Human-bird bond and the impact it could possibly have ???

[Chili]

I have my baby sun conure who is one years old and is female...
My avian vet has turned around and told me to get her a friend of the same sex...
I see her points and I see why she would want me to get a friend for her ... She has givin me a big list on why ie- separation anxiety , sexually fueled separation where my bird will pick one of her human flock as her mate (seeing as I'm pretty much the only one in her live it would be me), mate aggression, territorial aggression and sexual frustration then that could possibly lead to excessive egg production!
I would like to know if you guys agree with all this ?
As I find she can be alone fine wih out screaming for me etc
The same avian vet has also told me she has too much seeds in her diet she can tell by her beak/nail growth but she is underweight (only being 88g she is very) so I said ok so to help her gain weight what is he right foods eggs (higher protein?) her reply was no because that can lead to her producing eggs! The bet has confused me sooooo badly ! I posted a thread about this previously we are just watching her weight for the next month and see how it go's (her diet is 70% veg/fruit and 30% pellets and daily she gets 1/4 of a teaspoon of seed per day)

Sorry for the novel I'm just sooooo confused ! Maybe I should look into getting a second opinion ?

 

[Thingamagigs]

which avian vet are you going to see? Also what the vet said seems to be contradicting. Less seeds, but your bird is under weight? Get the weight up but dont feed extra protein? :/ Your bird can not increase its weight without increasing either fats or proteins.

Is your bird especially active? I have two green cheeks, one is over weight the other is underweight and its not diet related, its activity related. Colada is a busy little thing! She flies all over the place and is always wanting to play. She eats less because she is playing so much and as a result is thinner and smaller. Piña is much much more subdued, he doesnt play much if at all and doesnt appreciate flying. He would rather snack all day or destroy some toys and branches. Because of their different personalities and daily activities their weight and size is vastly different. But both are healthy and happy (I am growing Piña's wings out, the breeder cut them, he should lose some weight once he can properly fly).

88g is pretty light for a sun... does the breast bone feel prominent? There is a possibility that your bird is also small from a poor handrearing job If thats the case then nothing will increase that weight other than becoming obese (and you dont want that!).

Getting your bird a friend is up to you. I have two conures and they are very happy together And it doesnt appear to decrease their affection towards us. If your bird is spending long hours alone, a friend might be in order.

 

[Chili]

Yes you can feel her breast bone I know she is underweight (I think naturally she is a smallish bird but she could do with a few more grams!) but as you said the vet it telling me to try make her put on weight but saying she is getting to much seed and to not feed protein as it can cause her to start laying! It's so confusing I thought ok no seed or not to much protient... Only thing left is Rawr nuts ! Lol I think I'll just feed her protein regaurdless because it somthing all mamals need in their diets!

Well chili gets so much attention she is never alone for more than 3-4 hours and even so she is spoilt with foraging toys, shredding toys etc etc !
I'm in australia qld my Avain vet is the only one that's close to my area ... I'm actually considering traveling a few hours just for a second opinion as this lady may be a tad odd!


Oh and she is very active! She loves food but is easily distracted! She will nibble then new her toys for 30mins! I've tried setting her alone with her food an no distractions but she then gets bored and screams Untill she gets somthing to play with!

 

[FineFeatheredFriend]

When eating healthy foods then involve your bird as well. I don't know if getting another bird will help but first try to get your birds weight normal. There are a lot bird owners that only have 1 bird so that is normal. Now if you are not giving your bird proper time for as playing with it and feeding it then you should add another bird. You don't have to add another Sun because of the noise. Suns do get along with other conures. Peace be to you.

 

[Chili]

If noise was a concern do you really think I would get a sun conure lol
Did you not read my post in replies? She has plenty play time
With me she is only ever alone for No more than 3-4 hours monday-Thursday
She gets vegetables fruit daily ... But that was not my concern in regards to my post ! I was wanting to know what everyone thought of why the vet had told me to get a friend ! The vets main concern was my sun picking me as its mate and then developing mental and sexual frustrations!!!

 

[MonicaMc]

Overbonding to humans is a common problem... especially with cockatoos.

I think that if you could afford another conure and you are prepared for a second, then it would be a great idea! After all, parrots are flock creatures, they are used to being around other birds.

That said, if you don't want another bird, then don't get one! There's no guarantee that getting another bird would get along with your bird anyway... getting a second bird may lead to more noise or it may lead to less. There's no telling until you go that route.


A lot of birds, if raised right, make exceptionally wonderful pets, as single birds.



Me, personally, I think it's great to have at least two birds of a similar species together if at all possible. I have a flock of cockatiels consisting of three females and one male. One of the hens was supposedly a male, but I knew the moment I saw her that she wasn't. In this flock is also a bourke parakeet. She's old! Kind of ancient, really! And I don't want any more bourkes! At least, I don't want any unless I could have an aviary full of them! So, she's my only bourke until she passes away. Then there is Charlie. Actually got him in the hopes that he and my first conure, Noel, would get along, and so that I could have a buddy. Well, I got a buddy alright! But Noel and Charlie never did get along. Noel has since passed away due to health complications, and I'm not against getting another conure! In fact, I'd love to have a young, handraised conure someday! Considering that both conures were adults when I had already got them...


To each their own.

 

[JasmineGCC]

Jasmine my green cheek is very happy being an only bird. She eats some seed some pellets and lots of fruit and vegetables. We have been advised not to get her a friend so she can bond with us. However we have been advised not to touch her in a sexual way Such as touching her back or her bottom or letting her regurgitate food and try to feed us. If she starts nesting we will remove her happy hut or anything else she could use as a nest. She is seven months old and very happy. I hope this helps

 

[Thingamagigs]

nuts are full of protein and oils as well LOL
Its ridiculous, you cant not feed protein, its in everything to varying degrees. Maybe increase her pellets and decrease everything else. Thats a high percentage of fruit/vege you are feeding Maybe only feed sprouted seed and pellets for a while and have fruit and vege as treats. Pellets are supposedly a complete diet.

 

[goalerjones]

I wont speak to the diet issues but to the mate issue. Do you like the high amount of interraction? If so then a second bird will change that. They will spend more time with each other, and less with you.

 

[Chili]

I'm definatly getting a second opinion !
The vet completely changed my diet !!! SHe was the one saying %70 vege/fruit 30% pellets...
I had told her I was feeding egg and brown rice (about 4 times a week) etc sun flower seeds as a treat and she said no to much protein ... She was very pushy for me to get chili a friend of the same size a conure preferably (and funny enough they happened to be hand rearing sun conures they are intending to sell ... )
She said to much seed and protein will cause her body to think its for laying eggs ...
So I couldn't feed her that ... How else will she gain weight lol?
In a month or two if she didn't gain any they wanted to do x-rays and stuff to see if there's anything going on internally ... I don't know it all just seems wrong to me...

 

[JasmineGCC]

If she is happy and eating well and her poops are ok (you can tell what she's been eating most as black & white = seed, brown = pellets and runny = fruit - Jasmine's changes throughout the day) then I would be too alarmed but just in case there is an underlying medical condition I would get a second opinion from a different avian vet.

I would ignore advice re getting another bird as she may not bond with you then and it sounds as if she gets lots of attention so she isn't bored.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Your case has definitely cemented my concerns regarding that vet!! I am glad you are getting a second opinion!! A lot of what she said sounds completely absurd, I cant believe she was telling you to decrease pellets!! Thats just going to throw out her nutritional balance. I have NEVER heard a vet recommend reducing protein in a bird who is underweight!! Protein will only "encourage her to lay" if she is in peak condition... if she is underweight then you are going to want to give a slight boost to protein to encourage a healthier weight. Its just mind boggling that she would recommend otherwise... but if she is trying to keep her lean for the next month so you will throw some more cash at her for x-rays then it makes sense.

 

[Chili]

I know it is sounding very dodgy! Trust me to go to the dodgy one lol
Yeah I'll just feed her protein and seeds, plump her up ! And if she doesn't put on weight from me feeding her abit extra and obviously if she doesn't gain weight then I'll have to look further into it!
I'll still call the other vet and get a consult and see what they reccomend ....
What a confusing bird battle this has ended up being !
Thanks you all soooo much

 

[FineFeatheredFriend]

Sorry, it was real late at night and yes I did not read your post correctly. If you would like to add another bird then go for it. You are doing all the correct things far as feeding it and spending time so another bird should be a good distraction for your bird. Peace be to you.

 

[Dharmawaits]

I think you should buy one of the vets Sun Conures! Ok I'm lying I wonder if she gets how dodgy it sounds when she recommends that and is selling them. Even if she really feels that way how could you possibly believe her!? I know a lot of people say be careful about giving a lot of eggs to females but I also know if she is overweight she won't want to produce eggs right now anyway. Birds follow feast or famine. Once she feels she has gained enough weight she MAY want to lay then and you would want to reduce the eggs".........dang she really played with your head. Why didn't she give you a diet TO follow if she felt what you where doing was wrong? That would have been the smart vet thing to do. Get a new vet........right after you buy one of her conures....

 

[Pedro]

I'm definatly getting a second opinion !
The vet completely changed my diet !!! SHe was the one saying %70 vege/fruit 30% pellets...
I had told her I was feeding egg and brown rice (about 4 times a week) etc sun flower seeds as a treat and she said no to much protein ... She was very pushy for me to get chili a friend of the same size a conure preferably (and funny enough they happened to be hand rearing sun conures they are intending to sell ... )
She said to much seed and protein will cause her body to think its for laying eggs ...
So I couldn't feed her that ... How else will she gain weight lol?
In a month or two if she didn't gain any they wanted to do x-rays and stuff to see if there's anything going on internally ... I don't know it all just seems wrong to me...

Chili, your Vet is actually right in just about everything she has told you. I don't see any reason for a second opinion.

The diet she suggested is also correct. And her reasons why is also correct. Especially when your girl matures.

It's up to you whether of not you want to introduce another bird or not but bare in mind a lot of what the Vet mentioned is also true. But that is all up to you. If your happy with a single companion so be it. When sunnies mature they can get aggressive & be extremly territoral.

Although your sunny hasn't reached maturity yet (about 2 to 3 years) she still has a lot of filling out to do so i wouldn't worry about weight gain that will come as she gets older. As you have mentioned she is a rather small bird so that could possibly explain her weight.

This is what i feed my sunnies, a good quality small parrot seed mix & pellets. Raw almonds, then a mix of sprouts, fruit & veg. Hard boiled egg once every 2 weeks. Feed a healthy diet in moderation, mean a little bit of this & that. Variety is the key.

Hope this is of help.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Pedro, how could all of what she said be acceptable? She told her that her bird was underweight and at the same time told her to cut down on pellets and protein and feed mostly fruit and vege!
Then in a month if the bird didnt put on weight she would do xrays! The bird wont put on weight in a month if protein is decreased. Its simple science!
I think a second opinion is a brilliant idea, otherwise Chilli might end up forking out a bunch for xrays that arent necessary, just because her bird is underweight and the vet did not recommend any foods that will put the weight on the bird and only gave a month time frame! LOL
Even not being a veterinarian its obviously a ridiculous concept. All animals require protein to gain mass. She isnt going to start laying eggs in the next month if she is fed protein! LOL

 

[Chili]

Well a second opinion couldn't hurt right ...
I'm willing to pay... But then again it could just confuse me more ....
What the vet has said does make sence.... But it doesn't make sence she has recommended to a one year old underweight bird ...
And gettin her a friend does make sence also but I may look at that abit down the track .... The vet was saying get one sooner rather than later to try prevent her as picking me as her mate ... (and she had some for sale lol)

 

[Pedro]

Do you feel your bird is underweight??? If you can feel a nice meaty breast muscle either side of the breast bone that is fine. You should be able to feel the breast or keel bone. An adult sunny should weigh between 90 grams to 125 grams depending on the sex of the bird.

Well that's the Vets opinion whether or not you get a second bird. IMO sunnies can get aggressive regardless if they have a feathered friend or not.

I may not be a Vet but have bred conure for many years so i do know what they are all about.

Thingamagigs I did say just about everything. I don't believe the bird is underweight. I have heard Vets tell their clients that all the time. Chili said her bird is small so i would think that is the reason behind her birds weight. Personally i wouldn't think Chili was thin especially at it's age & if the weight is stable that is also a good sign. Really it's up to Chili's Mum to decide if she want Xray's or not. If all the tests have come back OK then why do anything that is unecessary.

 

[Pedro]

Pedro, how could all of what she said be acceptable? She told her that her bird was underweight and at the same time told her to cut down on pellets and protein and feed mostly fruit and vege!
Then in a month if the bird didnt put on weight she would do xrays! The bird wont put on weight in a month if protein is decreased. Its simple science!
I think a second opinion is a brilliant idea, otherwise Chilli might end up forking out a bunch for xrays that arent necessary, just because her bird is underweight and the vet did not recommend any foods that will put the weight on the bird and only gave a month time frame! LOL
Even not being a veterinarian its obviously a ridiculous concept. All animals require protein to gain mass. She isnt going to start laying eggs in the next month if she is fed protein! LOL

Please take note of the foods i suggested for sun conures. I think commonsense should prevail here.

What diet the Vet has suggested is what i also recommend when a female sunny matures. In fact all non breeding parrots should be maintained on healthy low protein balanced diet.