Help! I think I'm being lied too!

[CaptainCrimson]

Help! I think I'm being lied to!

Hello! I've been reading in Parrot Forums for a while but this is my first post! I've been researching parrots for I guess about 9 or 10 months now. I wanted to learn as much as I could before deciding to actually bring a feather baby into my home. I've finally decided that I'm about as prepared as I can be and I'm also pretty set on getting a Sun Conure (I'm SO excited!). I found an ad online from a woman who is local and has a Sun for sale. The only thing is she told me that he/she is five months old but I asked if she could send me a pic and she sent me a couple. He seems to have all his adult color. I don't know if that is possible if he is only five months. From what I've seen I think he should have a few green feathers instead of the beautiful yellow ones he has! I don't know what to do! Please help! I'll try to upload a pic but I'm new at this so bear with me! Thanks!

~Crimson

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, you should be cautious. I don't think a 5 month old Sun Conure will have adult plumage yet.

Here, this thread will help you with the photos:
http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

 

[CaptainCrimson]

Here are the pics I was sent...

 

[JerseyWendy]

I don't know if these links are helpful, but it's worth a shot.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3PJtHzMgog"]Nipster Changing colors - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrvEao8wWXE"]Sun Conure Feather Transformation - YouTube[/ame]

Meet the Magnificent Sun Conure

 

[CaptainCrimson]

I've been trying to find as much info as I can online and unfortunately everything I've seen points to this bird being older than five months. It's a shame, because I would have still considered an adult bird but I don't want to get a bird from someone who lied to me. It just makes me wonder why she lied or what else she would lie about. On the other hand, now I'm concerned about the Sun's welfare! It makes me think that she is only worried about making money and not about the bird's well being.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Is it possible for you to meet the Sun Conure, and see how you two hit it off? You may then get a better idea how he is kept, the environment he is in, etc.

 

[CaptainCrimson]

Yes, she did offer to let me meet the SC and I might just do that. But is there any way to tell the real age of the bird??

 

[veimar]

Hope this helps - I just googled up the topic. I'm not very knowledgeable about suns, but as far as I know they look like jendays with a lot of green when they are young. Sun Conures
You might ask for a hatch certificate if she has one. And also, what happened to her tail???

 

[veimar]

Oh, and could you also tell that woman directly that this bird looks much older than 5 mo and has adult plumage? Wonder what she sais?

 

[ToriJo]

I'm with Veimar - ask the lady about the colors (and the tail!). You're right to be cautious about buying from someone who may be lying but it's important to be direct in these matters for yourself (you don't want to sold a different bird that what you're being described) and for the reputation of the breeder (if they are lying or treating their animals poorly you should let others know this is not a reputable breeder!).

I also agree that you should meet the bird. While it might not be there bird originally described to you - you never know! You two could still hit it off

Let us know what happens!

 

[Birdman666]

That bird certainly does not have any "baby greens." That bird appears to be an adult to me.

Baby birds come with HATCH CERTIFICATES... WHERE WOULD THAT BE, MIGHT I ASK?!

"SHOW ME THE CAR FAX."

THEN, STOP INSULTING MY INTELLIGENCE, AND TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BIRD... BABY SUNS DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH YELLOW.

 

[Birdman666]

I've been trying to find as much info as I can online and unfortunately everything I've seen points to this bird being older than five months. It's a shame, because I would have still considered an adult bird but I don't want to get a bird from someone who lied to me. It just makes me wonder why she lied or what else she would lie about. On the other hand, now I'm concerned about the Sun's welfare! It makes me think that she is only worried about making money and not about the bird's well being.

Well that would be a first in avian history!!! :54:

 

[CaptainCrimson]

Thank you all so much! I am going to ask the breeder about the age and the tail! I didn't even notice his poor tail until you pointed it out and I looked at the pics again! Poor baby! I will let you all know what she says. Everyone here is so helpful and supportive! Thanks again for all your input!

 

[mwright1972]

Marley was 5 months when I got her. She is on my profile pic. Notice she has mostly green feathers on her wings and still a lot of green on her neck and back of her head. She will be 1 in Jan. She has no green left on her neck and has a good spray of yellow on her wings now.

Hope that helps a little to compare.

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

I raise Sun Conures and although my babies are usually spoken for and sold before 5 months occasionally I still have 1 when they are starting to get their adult colors. At 5 months mine are just starting to get some yellow showing up in and amongst the green. No where near THAT much yellow though..........

 

[Birdman666]

Marley was 5 months when I got her. She is on my profile pic. Notice she has mostly green feathers on her wings and still a lot of green on her neck and back of her head. She will be 1 in Jan. She has no green left on her neck and has a good spray of yellow on her wings now.

Hope that helps a little to compare.

OMG - HE'S A LITTLE UNRIPE BANANA IN THAT PICTURE! I don't remember Papaya ever being quite that green... even as a baby!

 

[CaptainCrimson]

So, I e-mailed the breeder again and asked her to confirm the age and asked her about the damaged tail feathers. This was the response she sent me:

5 months old roughly and will get more yellow on the back as the bird gets older. It is how you can tell that the bird is younger verses an older bird. He is housed with three other birds and they play constantly so yes the tail feathers are rough but will grow back

I forgot to ask for the hatch certificate though! That's definitely my next question. I'm pretty certain that this is an adult bird though.

 

[kagan1042]

I'm certainly no expert but I've always thought birds have a "baby face"...ie my Frootie current photos compared to say 12 weeks, her face is completely different.

The pic you've put up looks baby face to me

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm not sure at what age a Sun gets it's yellow, but I'm sure it's variable. At any rate it's a juvenile bird IMO. It still has a lot of green to it... one with complete adult color will have A LOT of yellow with no green specks higher on the back like that. Most breeders will have hatch certs, and if not, at least records as to who's who, and what date a specific chick was hatched. If not, I'd look elsewhere. I mean, there are tons of good Sun Conure breeders to choose from if you want a baby.

 

[veimar]

Is that a BREEDER??? with no hatch certificates? and she says she is ROUGHLY 5 mo old, so it could mean 6-7, or 4? That's shady... It's normal for CL where you get the birds for 1/4 of price, but not for a breeder!
I agree with Raven that she looks like a young bird though. Go and meet her first. Is she cheap?