Getting a Sun Conure?

[Packer lakerfan4]

Okay so i've finally decided to get a bird! i used to work in a pet shop that always had sun conures and i would walk around all day with one on my shoulder. I've never had a bird before i've taken care of them but never had one living with me. I guess my question is...is a sun conure a good bird to start with i work about 7-10 hours a day but i am home most of the time in the evenings my wife would also be home during the day. What kinds of things should i take into consideration when thinking about what kind of bird to get i also like cockatiels but am really partial to the suns. any info would help me a great deal and i appreciate it. thanks

 

[TexDot33]

The major thing to take into consideration is the amount of noise they can make, as I am sure you already know ...

 

[Packer lakerfan4]

how can you help their noise level any enrichment things, while im not home?

 

[zarafia]

Sun conures can be wonderful first bird especially for someone who has gotten to know them like you have. I think that as long as you go to your bird in the morning, share your breakfast with him or something else significant to him, then spent a couple hours of quality time in the evenings then your schedule should be fine for him. As you probably know most conures love to have toys. Toys they can swing on, toys they can destroy, toys they can cuddle up with. Some of their toys need to be replaced and all must be safe. Most commercially available toys are safe, just use your imagination and try to think of any way your bird could be hurt by any part of the toy. For example I remember a very distraught lady who had given her dusky conure an old tennis shoe to tear up. It was his favorite toy. She came home one day to find that he had gotten caught up in the laces and suffocated. I know that's a terrible story, but I think about it every time I put anything in my birds' cages.
I could go on, but then this post could go on forever. If you have more questions I will try to give you answers.

 

[zarafia]

I think theres some debate as to whether birds can percieve the images on TV, but they can certainly hear it. I usually leave the TV on for my birds and dogs when I'm not home. Leave the volume quite low or it can encourage them to be noisy in response to it. Provide your bird with interesting fresh food, leafy greens and mabey a piece of something like pomegranite that they can eat and destroy. This gives him nutrition and entertainment, and then he can take a nice long nap and wait for you to come home.