Parrot owners - convince me NOT to buy a Sun Conure

[Deja Q]

They're awesome birds, but I've been told they're a bit loud for apartments...

[idgiehkt]

1. I could never do that.

I've wanted one forever. My friends have Nandays and they literally hurt your ears when they call, you can FEEL it, as well as hear the shreik. But they are beautiful birds. I don't think that Suns are as loud, are they? I had a Maroon Bellied conure, he wasn't bad at all. I know suns are bigger...it is something to consider in an appartment.

[pitohui]

8. suns are louder than nandays in my humble opinion

sun conures can hurt you ears even when calling OUTDOORS

nanday conures used to live wild in gentilly in new orleans, louisiana, i did not even notice they were there until they landed practically on top of my head

suns are MUCH louder than nandays in my experience

maroon bellies are fine and no problem at all in an apartment setting

[AlienGirl]

14. You're right, suns are louder on average and screech more often on average

Sun conures are one of the birds at highest risk of being given up by their owners, because of the noise factor.

Tucker

[Bossy Monkey]

2. No no no no no no no no no no no no no

Assuming you can raise it from the egg, maybe just maybe, but I don't think you want to put in that much time. They are infinitely neurotic birds. My former girlfriend who had one (a conure, not a sun conure, but still) could not prevent him from tearing out as many of his feathers as he could reach, and she was a professional bird-keeper. They bond for life with their owners, but the feeling is often not reciprocated. So they get handed on to a new owner, who gets to enjoy all the neuroses of a creature which, for it, has lost everything. I still have an email address for her and can ask if she concurs in this opinion if you like.

[Deja Q]

3. I used to have a green cheek conure

Bought one because it was cute and quiet.

And, whoa, that thing was introverted beyond neurosis. :( Even I am not THAT introverted!

I know Sun conures are a different genus, but I didn't expect them to be as shy. (the ones I've played with at the pet store seem more extroverted...)

[pitohui]

9. toad, sun conures are not shy

you simply cannot generalize about "all" conures

i don't know what species this person is talking about, but every species of conure has its own personality -- sun conures are not quiet, introverted, or bashful as a general rule

they are noisy, rambunctious, and keep the party going

[AlienGirl]

13. What happened to your green-cheek?

By the way, I wouldn't trust most pet stores' birds to be healthy. I have spotted two cases of fatal lung infections at the local Petco, and had I not seen them, they would have remained in contact with all the other birds in the bird room, eventually spreading it around.

Your best bet for getting a bird is a parrot rescue or an ad on Craigslist--many parrots are given away or sold for very little by people who are moving, just had a baby, can't keep up anymore, or whatever, and it doesn't add to the pet-trade overpopulation. Plus you can get a mature bird whose personality you can suss out ahead of time, and who you won't have to be with through adolescence.

How about an Eclectus? They are usually mellow and quiet but not shy, and quite good talkers too.

Tucker

[ChickMagic]

4. They are loud for apartments

But they are awesome birds. Sun conures are not only
gorgeous, but cuddly. You could, however, blame the
bird noise on outside birds...

[RebelOne]

5. I have had two parakeets, which passed away a year ago.

But I can tell you, I will never again own any birds. They are messy, messy. Feathers and birdseed all over the carpet.

[UncleSepp]

6. Ask AlienGirl in a couple of days. Parrots are destruction...

personified? Birdified? Embodied! Incarnate! Parrots are destruction incarnate. If you like any of the stuff in your home, including parts of your home that aren't made of steel or concrete, do not put a parrot in it.

[AlienGirl]

15. Parrots. If you weren't crazy when you got one, you soon will be.

[pitohui]

7. they are too loud for apartments

bird talk magazine once recommended sun conures for older people who were hard of hearing!

there are many conure species that are not loud and will never be heard in the next apartment, sadly, the beautiful sun conure is not one of these

a different genus, pyrrhura, is much quieter and more suitable for apartments, i will give you a link of pix and suggestions--

http://www.pyrrhurabreedersassociation.com/rosifron.htm

[radwriter0555]

10. They're SO sweet but they need A LOT OF ATTENTION. They're

lovely birds, but being so intelligent (I taught mine to talk) they really need your constant attention. If they don't get it, they go nuts, screeching and destroying things and generally being unhappy.

If you can't devote many years to the little darlings, don't invest. It will only make him unhappy.

[Kat45]

11. They are VERY loud, I think too loud for apartments.

I have a parrotlet (pictured in my sig), and they have quiet voices that do not scream. Tiny birds, but with lots of personality.

[AlienGirl]

12. LOUD. LOOOOUUUUD! And high-pitched!

My Cockatoo can get up to 120 dB or so, but at least it's low-pitched.

Sun conures' screams are like taking an ice pick to your eardrum.

Common side effects of sun conures can include hysteria, partial deafness, lack of sleep, and eviction.

Tucker

[cwydro]

16. They are VERY VERY loud

don't do it...but I am against birds in cages anyway, so I'm prejudiced. But I have seen so many of these beautful birds adopted and then given away again...