Parrot questions (Picture)

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

That is not a Sun Conure, it would be colored more than that on the feathers, its a cross I would bet of a Jenday and a Sun conure. I have owned both and currently own a Green Cheek and a Nanday (along with other birds) You will love his/her antics, do NOT freak out if you come in and the bird is lying on its back, they like to sleep like that!! Also most conures love having a sleeping sack or tube (they make these JUST for birds) All of mine have adored them!!

 

[Melissakins]

Happy Huts

Those are great inventions for birds, my three smaller guys love them.

Chocolate is also bad for them - if you google poisonous plants and parrots you'll find a wealth of knowledge on what you can and should NOT allow your parrot. Their respiratory system is VERY sensitive, so household products such as cleaning sprays, air fresheners, bleach, floor cleaners, etc etc can and will kill them. Same with Teflon pans.

 

[CityChicker]

As others have said, your gorgeous little bird is most likely a Sunday Conure, a Sun/Jenday cross. Suns can have that much green when they are babies, but usually lose it by the time they are several months old.

On the issue of feeding Sunflower seeds- Obesity is a problem for lots of captive parrots, but Sunflower seeds can be very useful. I, personally, think they can be a very good addition to the diets of Conures and Macaws in particular. These birds, in my experience, do better with higher fat. My family raised and handfed probably at least 1,000 Macaws and Conures over the years and always found this to be true. Of course, the main staples of the diet should be a good quality pellet, fresh vegetables, some fruits, and sprouted seeds if possible.

One of the most expensive and touted pellets on the market is Harrison's. Our bird vet pushes it like it is crack for parrots. Guess what the NUMBER 1 ingredient is- Sunflower seeds.

Also, the pelvic bone method of sexing is very accurate if the person knows what they are doing and the bird is in good health and breeding condition. With Conures, I can easily get 95% accuracy. The key though is that the birds must be in good breeding condition. The pelvic bones in males will be close together, usually no more than about 5mm apart. The female's pelvic bones will be a little more than a thumbs width apart (to allow egg laying). Again though, the key is that the female needs to be in egg laying condition for this to be accurate. DNA sexing is so cheap and easy though that you might as well do that. The pelvic bone method was useful to us when we were buying hundreds of birds out of quarantine (the days when you could get most Conures for about $10). We did not have DNA sexing at that time. Birds were sexed via surgical sexing which was a huge expenditure of time and money.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

It's a Sun/Jenday conure cross...do doubt about it.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Thanks for everyones help.
I didn't know there were so many parrot lovers and owners on BYC!
I found out he does not like to be covered up at night. I have been giving him a few apple slices, he is training me well, he has got me peeling them for him, since he won't eat the peeling!

ironimagery, How long do you leave the feed sit out before feeding it to the parrots if kept in the freezer? Or do you just keep a small amount out and the bulk of the feed in the freezer?

I love seeing the pictures of everyones birds!

Jean

 

[Chicken Rustler]

We take it right from the freezer to the birds. We feed a commercial seed mix and add ZUPREEN to it. Zupreen is a pelleted feed that comes in a variety of flavors and sizes. The seed mix we feed smells very fruity and keeps that smell very well in the freezer. The bag (4lb) that we are just finishing was opened in July (with only one cockatiel it lasts a long time ) and still smells as fruity as it did then.
I also dry and freeze pumpkin seeds for them and they really like that.
The more fresh / thawed frozen food you can get your bird to eat the better. That way "just in case" you run out of bird food for a short time the little one won't go hungry.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Melissakins , I would like the information on where you buy your feed.
I got some more information on my bird via DH talking to previous owners husband, so I only got what he remembered. LOL

I found out his name is Sonny.
He hasn't been handled since Spring. He was in an outdoor cage for the summer, so he has had almost no human contact for several months.

The news around here:
He decided to crawl onto me today, and then went to My GD, and that is where he stayed for a long time. He would get under her arm and "tickle " her. She would flinch and laugh and he would say Ha Ha Ha. It was so cute.

This was the first time he just really wanted to come to us. He has come close, but if we put our arm or hand out, he would scoot away. Today, he was hanging off the side of his cage, with wings partly out, and neck stretched out as far as he could get it. I just walked up to him and he climbed onto my shoulder.
I was glad he didn't take a long time to get used to us.


Jean

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

That's a Gold-Capped Conure. I have one, as well. Great birds as long as you handle them a lot, they love their people and need to be out with the family. Not nippy at all, unless they're afraid. Feed him parrot food pellets and feed him parrot food seed style as a treat, or else they'll eat nothing but the sunflower seeds and get spoiled and not want ot eat the other things.

Sunflower seeds are like cheetos for birds. He will love fresh fruits and veggies, NO avocado, chocolate, soda, or alcohol. If you would like to keep him out with the family, you need to get him a flightsuit. Like a chicken diaper, but smaller. Give it a Google unless a diaper maker can make them that small. Good luck and PM me anytime you have questions or just want to gab out our Conures.

Leah
P.S. They are known to be screechers. Loud screechers, be perpared that he/she will welcome his flock awake in the morning when the towel is off the cage, again in the evening, and again at bedtime. Get some earplugs.

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
Gold Caps do not have as much yellow on the neck or yellow speckling in the wings.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Geez, sorry.