Loud Lucy driving Daddy crazy

[karen2]

Our Sun Conure is SOOOOOO LOUD. She wasn't like this at the pet store. She's really bonded to me, likes the kids- attacks Daddy. The shreeking is about the last straw for by husband. I know she is just wanting attention, she's quieter after she's been out a while and we've been around her for a while. If we got her a friend, (don't know her true sex) would she quiet down a little? Read they live in groups of 4-7 in the wild. Maybe she just lonely. She's a really sweet bird-love her bunches, but that shreek in the ear just plain hurts. Tried putting her back in her cage when she does it, tried putting her on the floor, nothing seems to work. Covered her head with my hand to make it dark, she just acts offended and gently nips. Heard from the pet store that her previous owner put her in a dark closet when she shreeked. I won't do that. I have tried covering her cage though, not completely dark, some light penetrates the covering. Any suggestions?
Thanks

Loud Lucy's Mom

[Oscars Mom]

If you get her a friend youll have twice the noise!!!!Conures are REALLY LOUD birds. My friend has 2 cages for her sunnie .One is on the porch.It was the only way she could keep himcause of the noise.But you have to be careful if you do that that to not just dump it and leave it all the timecause that would be cruel and make the birds behavior worse. Make sure that the bird gets enough sleep, attentio and exercise. You didnt say if you have a playstand.A portable playstand is the best thing cause then the bird can be with you and wont call or scream for you. My bird likes to hang out all day on his tree stand and is way more content than if hes locked in his cage.

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Our Nanday has a very loud squawk and we've figured out that he uses it for three reasons:

1) When it's breakfast time
2) When it's late afternoon and time for a cage cleaning and meal
3) When we're not in the general vicinity of his cage

When I'm preparing his breakfast and he's calling to me, I'll talk to him and put him on his cage top or on my shoulder, giving him occasional scritches.

When he's waiting for his cage to be cleaned and waiting to be fed, I'll again put him on the cage top or on his perch or on my shoulder.

If he's still squawking on my shoulder, I'll shush him and give him scritches. He usually ends up making a soft chuckling noise. If he's on his cage top or perch and squawking, I'll talk to him and give him something to play with and/or a small snack to keep him busy. He will stop his loud vocalizations once we figure out what he's trying to convey to us.

When he's squawking and we're not in the general vicinity, I'll make contact calls and this suffices. Sometimes we're upstairs or downstairs and we'll use the intercom even as there is one in the birds' area and they can hear our voices. We do keep the birds in our main living space so when we're home, they can see and hear us most of the time.

I do believe it is possible to limit a conure's squawking just as we've had success with potty training with our Nanday. If you just let Lucy know what you expect from her but also give her alternatives and reinforce her positive behavior (no squawking) with scritches or treats or some other activity she enjoys, I believe you'll have success.

Best of luck and do keep us informed of your/her progress.

[SunConure1]

Sun conures are natually loud even in the wild, Getting another will just encourage the squawking even more, Instand of one sqauwking ou will have 2. I own 2 sun conures myself Besley & Bonnie, They can be loud but they are fairly quiet. Besley & Bonnie love to come out of there cage 2 or 3 times a day short interivals. They also have plenty of toys to keep them occupied, They even have a toy that has a roll of paper they can unwrap and chew. Also i find my guys sqauwk when they want attention or i have forgotten to give them there fruit & veggies. Instand of cutiing the fruit in peices put an half apple in her cage and let her bite peices of it off. You can also do it with corn too that way it keeps her occupied and will also keep the beak trimed at the same time.