Lots of questions about my Sun Conure!

[Karley]

I'm new with birds, and about a month or so ago we got a Sun Conure. His name is Sunny, and he is completely amazing!! He is well behaved, doesn't screech most of the time, tries any fruit/veggies we give him (I say him, but we really don't know the gender yet), he is playful and lovable, and is all around just the friendliest and most well-behaved bird! I have a lot of questions floating through my mind...bear with me on this one!
1. Sunny doesn't sleep when we have other lights on in the room, which is understandable, so do I get a cover for his cage? I tried a blanket over the top before I put him in to go to bed, but he didn't like the idea of that much. I don't want to move him into a different room, because the living room is where everyone is all the time. What do you do?
2. What do you normally feed your Conures? I have read around and looked at a lot of the things people feed them, and I already feed him a lot of different fruits/veggies, but I would like to learn more, so I can make him as happy and as healthy as can be
3. Sunny poops EVERYWHERE. I don't consider this a flaw in any way, we just don't have a clue how to potty train a bird. Could you all explain how you did it?

I will post my other questions later. It is late right now, Sunny is sleeping, and I must too! School tomorrow. Thanks!

[kali]

potty training was easy for me. every ten mins or so i'd hold boo above the bin and say 'toilet' and when he went he'd get scratches and cuddles and attention. you can use food as a treat sometimes too.

[Izzy]

My birds aren't potty trained, so I can't help you there! I am good at watching them though, and can usually get them to poop elsewhere (ie, not on me!).

As far as sleeping, my birds have two different routines. Sweety, my tiel, sleeps in a seperate cage in a closet. This way her cage is in the living room, but she can still get her sleep. Lily, my meyers, sleeps in her cage in the living room with blankets covering it. This works for her, but it's what she's used to.

For food, mine both get a mix of Zupreem Natural Pellets and Goldenfeast seed/nut mix. Then fresh fruits/veggies on top (mainly veggies-fruits are high in sugar), plus cooked foods (you can find these specifically for birds...mine currently have a Whitewings Farms brand that we're going through), noodles (limited amount though), and birdie bread (again, you can find this commercially and just add water and eggs!). Mine also get sprouts, which I sprout myself. This is a very healthy way to feed seeds!

Your baby is gorgeous!

[Pepper's Pa]

Congratulations on sharing your life with Sunny.
You may want to consider using a separate, smaller sleep cage for Sunny. He would go into this only at night and it could be located in a room that is quieter and darker than his current location. To be at his best behavior he needs between 10-12 hours of undisturbed sleep each night.
A healthy variety is the key to a good diet. You may get some good ideas in The Healthy Bird Cookbook. Also, the information on Pepper’s Web Site will fit ideally with a Sun Conure. This link is to the page on diet.
Sunny looks young and it takes time to learn where “pooping” is acceptable. Also you need to learn his routine, most parrots release some waste about every 20 minutes or so. You want to adjust your interaction with him based on his need to poop. When my Senegal. Pepper, was young he had quite a few accidents. Since he was around six-months-old these accidents have nearly stopped. If he’s released his wastes on me, the furniture, or the floor ten times total in the last three years that would be a lot. I was to blame for most of his accidents, I simply kept him away from his cage or play gym for too long of a time. I find that if I return him to his cage or play gym every thirty minutes, accidents don’t happen.
Good luck with Sunny.

[Lori~D]

Sleep cage is good. get him comfortable with it first by setting it up right next to his cage andleaving it open and letting him play in and out of it for awhile then move it to a spare room. Put him there at bed time and even when you go away and dont plan to be home till late. Its good for him to get used to two cages anyway unless you have to send him to a friends for vacation or take him out on travel with you or even emergencies.

[NaniOokami]

A sleep cage is a great idea. :) I'm actually working on this with my Grey as well, since we've been up later because of the summer.

[AndreaSctlnd]

I can tell when my sun, Sunny (common name :) ) is ready for bed, he gets loud and does a lot of going in to his tent. He is in the living room too and I cover him with a dark sheet. You could also try getting him a tent to sleep in or a snuggle hut. Good luck with your baby.

[Karley]

Thanks! Those are great ideas. =] I'll talk to my dad about the sleeping cage (I am only 16), and I think I will try the cage cover! I have another question though-how do you think he'd do around babies? Not him in general- just birds =]

[AndreaSctlnd]

I would not put a bird and a baby in close contact for safety of both.

[bubbalori]

i certainly wouldnt leave any pet of any kind alone with a baby at anytime. if there is a baby in the house make sure the bird always knows its pecking order you can still love a pet and have a good pet and it dosent hurt the pet to know baby is number one in concern.