Sun Conure or cockatiel?

[Birdlover11]

For my birthday my parants are letting me get another bird . The birds I have now are 2 American parakeets. I decided I wanted a sun conure or a cockatiel. I am at school the whole day and my parants are at work so nobody is at home until 4 pm but I could wake early to play and change their food and water every morning. I also want a bird that wants to be cuddled and petted .

 

[BirdSquawk]

Tough choice. I myself would get a cockatiel. They are quiet and cuddly, and are not to messy. They are also very nice to other birds, so i would consider putting his cage next to your budgie's cages, so they can keep each other company. You could also play a radio for them.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I am personally very fond of the conures, but you do have to be prepared for their noise level. Even a happy, playful sun conure can really make some noise. Both are very sweet, cuddly birds. I was once told "let the bird pick you" if you are slightly unsure. Narrow it down a bit and then interact with them and see who seems most at ease and happy with you.

 

[Birdlover11]

Thanks for your responses ! There's another thing I'm worried about ,how hard do they bite ?my budgies bites dont really hurt that much but my friend has a sun conure and she's a little nippy also how long do both live I want a long lived companion

 

[AFP520]

A Sun's beak could really do some damage, so be aware of your place as you will need to birdproof as much as possible. The nips on the fingers can definitely be painful but you need to do your absolute best to not react, or the bird will learn this is how to get you away.

 

[Birdlover11]

Thanks I'm starting to think that a cockatiel is better for me I'll be better off with a sun conure when I get into high school

 

[ruffledfeathers]

My sun conure went through a nippy phase right around sexual maturity (her terrible twos), but she did get over it. She generally tried NOT to bite hard, it was more of a nip. With training, she was fine. Although my conure didn't live long because of an accident, she was very very healthy and 11.5 yrs old. i'm sure she would have easily made the 25 year 'average' for a sun conure if she hadn't hurt herself. They require a LOT of attention (at least mine did) but she was SO funny. She used to 'brush her teeth", "play dead" and would dance any time she heard music (or if you sang or clapped your hands, she would start crazy dancing). Little crazy monkey.

 

[AFP520]

Sorry for your loss

 

[Molcan2]

I would go and visit both in person. Listen to them when they are at their loudest, make sure that everyone in the house can tolerate the noise. I thought I wanted a sun, then I heard one. I used to have teils and they were very lovely birds. If you can tolerate the noise level of a sun - they are very beautiful birds. Good luck in making your decision.

 

[Birdlover11]

Yeah I guess the noise could be a problem.My mom kind of has a problem with our budgies noise and their only budgies. I'm worried about the cockatiel being alone for 8 hours will it be a good idea to put my budgies cage next to him

 

[Molcan2]

I don't know the exact age. My grandmother, who smokes inside of her house pretty much non stop all day (very bad for birds), had one that lived to be 20yrs old.

 

[BirdSquawk]

Cockatiels, with proper care, can live upwards of 20-30 years. Plus, they are not really prone to shrieking or yelling, more of whistles and noises similar to budgies.

 

[kitkat135]

If your mother has a problem with the budgies I would go somewhere where you can really get an idea of what each sounds like. I have had both the cockatiel and the sun conure and the cockatiel mostly whistled and chirped and the sun conure had its normal screech. Its normal screech is very VERY loud. Now mine didn't scream but in the morning or unless her feathers were bothering her or she wanted people food but it can leave your ears ringing.

They were both just as sweet and cuddly and neither one ever bit me. It could have been because they were both hand raised and I learned their moods.

Maybe find a pet store where they have a variety of birds you can go and listen to? If not maybe you can google the different bird sounds to get an idea. Hope this helps.

 

[Mybestfriendisaparrot]

I would reccomend for you a cockateil because conures in my opinion need just as much attention as a african grey would need. Around 3 hours a day. Mine is spoiled rotten and is out all day. I am in school as well but i take my birds out after school til i go to bed. Since no one is home all day a sun conures loudness wont be a problem. Also i believe cockateils are more easy going and arent as nippy as conures are. I have a green cheeked conure. I love him to death and i would never sell him for all the money in the world but he sure is a nipper. He will bite a lot. He also requires as muchtime and care that my african grey does. If oyu want a sun conure go ahead but take it out in the morning and when you get home. Also make sure it has A LOT of toys to keep it occupied. My reccomendations not to turn you away from a sun conure but i reccomend green cheeks just because i feel they are more loving and quiet because sunnies constanly make loud noises. Also they GCC are cheaper if thats an issue.

 

[Total_Dejavu]

I took in 2 Cockatiels (male & female) last week from a hoarder situation. With that said, I have 2 Conures and a Meyer's currently in my household. I have to say that the male Cockatiel drove me crazy lol. My Sun has the occasional screech, my yellow sided is fairly quiet, and the Meyer's has his high pitch whistles from time to time, but that male Cockatiel would get started and would not stop! I thought they were going to have to cart me off to the looney bin ha ha. Like the others have suggested, check them out and get an idea. If you do decide to go with the Cockatiel, get a female

 

[Birdlover11]

I checked them out at Petco but they were really qiuete. I think that both of them were sick .None of their parrots were making any noise except the budgies. I don't really trust pet stores except for supplies. Today we went to an Aqarium an they had a bird exhibit . They had conures flying around. The sun conures were loud but it didn't bother me.One went on my arm . They were VERY playful.Im just worried about nippping

 

[DebsFlock]

A cockatiel on your shoulder can emit a piercing call that is painful, but a Sun conure is known to be one of the loudest pet birds! A cockatiel is known as one of the quietest. A cockatiel is a bird and can make noise, but these are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. A Sun might also be more difficult to take away to college unless your parents would care for the birds during those years. That's something you might want to think about carefully.

I'd vote for the 'tiel. It is possible your parents would not be able to tolerate the Sun, it would need a larger cage and more attention, and 'tiels are really very sweet birds. If you really wanted a bird that's more like a "big bird", a GCC is not as loud as a Sun, but they are complicated little birds...

 

[Birdlover11]

I'm still don't know what to have or choose so I'm going to do a poll on in your opinion which bird is better for me conureor tiel? or

 

[Mybestfriendisaparrot]

onures are very big nippers and cockateils are super sweet but once you stop givging them attetion for a long time they can gret aggresive. Some conures are louder then other and cockateils can be meaner then other. All together i would reccomend a sun cure because they are larger and louder and tend to be feistier. I reccomend a green ckeeded conure. Not because i have one. But i love mine! I wouldnt sell him for all the money in the world, but they are are like have a cockateil with the quietsness, but they make cute like quirks and are little clowns, they are many different beautiful mutatuin i have a yellow sided and he is rainbow, there is also turqoise, cinniom, pineapple and a few more. They are smaller then sun conures, quieter, their bite isnt as hard as a sun because of the size different in beaks and they are cuddly like cockateils. They keep them self occupied but still need to same care and attention a sun conure and a cockateil needs. They are the same price as a sun conure, adorable and super sweet. Make sure with either birds you make sure you show them whos in charge as they are young otherwise they will be bitey brats. mine is but i spoil him rotten. But in all honsety you are better off with a green cheek because they are like a mixture of a cockateil and sun conure! Hope this helps! Happy Birthday! Haha!

 

[Birdlover11]

Conure 1

Cockatiel 1