Hi to all bird lovers from S. California

[jmcalifornia]

I appreciate all animals...well, except for scorpions. I truly believe in respecting and cherishing the amazing biodiversity of our animal kingdom, especially birds. The evolution of birds is extraordinary and their unique characters are a joy to observe.
As a young boy (over 40 years ago), I rescued a featherless baby house sparrow that had fallen from a rain gutter, right into an old tin garbage can. It had a small bleed on it's beak, but otherwise seemed OK. I named him Sammy. My folks let me nurse it back to health and I kept it in a large cardboard box until we could get a cage. Each morning I'd collect insects and worms, then feed the tiny bird. As it's feathers developed, I helped teach it to fly and it became a tremendous pet. It loved everyone in our household and would fly to you with overflowing affection. I had it for about three years. Regretfully, it escaped one evening from its cage and flew onto my sleeping brother. He unintentionally smothered the bird and he discovered it's lifeless body in the morning. That was a very sad memory. Sparrows are often negatively described as flying rats with wings. Not true. When you travel, you'll be amazed to hear that familiar sound of common sparrows chirping outside your window. They're all over the planet.

Since then, I've had 5 budgies and in 2000, my wife and I rescued a 6 month Sun Conure, that had been returned to a pet store by three different owners. We had considered getting a pet parrot for several years and unexpectedly came across Riley, the Sun Conure. He is very intelligent, loving, territorial, always needy, chooses me over my wife, screams like a siren in the morning and evenings (briefly). He isn't afraid of our cats and they are certainly fearful of him! He has drawn blood, like most birds (except sparrows!) A common problem for many parrot owners is that Riley likes me better than my wife and he can be quite vicious with her. Even with his trimmed wings, he'll attempt to reach her. If he does, he'll bite her hand or face. We can't always predict when his mood will turn.

Riley receives a lot of special attention from us. His cage is always clean and open and he's free to roam around the cage. He is hand fed for one hour in the morning and another hour (at least) in the evenings. We have been very consistent and he has remained very healthy and happy. My wife is somewhat afraid of Riley, yet she often feeds him. I know if she had her way, Riley would be long gone. I've often said the bird is like a child that never grows up and we can't simply give it away, anymore than you can give your child away. Riley is so attached to me that I fear it would become heart-broken if we were to give him away. The pet store, at the time we adopted him, told us that Sun Conures live up to 15 years. They didn't know what they were talking about. I've read that Sun Conures are a relatively new pet bird introduction and may live past 30 years. I'm not sure if we can handle the commitment for much longer.

A customer of mine told me her mother has 8 pet parrots and might be willing to adopt Riley. We'd pay her to adopt him, but I am now feeling really guilty and doubtful that I can let him go. I am still in the process of working through this option for myself and Riley. One day I think, gee how lucky can you be to have someone who can adopt Riley and is loving, willing and capable of handling an intelligent and sensitive bird. Then I talk myself out of it. So, I'm still on the fence.

What I would like to say to anyone thinking of adopting a pet bird as a companion is:
Don't get a bird that has a lifespan over 15-20 years. IMO, the best pets are budgies, parrolets or cockatiels. They're loving and won't outlive you.
Make sure you will be able to handle the commitment.
Talk to other bird owners for advice before getting any pet bird.

I read another members painful story about giving up her conure. I certainly can relate. Any comments or advice is welcome.

Cheers

[Pajarita]

Well, yes, the decision to give up a bird is always difficult but I don't think you should pay the woman anything. What you should do is check her out, go see her birds, ask her as many questions as you can as to her methods (she might be very old fashioned and feed them just seeds, keep them in their cages all day long, etc). You want him to go to a better home than yours, not the same and, most definitely, not worse.

My sunnie is also a meanie which tries to bite me whenever I get too close to his 'place' or his girlfriend but I don't pay him any mind and he does just fine (they don't live in cages, they live in a room of their own with other parrots).

Why don't you try to talk your wife into training him? Mind you, not you but her. Michael, the owner of this website, has lots of pointers and instructions on how to do this and they will both benefit from it - who knows? He might end up if not liking her, at least, accepting her and then you won't have to rehome him at all.

Also, why is he been hand-fed? Doesn't he eat on his own?

[marie83]

Hi and welcome to the forums. You are right parrots are a massive commitment and ownership should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately there is a lot of bad information out there which makes it really hard for people to know exactly what they might be getting into. Sorry you have found yourself in this sad situation where you feel rehoming is the answer.

From your post I'm getting the impression you don't really wish to rehome your sun but you also say you don't think you can commit much longer. I'm wondering if it is just the issues with your sun not liking your wife or if there are other issues too? The previous poster is correct in that a lot of issues can be overcome with training, whilst the bird may never like your wife and have the same bond you do it should definitely be possible for them to form a bond and live peacefully together if the situation is approached correctly and with some patience. That said my conure switches loyalties between my partner and I quite often but the split is often fairly equal- conures are sociable little birds on the whole. The forum users can help guide you with this if you and your wife are agreeable but we would need more details in order to do this.
Should it be impossible to keep your sun I recommend following Pajaritas advice and finding the best home possible for your bird.

Please let us know what you decide and we will help you as much as possible.