Expensive Pets, Parrots.

You know, when I bought Atti I couldn't believe how much I was paying for this little 100g bird, even at the discounted price the breeder gave me. I had originally ordered a green cheek conure from him and not a single clutch hatched, so he instead offered me a sun conure he'd been hand rearing for someone else at a discount, though it was still three times the price of a green cheek.

What I didn't realize was how much the ongoing costs were for a bird like a sun conure. They are intelligent and veraciously curious, they need new things, new ideas and constant mental stimulation. They also tend to stash/lose whatever toys you give them. This year alone I've spent over $300 on toys for him, that doesn't include the $500 cage.

Of course he's gotten bored and upset again so I've dropped another $150 on toys, and I truly hope these last more then a few months. At our local bird store I picked up a new basic foraging system to see how Atti does before I spend money on the more elaborate systems. It's just a container on a spring that has to be tipped forward in order to access food. I also bought a new ladder (he ate the last three) and a curious foot toy a bit like a spinning top which he's fallen in love with. Thankfully it's the cheapest so I'll go back and buy the shops stock of them. So that was $35 right there. Then since he's eaten/lost all the toy making supplies I've also ordered from the parrot rescue centre:

4 x wood shape cut outs
1 x 'Lolly Bag' of Pine chews
18 x Wooden Stars (his absolute fave toy)
12 x Large Macaw sized wooden spools (the conure size only lasted 0.2 seconds)
4 x Macaw sized cardboard bangles (as above)
1 x Oversized green plastic chain
1 x Small Green Plastic chain
25 x Plastic Crazy Shape Links (well loved as is or can be used to attach toys)
4 x Plastic Pacifiers
5 x Plastic Jewel Rings
2 x Large Bangle shapes
12 x Chain Links
4 x Plastic Tops
2 x Cow Bells
3 x Vine Hearts (to be shared with the rabbit)
4 x Vine Sticks
2 x Fiddler Cubes
1 x Vine Lily
1 x Vine Star
8 x Metal Pear Links
1 x Small Yellow Plastic Chain

All for the princely sum of $110, I dearly hope these last more then a few months, as I ended up using clothes money to pay for them. The moneys also for my own sanity, a bored parrot is a loud aggressive parrot and the rabbit bites and scratches me enough, I don't need to be pierced and deafened as well.

I still need to cut new perches but since I don't feel like going to my Father's property that'll have to wait till we move. At least perches are free.
 
I'm afraid I have no recent pics of Atti in his adult (well almost adult) plumage but I'll leave you with a pic of his cage (which, as with everything else is macaw sized). If I ever remember to charge the camera I'll post up some current pics of Atti & Lu, who are both looking rather handsome.