How should I expect my Sun to act when I bring it home?

[laurawaterman]

I’m getting a Sun Conure that’s just hatched 2.5 weeks ago. I’m going to visit this weekend to meet it and the breeder and pay my deposit, and once it is weened (9 or 10 more weeks) I’ll take it home. I’ve done lots of research into what I need for it, but I’m looking for some advice of what to expect behaviour wise for the first week or so. It’s being hand raised, and I plan to visit it at least once a week until I can take it home. Is it likely to be ready to be handled as soon as I get it home, or is it going to want some time to itself to adjust to its new surroundings? What can I do to help it’s transition run smoothly?

Thanks,
Laura

 

[weco]

The answer to your question pretty much depends on the breeder and how much he/she handles the chicks.....then, if you are going to visit your new feathered friend on a regular basis, learn to hand feed & help out on your visitations, maybe spending more time than you had planned, handling & interacting with it, so that when you do bring it home, there will already be an established familiarity there.....

I'm sure other of the sun owners will chime in & offer their tidbits too ! ! !

Congrats on your new feathered friend.....are we getting a guy or gal ? ? ?

 

[laurawaterman]

I’m not sure of the sex yet. I really liked this breeder, but unfortunately all of her sun eggs turned out to be duds, so she took a baby from another breeder to raise for me. It’ll be 3 weeks old when I meet it for the first time! I originally wanted a boy, but I honestly don’t care anymore. I love it so much already, and haven’t even met it… I suppose this is what adopting a real baby is like! She sent me a picture the day she picked it up (about 2 weeks old) and it looks like a little baby monster, so adorable.

 

[RachP]

Congratulations on your new little baby - very exciting.

i must admit i bought home a sun conure approximately 3 weeks ago and this is my first conure only have had cockatiels before.

My conure was 12 weeks when i bought it home, i expected it to be quiet and want to explore the cage etc. I was completely in awe of this bird we now know as Jester. He instantly wanted to have human interaction, he instantly was exploring and checking out the food, instantly started eating treats. These birds are so smart it takes my breath away every day.

i would love to see pic of your new baby

 

[Allee]

Congratulations Laura, good luck with your little one. Looking forward to updates and photos.

 

[Beckyymayy]

Congratulations on your baby. When I got Nigel (nearly a year ago now) he was 10weeks and was fine to be handled because the breeder handled him once a day and had a young daughter that even played with him each day, so it just depends if the breeder handles him. Don't forget it might take the bird a little to get settled into his cage and new surroundings so just take it slow

Can't wait to see pics !

 

[4dugnlee]

Hi and congrats on your sun ! As others have said, it depends on the bird and how much he has been handled. I think when you bring him home you will know by his body language if you can handle right away or if he might need time to settle. Can't wait to see pics...

 

[ErichT]

If you can get an opportunity to hand feed the little fuzzball it makes a world of difference in my opinion. My sun we got early enough to finish hand feeding and my GCC we did not. you can tell the difference in how bonded they are

 

[laurawaterman]

I'm so excited! I hope it's ready to be handled right away, but if not, I'll make sure to give it the space it needs until it's ready. This is a picture that was sent to me last week (2 weeks old) I'll be sure to get more when I go to visit this weekend. I'm going to talk to the breeder about maybe going to visit twice a week as long as it's okay with her. I don't want to intrude.

She's hand feeding it, and from what it sounds like talking to her, she put a lot of love into what she does. Hopefully this means that my Sun will be "hand happy" when I get it and want attention and affection!

 

[KOZKO]

Congratulations on your new little baby - very exciting.

i must admit i bought home a sun conure approximately 3 weeks ago and this is my first conure only have had cockatiels before.

My conure was 12 weeks when i bought it home, i expected it to be quiet and want to explore the cage etc. I was completely in awe of this bird we now know as Jester. He instantly wanted to have human interaction, he instantly was exploring and checking out the food, instantly started eating treats. These birds are so smart it takes my breath away every day.

i would love to see pic of your new baby

We had the same experience with our Sun Nibbler- he was 12 weeks when we got her (from local breeder we got our Lovebird from RIP) and when we got home - it was like a puppy! A complete ball of fun - loves to be held, cuddled (sometimes I think it's a girl because she loves to "nest" in my shirt and just hang her head out), plays, eats everything!! I couldn't be more happy and amazed. He can be very screechy (don't forget - LOUD) if left alone or when he's bad and getting told no (preening my hair hurts), but not for long and sometimes he can be too needy, but is still happy to play alone after a few minutes (on his play gym we take to what ever room we are in), but all in all since day 1 he's been great!

 

[laurawaterman]

@KOZKO, your sun in your picture is so beautiful! Seeing them and hearing stories about them just makes me so excited! I have to refrain from harassing the breeder about what she and the bird are doing haha! I’m so happy to hear that you guys had such early success with your suns. I hope I experience the same. I talked to the breeder yesterday and she said that her son’s quaker parrot has taken to mothering my baby. What influence do you guys think this will have on it?

 

[kalypso123]

You do have to be careful. My cockatiel wanted to be handled and obviously I let in and handled Kalypso. Then she was more scared of the cage then me. So I had to hand feed her from the bowl first. Then she became used to the cage

 

[laurawaterman]

It's growing up!! I spent 3 hours at the breeder's house on Sunday cuddling this little one! It was so cute, and I'm so excited for it to come home with me. I should find out the sex this week, and I'll go back for another visit sometime this week

 

[laurawaterman]

I’ve read about potty training conures, and I’m very interested in doing this with mine to keep the peace at home. My partner like a clean house, and we like to have nice furniture that we take good care of, so a little birdy pooping all over the place could start some fights. Anyway, I read that you have to pay attention to any signs they give just before pooping, and I thought to myself “jeeze, that’ll be hard!”, but when I was holding my baby on Sunday it pooped on me twice (horary… not haha) and did the same little shimmy beforehand! I guess this might be easier than I thought! Woo Hoo!!

 

[Ducatimom]

We got Ducati in June and he is 6 yrs old. I was expecting it to take him at least a day or two to get used to everything, but no. He screamed and hollered until we opened the cage and he flew right to my husband's head. Since then he has definitely become more attached to me. He starts screaming once he hears me come home from work. Either when he hears me lock the car or unlock the front door. They are very vocal. When he wants something he will not stop screaming until he gets exactly that whether its food, water, he even threw a fit because he wanted his bathtub once.

As far as potty training, Ducati will do that little shimmy, then raise his wings and kinda squat. When I see him do that and he's about to go on the floor then I gently push his door (that's where he likes to hang out) and make him go in the cage or on top of it.

Hope this helps! You're little one is a little cutie btw!

 

[laurawaterman]

I also want to get it a bird harness so I can take it outside and not worry about it flying away. I’ve heard about birds that enjoy going outside so much that they’ll gladly spread their wings to put their harness on. Anyone have a bird like this? How did you teach it that the harness is good? Also, has anyone had any experience with particular brands malfunctioning? I’d be heartbroken if it broke and my bird flew away.