some will have PTFE, but no PFOA etc etc.

*Sillicone cook-ware is also unsafe, but I think that is a different class* just an FYI...

I don't think we necessarily disagree- having a bird is like having a gifted but semi-unstable child who doesn't grow up lol. A dog is nowhere near as difficult---that was what I meant...and birds can be more neurotic and destructive than any child. As long as you think of it as a child, that is a good thing. Most people think of them as pets, and pets are generally much more independent etc (Especially dogs and cats). Then there is the fact that birds are so much smarter and they have lungs that allow them to scream louder than many dogs can bark. That's what I was saying...You have to really create a routine and invest a ton of time/deal with neurotic behavior at much higher rates than with other pets.