Uncommon/Rare Conure

[Madelaine]

I was just wondering if anyone had heard of the Slender Billed Conure. I was formerly owned by one until he passed away of unknown causes this last Feburary. He was the absolute sweetest thing to me despite his lack of feathers.
I was had been thinking of getting another one later in life, but just curious if anyone else had ever handled or worked with any.
They're larger conures, similar to the one in my avatar, but with more feathers. (Fuji was not a plucker or feather chewer, his lack of feathers was from a pre-existing condition caused by mineral poisoning).
I know these guys are relatively uncommon/rare in the US, none of the bird people I've talked to know what they are anyways.
Thanks. [:

 

[TexDot33]

I have heard of them ... never seen, nor handled them ... and to my understanding they are very very rare indeed ...

 

[Madelaine]

Ironically, he was found at a pet store's doorstep when he was rescued. No one knew what he was, and no one wanted him until I heard he needed a home. There's only one breeder I know of, in California, and he/she told me via email they don't breed well in captivity either.
It's a pity, they're such unique birds that I think, more research should be done on them.

 

[RKZX2]

i have never heard or seen one. the rarest i was aware of was a Golden Conure (Queen of Baveria) i was fortunate enough to see one. also a Hawk Headed Parrot. this was several years ago when Boston Exotics used to be open. the store closed because the owners went to South America.

 

[Madelaine]

Oh! I've seen and handled Golden Conures and a Hawkhead! Both are extremely beautiful!
The Hawkhead was thirty nine hundred dollars, and the Goldens were forty nine hundred, I believe. This was at Omar's Birds in Placentia, California. They would always get interestig birds. I went in one day, and they had a around five or six Eclectus!
They're one if those shops that let their babies out on perches to interact with potential pet parents.
Yet despite their wide array of birds, they didn't know what a SLB conure was!

 

[TexDot33]

always love showing these pictures, so it's worth it again ...

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I actually have a friend who runs a parrot shop, so anytime anything "good" (like a HH, or even a Black Palm Cockatoo) comes into the shop I get a phone call ... the two QOB are sisters, from one of her two breeding pair ... I love those birds, they are amazing little conures ...

 

[wuvzbirdies]

OMGosh, he looks like a little turkey!

 

[Madelaine]

Lucky you! They're all beautiful!
Oh, this comes to mind, is anyone familiar with the Red-Bellied Macaw? I recently heard of them, but have only seen them in the UK.

 

[Scritch]

I ran across this thread kinda randomly, but had to join the board just to pop in here! I had a Slender-billed for a couple of years -- and he's still around, he lives with my sister. He's a very neat bird -- not a cuddler, he doesn't really like to be touched, but very social and talkative, and a little show-off. He's about 13 yrs old now. I got him from a girl who'd originally bought him from a local pet store. My *guess* is that the pet store got him from a local Michigan breeder who I knew bred Slender-bills -- sadly she got out of them years back. She just couldn't sell the chicks. I'd keep an eye on them because I was always tempted to buy one off her, and she'd drop the price and still not sell. No doubt that's why they're so difficult to find -- breeders just can't bother with birds they can't sell. So much easier to get into Suns and other high-demand species.

Honestly, if I found a female, I would consider pairing off my sister's bird and raising them myself... or I bet she could be convinced to give him up to the right breeder with a spare female. But I can't seem to track down anyone else that has them anymore. It would be a shame to lose these guys to aviculture just because they're not as eye-catching as other species, but that seems to be the way it's going.

Here's Slim...

 

[Jez]

Never even heard of these. Beautiful bird. Hopefully they become more common!
Can't even find a breeder or anyone selling these on Google - usually there's a million results!

 

[DutchHillAviary]

Hi guys. I found this thread while searching for more info on SBCs as I am aquiring a proven pair very soon (possibly this coming week) They are being shipped from FL. I am super excited and cannot wait to see what they are like. With any luck they will start breeding for me sometime next year. I have heard they make wonderful pets also and it is a shame they are not more popular. The breeder I am buying them from, says she cannot sell the babies so she decided to sell the pair..very sad...maybe things will change one day for these guys.

I will try and post some pics in the near future.

Kevin

 

[Tanya]

hello.. i have a slender billed conure in my rescue she is wonderful and in full feather...what state are you in..mail me if you want more info

 

[DutchHillAviary]

Hi Guys, well I finnaly got back here LOL. Here is a pic of my slender-billed pair. They are both older imports, so fingers crossed for me that they will breed.

 

[Riley's mom]

They are beautiful!!! I have never seen these kinds of parrots before.

 

[Madelaine]

Thank you Tanya, and sorry for my lateness. I would be incredibly interested, but at this time, I've got my hands full again! I ended up taking on a "ten-fifteen year old" blind Eclectus!
The lady had told me he was "blind in one eye" but after a couple of days, it was evident he was completely blind. =|
The lady bred the birds but I silently questioned her establishment when her record of him was so poor and saw that the environment he was in was sub-par to my expectations. I ended up paying the three hundred for him and he's been a great addition to our family.

 

[Madelaine]

It's really nice to hear from some others that have a Slender Bill. They don't seem as uncommon as I thought. [:
As I said, maybe one day after I finish school, I'll look into getting another one or even start a breeding and/or educational program.

 

[birdcrazy]

I've seen them once in a zoo in San Antonio. Adorable little guys!

 

[britt376]

i saw ur post and i also breed slender bills would love to hear about your experiences with them

 

[[email protected]]

I have seen one of these at Adventures in Birds in Houston. He has been there awhile because I don't think anyone really understands how special he/she is. As of Jan.6,2011 he is still for sale 713-681-5299

 

[cloudninegirl]

Hello, everyone! I had a Slender-Billed Conure for many years and she was AMAZING! I was working at a bird store in Atlanta and a guy brought Kiki in to board her and he never returned to pick her up. While caring for her we bonded and the owner of the store agreed to sell her to me. She was the ideal parrot and I'd recommend them to anyone.