Hello From a New Sun Conure Owner

[catastrophe]

Hello! Today, I brought home my baby sun conure (about 8 weeks), and I am so excited! I haven’t had a parrot in about 15 years, and I was a teen then, so it’s practically like having one for the first time (that parrot was an older Quaker).

My new baby is Loki, and he’s settling into his cage and getting used to us humans. He’s been pretty reserved so far (understandably), so we’re just letting him soak it all in. I’m also excited to be more active here (lurker, so far!), and also about learning more care tips for little Loki!


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[Scott]

Welcome to you and Loki, thanks for joining our family!

The first few weeks to a month or so is generally the "honeymoon phase." A thread with some great initial advice! http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[catastrophe]

A thread with some great initial advice! http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

I’ve actually read that thread already! I saw it posted as a recommendation on another conure post and figured I could use it thanks for the info and welcome!

 

[PickleMeDickles]

I am so jealous of you! I had two baby Suns the same age as your guy once upon a time. Absolutely a magical time. I wouldn’t be too worried if your baby is reserved right now. I highly suggest you use this time to bolster your stamina, if your babe is typical, he will be running/flying circles around you and demanding 150% of your attention within a week or so, lol.

 

[catastrophe]

I am so jealous of you! I had two baby Suns the same age as your guy once upon a time. Absolutely a magical time. I wouldn’t be too worried if your baby is reserved right now. I highly suggest you use this time to bolster your stamina, if your babe is typical, he will be running/flying circles around you and demanding 150% of your attention within a week or so, lol.

Bolstering our stamina, indeed! I know life is going to get crazy, to say the least, once he feels relaxed and comfortable, and even though I’m excited for it, you’re right! I spent time just sitting next to the cage while reading, which probably won’t happen for very long [emoji28]


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome to you and Loki! What a beautiful baby .

Lots of great advice already given....feel free to ask whatever questions come up during this journey. In my experience, suns are awesome companions and I think you’re going to have a great time building a relationship with that adorable ball of fluff!

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you both!

 

[catastrophe]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone I’m sure I will have a plethora of questions, just you wait


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

 

[fiddlejen]

Awww awww! Your Loki is beautiful! Congratulations to you from me & my own Sunny!

 

[Scott]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone I’m sure I will have a plethora of questions, just you wait


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

That is what we are here for! Feel free to use the search engine, though most times a unique thread is justified!

 

[smbrds]

Welcome to you and Loki! What a cutie he is!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Oh, the flirty little face!
Yeah, you may as well surrender now... you've been conured!
Welcome. I'm glad you are here.

 

[noodles123]

Welcome welcome! This forum is the best-- I honestly don't know what I did before I found it...I even lurked for awhile before joining, but now I am so glad that I joined!!!

I have a long post that I post all of the time for new owners and I am sure it gets old, but if this is new to you, it could contain information that you don't already know, so I feel like I have to! It is all stuff that isn't discussed nearly enough on pet websites, so I hope it helps! If you already know it all, feel free to ignore

 

[noodles123]

I copied and pasted from another "new bird owner" post. Sorry it's so long!!!

When you have a bird, any sort of heated mechanism (anything that heats or is intended to be heated) and contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon will be out of the question (and most things that heat up or are intended to be heated DO contain these chemicals)--This includes things like pots, pans, cupcake trays, cookie sheets, cake pans etc, but it will also things like include hair-dryers, straighteners, curling irons, curlers, rice-cookers, SLOW COOKERS, popcorn poppers, air fryers, microwave meals (including certain types of microwave popcorn), steamers, irons, ironing board covers, electric skillets, griddles, George Foreman Grills, drip trays, toasters, toaster ovens, poaching pans, electric blankets, humidifiers, heat lamps, SPACE HEATERS, Scotch Guard etc etc...Here 2 links about it: https://www.ewg.org/research/canarie...on-kills-birds
To find out what contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon, you have to call and be a bit insistent about it over the phone (and in some cases, you won't get far--but sometimes it is a matter of how you ask). Almost always, it will take a few days (and numerous holds) for them to get back to you and you must provide the full chemical names, abbreviations and brand-names. Shopping when you have a bird is super annoying because cannot visually ID these chemical coatings, as they can be colored, transparent, or mixed into metal/fabric during the manufacturing process. Teflon and chemically similar products have killed birds on separate floors with the doors shut. Similarly, while DuPont claims that off-gassing only occurs at higher heats, there have been myriad bird deaths (even within academic circles) at temperatures well within the 300 degree F range! There is a reason they used canaries in coal-mines and it is because they die very easily due to even low levels of fumes of any sort. Some specific accounts: https://www.ewg.org/research/canarie...-death-diaries
Here are the abbreviations and full spellings of the chemicals you need to ask about when inquiring about a product (give the name, spelling and abbreviation of each):

Teflon= common brand-name using the chemical types in question
PTFE= Polytetrafluoroethyline
PFOA= Perfluorooctanoic acid (sometimes known as C8)
PFCs= Perfluorinated chemicals

Sleep=essential to hormonal and immune function. Different species have different requirements, but 12 is pretty much the average. This means that someone must be there to cover and uncover the bird at the same time each night and that your home must be conducive to sleep.

Make sure you aren't using any unsafe products around the bird. This is pretty much everything with a scent (and some things without).
No perfume, carpet cleaner, flea shampoo, aerosols, solvents, air fresheners, paints, smoke of any kind, vaping, sunscreen, bugspray, candles of any kind (organic or non), insecticides, certain soaps/shampoos, fire-places, burning or heated oil/fat, self-cleaning ovens, gas and any household cleaners (e.g., bleach, windex, lysol, fabreeze, scrubbing bubbles, kaboom, pine-sol etc)...You will seriously have to re-think your entire home and your cleaning routine will change a ton.
NEVER use the self-cleaning oven function or try to season cast iron around birds.
The list goes on. Birds have VERY sensitive respiratory systems. Essential oils are also fairly unsafe due to their ability to be absorbed into the blood-stream and due to a bird's sensitive air sacs.
In terms of safe cleaning alternatives: White vinegar + water (as long as you don't heat it), grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda (for scrubbing), some (but not all) natural cleaning products sold in pre-mixed formulas, and then avian-safe veterinary disinfectants, such as F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate has to be mixed with water but it is super safe and more effective than vinegar at killing bacteria etc).

Fumes make traveling with a bird complicated, as it is very unsafe to bring your bird with you into a location where teflon or chemical cleaners are being used. My bird does travel with me, but it is important to consider the safety of your final destination, as well as car temperature and any stops along the way (if you plan on bringing your bird inside).
I would recommend getting an air purifier (non-ozone producing/non-ionizing) to help with dust/mold etc (which can harm birds). Please note- a purifier will not protect birds from cigarette smoke, vaping fumes, teflon/ptfe/pfoa etc. It will only help increase the quality of the air to some extent. You cannot use unsafe chemicals around the bird just because you have a purifier.

Generally, you should only pet birds on the head/neck and you should not allow any shadowy spaces in the cage (boxes, bedding, crumbled paper, tents, blankets, low furniture, in clothing etc)...and so are tents/huts/hammocks etc. These things are hormonal triggers and they can cause health and behavior problems and snuggle huts can also entangle birds and cause blockages.

Birds hide illness like crazy, so there is nothing intuitive about their diseases. You have to be ready to study your birds poop and behavior daily, because even the slightest change can be a huge indicator. Blood work must be done yearly (at minimum) and should be done soon after you get a new bird. Birds can carry and spread deadly illnesses without showing any symptoms, so play-dates and exposure to boarding facilities etc come with risks of their own. PBFD, ABV and PDD are all very serious and very contagious diseases that can be spread by things like feather dust in the ventilation system. These diseases are also notorious for producing false negatives in infected but asymptomatic carriers (when tested).
Bottom line: make sure that you have a certified avian vet (CAV) near you. Exotics vets who see birds are not the same thing. If you don't have a CAV near you, your life will be much more anxiety-ridden than if you do (and the difference between a CAV and an exotics vet can mean the difference between life and death for your bird in certain instances).

Birds are very sensitive to temperature changes and drafts. Any temperature change of 10 degrees or more puts significant stress on their systems. If you have to take your bird out in the cold, make sure you carefully cover the cage and pre-warm the car. Also, make sure you don't have any air-fresheners in the car or vents blowing directly on the bird. Extreme heat can also be harmful. Over time, birds can adjust to a wide ranger of temperatures, but this adjustment has to take place over a long period of time. Anything too quick is going to shock their systems.

Dowel perches that are smooth/even in texture lead to a disease called bumble-foot. Textured perches prevent this---look into dragonwood, manzanita and pummice perches. There are numerous guides to appropriate sizing online.

Birds move in slow motion and especially and establishing real trust can take many months.

A baby bird will generally be friendly to all (much like a baby human), but teen and adult birds experience significant hormonal changes which impact their personality and preferences. Puberty is particularly bad in many cases. Although it passes, an adult bird will never be as nice as a baby and it will come with a whole new set of preferences, desires and rules.
It is very important not to engage in behaviors that will eventually be inappropriate for the bird as an adult, as this sets an unsustainable precedent. You must teach independence, refrain from allowing the bird to graft itself to you all day, do not spend excessive time with your bird due to the fact that they are a new and exciting new pet (because you will be expected to keep it up long-term), pet on head/neck only and do not provide your bird with access to fleece huts, huts in general, tents, boxes, blankets, pillows, bedding etc, ignore screams for attention and attend to the sounds you will be able to tolerate long-term, ignore biting when it happens and do not scold/react (only react if you are certain that your reaction won't reinforce it---a yell or ow can be okay if the bite was genuinely an accident, but then again, it might make you into a human squeaky toy---so just keep that in mind).

 

[catastrophe]

Thanks for the info, @noodles123. I was aware of most of it, but surprised to learn the rest, so thank you!


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]