At the pet store...

[Animallover]

At the pet store the other day, I saw a baby sun conure playing with its toys so, well, playfully. It was so cute!!!!! My brother put his face up close to the cage, and the conure waddled up & tried to bite at him through the cage. I just wanted to take the dear little thing home in my arms! (But it cost $525! )

Anyway, I had never seen any sort of conure before (except on that movie about the conure Paulie), and I would like to know more about them. Are they easily tamed? Loud? Quiet? Do they normally cost $525? And anything else you could tell me. Thanks!

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by Animallover

...and I would like to know more about them.

The current issue of BirdTalk features an article on conures. You can get that at PetCo or PetsMart.

Originally Posted by Animallover

Are they easily tamed? Loud? Quiet? Do they normally cost $525? And anything else you could tell me. Thanks!

Generally, they are very tame, interactive birds when they are handraised (which most of them in stores are). Depending on the species they can be a bit nippy (such as greencheeks), but that's something that can be dealt with and with training and love you can get rid of that.
The noise level of conure is VERY different depending on the species. The jenday and suns as well as nandays are quite vocal in general (which does not include every bird ;-). The quietest of the conures are probably the greencheek conures. However, the lack of noise comes with a less spectacular color scheme compared to the bright suns and jendays since they are green, brown, a little blue and some red.
Suns are more expensive than for example greencheeks, but you probably can get a better deal buying the bird from a breeder instead of the store (you can save up to $100 I'd guess but I'm not sure on that - depends on where you are as well but other members here might have a better idea on that).

Other than that - please consider that getting a bird does not only include the costs for the baby itself. You have to get a cage, perches, dishes, I'd recommend a hut for sleeping, toys (lots of), food, and I'd certainly also get a playgym so birdie can spend some time out of the cage. In addition, if you make an investment of that amount, you want to make sure the baby is healthy - so you also have to go to the vet right away to have him checked out.

On top of that (it's getting a lot ) you have to make sure that you have the time to grant your bird the attention it needs, and you'll be willing to do so for the next 15-20yrs. My greencheek is alone, so I make sure he gets at least 3hrs of "Bee-time" a day where he's out of the cage and I spend time with him. On the weekend I try to entertain him as much as I can.
Birds also need training - they have a powerful tool (called beak), which can do quite some damaged if an aggressive bird (due to lack of interaction for example) is attached to it. So you also need to socialize and train your bird in order for him and you to live happily in your family.

I hope this gives you a first idea about it. Please let me know if there's anything else.
Bee

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

I got mine from a breeder & she cost $300 I think it was. She was handrasied/handfed so she is very sweet most of the time. lol She is only loud when she's excited, usually when I come home from work. Most of the time she is content playing with me or her toys. All birds are different however so you never know. You can find out alot about them by googling them. Thats what i did. Crystal

[Animallover]

Thank you! I am sort-of-ish considering getting one, but I have a lot of time to consider, seeing as I have to wait 4 years (until I'm 18 & off to college) before I'm allowed to get another bird! Anyway, I googled conures, & I noticed that on all of the videos I saw, the only noises I heard were more squaky and less chirpy. Is that how all conures are? (I'm used to the noise of a budgie, you see)

[Valo's Moirana]

budgies are known to be more - hmm, let's call it "singy" in their noises. conures are not particularly known for that which is another way of saying "little singing, lots of squaking". you can teach them to whistle and/or talk depending on the species, but don't expect them to be chirpy as a budgie ;-)

also, one thing to consider since you mentioned college - you might want to wait with getting a conure, since you'll be likely to be living in the dorms for the first year, and you'll have a lot of work to do. you have to make sure you can fit that little feather-guy into your everyday life of homework, school, friends, sports and entertainment. and when you're at college you probably won't have your family around to help you out. just something to consider
bee

[svolk]

Sun conures are known to be LOUD. There are many people on here who have stated that they would gladly tolerate a macaw scream over a Sun conure scream. I would try to find a video/audio of a sun at it's loudest and see if you can tolerate that. If you are only used to a budgie's noise level, I would investigate much further if a sun is right for you.

Also, if you are going to be away at college and getting another bird, I am assuming you will be living in an apartment or dorm - ie. in close proximity to others. A loud bird may not be tolerated and/or allowed in the building. Something to consider.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Everyone is right. They can be LOUD. It is more squaky, not chirpy. Crystal

[Animallover]

In response to everyone's comments on college, I only meant that my dad won't allow any more birds in the house (he doesn't particularly like them). Besides, college is a long way off (at least I sure hope it is). I'm still only 14!

[Lola Plus 10]

but conures live longer then 4 years. Are you still going to want it when youre 18? Are you prepared to listen to it squawk all day? Sunnies are loud conures. and if youre buzy with school then homework and friends are you really going to have time for a sunnie?

[Valo's Moirana]

the comment concerning college was aiming at exactly that... it's a long way off. your way of life will completely change, and it may be that you can't fit a bird into this type of life. so, take your time, look around, get a feel for the birdies, and see if you can deal with it when you're there
you know, if you want to be around birds, and can't have one there're multiple possibilites out there for volunteering at bird rescues, non-profit organizations helping with birds, etc... or you can also check out breeders and bird shows.