conure vs. cockatiel?

[Stacykins]

My sun conure is like a little ray of sunshine! She has never been nippy or bitey, and I honestly can't remember if she has ever bitten me out of spite. She is a constant companion and closely bonded to me and my father (always has been). If I am gone she is his bird, but if I am there, she is totally mine! She is noisy, but that is what sunnies do, they SCREAM! Actually, they mostly do it in the morning and in the evening, or when someone comes to the front door. Peaches is the BEST WATCHDOG EVAR! She is in the from living room where all the action happens, and has a view out the huge bay windows that overlook the front lawn, driveway, walkway, etc. Anyone walking up that driveway elecits the certain alarm call that then awakens all the dogs (they can tell the difference from that and normal noise making) so the dogs all rush the windows to woof and act all guard dog like (as much as a pack of beagles can look like

).

Not all her noises are loud though. She has the most adorable chattering/chittering sound she makes when she is content and happy, or playing with toys. She is very snuggly and sometimes takes naps with me. She'll crawl under the blanket and sleep on my chest while I lay on the sofa.

 

[animalpro24]

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Hahahahahahaha! That's awesome!

 

[flocksalot]

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I worked full time and my son was in high school, so Julian was home with the other birds. They all did fine. Julian would start shreiking when he would hear my car pull in. He never feather plucked or had any self abuse behaviors. Julian was also potty trained, and would fly back to his perch over the winter (when we let him have his pilots license to go poo). In the spring/summer he would shriek to let you know he had to go. It was either pay attention or pay the price. They are great watch dogs as another poster wrote. Julian would let everyone know if there was a hawk, dog, cat, human or any other animal that didn't belong. All you had to do was look where he was watching. They are a bit needy, but for me I loved that about him. After all how could he be the baby without being needy. One of my favorite things about Julian was that he would run down the inside of our shirts and hide, but then he would stick his beak out right at the collar and keep an eye on things. You could be busy on the computer, reading, watching a movie, or whatever as long as he was with us he was so very happy. We used to sneak him into the theatre to watch movies. He loved to sneak popcorn and I always had water for him. He always giggled when eveyone else laughed during the movie. Not once did he cause a problem. Man I miss that little guy! The only problem that we ever had with him is that he tended to get car sick over the summer. I don't know if it was the heat or what, but it didn't matter that we ran the air. Whenever we stopped he would get sick.

Some people take their dogs everywhere. I took the "baby". Julian never really said a whole lot. Suns are not great speakers (we have an African Gray that never shuts up so who needs another talker) but what they do say sounds like a duck. We used to call him our little South American duck. They make this cute little noise that sounds like a duck quacking. As for playing Julian did play with his toys, but not near a s much as our other birds. Some of that was due to hanging out with/on us, but if he had leather to chew he chewed. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right toys for them. Julian's favorite toy was a findger that her would fight, grab, rub, snort at, call baby, and perch onto so he could run up onto your shoulder. He loved to get tickled under the wing, but would pretend that it bothered him and fight first. Of course he would be lifting his wing the whole time thrying to get you to tickle him. When we first got him he love to decimate wood, but as he got older he tended to just like to chew on thin strips of leather or chase a ball around in his cage. It used to drive our quacker crazy to watch Julian chasing a ball. Pickle would get so excited that she would go beat the poo out of her bell, food dish, or water bottle in impotent rage. Julian would just smile. Parrots have this wonderful ability to get this look around their eyes that looks like smiling. They each also have their own unique personalities. After all some African Greys never talk. I keep threatening ours that I'm gonna trade her in for one that shuts up when I'm on the phone. Some day I will get another Sun because I love their personalities. The thing is you have to be able to deal with the neediness and loud shreiks.

 

[cowgirl11]

Everyones info is so helpful! Thank you. I went to the bird farm today and there was a baby jenday conure. How different are these from sun conures? I tried to look it up but they don't really seem to have much different other than color. Also, the bird was a female and I want a bird that is going to be able to make noises and be loud! Should I look for a male?

 

[duckncover]

Jendays are even louder than a sun conure. I would stay far away from the larger conures if noise is even an issue. They are loud and they will scream all day non stop. Even when I had Cooper out on my hand he was still making that god awful screech. He's with my aunt now. She's able to tolerate the noise better haha. As far as my Green Cheek goes, not noisy. They can even rival cockatiels with noise level. Cockatiels are pretty dull when compared to a green cheek. They are so much more personable and comical.

 

[cowgirl11]

I'm not worried about noise. They can be loud. Now my question to all you conure pros is.. Is it smarter to get one just weaned or a 2-3 year old who's already tame?

 

[flocksalot]

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We got Julian just weaned and it was awesome watching him grow and change colors right before our eyes. I've rescued most of my birds. I can tell you from experience that getting an older bird means aquiring and dealing with everyone elses mistakes. I rescued my African Grey at about 18 months. She would beat on her toys and scream as loud as possible at them telling them to shut the...up and making sounds like something banging on her cage. She also had malnutrician problems as they were to lazy to go to the pet store and just bought salted peanuts and sunflower seeds at the grocery store. Our quaker came to us unable to stand up straight as they had kept her in a cage to small for even the parakeet she was with. She also had fatty liver disease due to malnutritian. Figaro (since passed) was terrified of children as they had a toddler that would shake his cage. My point is that unless you are getting a bird from a very reputable person or have the skills and patience to handle a possibly very difficult bird I would stick with a blank slate. Little ones are also more easily bonded with. I've had parrots since I was three and my Grandfather got me one. I was staying with my Grandparents helping out my Grandmother who had broken her hip. I come from a very large family and he thought I would be lonely staying with them. Truth be told I was in heaven with the peace and quite, but the bird started a life long love of all birds (excluding crows and grackles). I'm also extremely patient. Sonny the African Grey also had a broken leg when we got her. She is fine and a big baby now. She loves both my boys dearly. She would be so jealous of the chickens though. All her health and mental problems are dealt with. She's a big snot and we love her. All the others are fine excluding Figaro who past away of old age. I was asked by a friend to take in their cockatoo as I already had one. He is still a challange, but has improved tremendously. The friend stopped answering my calls and emails, so in my opinion Louie now belongs to us. It has after all been about 6 years. He is the only feather plucker I have and cockatoos are known for it.

 

[BorderKelpie]

I love my Sun Conure. My oldest DD begged me for him - typical of a teen, she soon lost interest, Squeaker is mine now and I love him. I have two Amazons, two macaws, Squeaker and a quaker. Noise-wise, Squeak is second only to my B&G macaw. But I could not have asked for a more outgoing, friendly and gentle bird. He even did well at a petting zoo we helped with for young children. He's a lot of personality packed into a little bitty bundle of feathers. We call him our 'teacup macaw.'

I wish to make a suggestion. There is an awesome book written by Sally Blanchard called 'The Companion Parrot Handbook.' I have read it numerous times since I purchased it and learn something useful each time. I think anyone with parrots needs this book.

I hope you find the perfect little parrot and enjoy him/her for many, many years.

 

[cowgirl11]

Hi everyone!
I'm happy to say i'm now the proud owner of 8 month old sun conure! I already love him! He was hand fed and is (so far) as sweet as can be! I will definitely be getting that book, thanks for the suggestion

 

[flocksalot]

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Congratulations! I hope your baby is as sweet and fun and ours was. Just wait until his colors start coming in around 18 months. It's awesome to watch.

Enjoy him and what are you gonna name the little sweetie?