How Much Does a Sun Conure Cost? (2024 Price Guide)

The sun conure is also called the sun parakeet, and it’s a medium-sized, brightly colored bird that will look great in any environment. The males and females look similar and enjoy living in a group. If you would like to purchase one of these birds but are unsure about the cost of ownership, keep reading while we look at purchase price along with one-time and recurring expenses you can expect to help you make an informed purchase.

Bringing Home a New Sun Conure: One-Time Costs

If this is your first bird, your biggest expense will likely be the cage. Your cage will need at least three perches for your bird to entertain itself, a water bottle, and a food bowl. These supplies can cost as much as $150, but you will only need to buy them once.

Free

Unfortunately, the sun conure is not like a stray cat with a large litter of free kittens that you can have. This is an attractive bird that’s highly sought after, so you will need to purchase one from a breeder or pet store. However, pet supplies make great gifts, so you will likely save money on your bird around the holidays.

Adoption

• $100–$200

Unfortunately, many new bird owners don’t give enough thought to what it’s like to maintain a sun conure and they take their bird to the shelter because it’s too loud and requires plenty of attention or is destructive and they don’t know how to control it. The shelter can offer you huge savings because it’s usually eager to free up resources. We recommend checking all of the local shelters to see if they have a sun conure before you approach a breeder or pet store.

Breeder

• $200–$800

Purchasing your sun conure from a pet store or breeder can be significantly more expensive than adopting one from a local shelter (you can expect the sun conure price to be between $200 and $800), but you get the advantage of buying a younger bird, and in some cases, proof of a health guarantee. Since they are younger, they may adapt to your home easier than one that’s spent time in another home or in a shelter.

Initial Setup and Supplies

• $100–$150

Your initial setup and supply costs are going to be similar to your one-time costs, as there isn’t much you need once you have the habitat set up. The only other supplies you need are food, calcium cuttlebone treats, millet treats, and a mineral block. You will need to change the food and treats as needed, but bird supplies usually come in large packages that will last quite a while.

List of Sun Conure Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Sun Conure Cost Per Month?

• $10–$35 per month

Once you have your materials and supplies purchased, your sun conure will cost very little each month, and you only need to buy food, which comes in large and inexpensive bags, and treats to make sure your pet is getting enough calcium.

Health Care

• $5–$20 per month

Unless your sun conure gets sick, it will need very little in the way of healthcare and will only require yearly checkups to make sure everything is working. Otherwise, you will only need to see the vet if your bird behaves strangely or refuses to eat for long periods.

Food

• $5 –$15 per month

Most experts recommend feeding your sun conure a high-quality bird pellet blend to make sure it is provided with the best possible nutrition. You will also add leafy greens like broccoli and kale with a small portion of fruit. The pellet blend should make up about 70% of your bird’s diet and usually comes in large bags that will last quite a while.

Grooming

• $5–$15 per month

You can support the grooming of your sun conure primarily by providing the right environment that allows them to do the work themselves. This bird loves to take baths, so providing a clean water source will result in your bird taking a bath to remove any dirt. Various perch sizes will mimic the bird’s natural environment and help trim its nails, while soft wooden toys will help your bird maintain a healthy beak.

Medications and Vet Visits

• $5–$15 per month

As we mentioned earlier, your sun conure will require very little medication and will rarely need to visit the vet. The only time you will need medication is if your bird gets infected with parasites or starts picking off its feathers, which is a sign of a medical condition. Some birds can also catch a cold if they are in line with a draft, and a high-stress environment can weaken the immune system of your pet.

Pet Insurance

• $5–$25 per month

Unfortunately, insurance is much harder to find for birds than it is for cats or dogs. That being said, you may be surprised to see bird insurance offered by well-known insurance companies like Nationwide. Insurance can help save your pet’s life if an accident or unexpected illness occurs. For many people, an unexpected medical expense could be more than you could afford, which might cause you to have to give the animal up or worse. However, pet insurance makes it possible to cover these expenses and can keep your pet healthy.

Environment Maintenance

• $5–$25 per month

Once you have your environment set up, the maintenance costs will be very low, and you will only need to spend a few dollars each month to replace worn perches or other items that get damaged. If your bird doesn’t feel like it’s getting enough attention, it can become destructive and damage things in its cage, but there is usually some warning, like loud squawking, before it occurs.

Entertainment

• $5–$30 per month

Your sun conure will not need much in the way of entertainment. Your pet will be happiest spending time with you, and there is little else it needs. Some owners like to add mirrors, and wooden puzzles can help keep your bird’s beak in shape. Others like to provide their bird with a healthy snack, but you will need to watch that your pet doesn’t gain weight, leading to health problems later in life.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Sun Conure

• $30–$60 per month

As we mentioned earlier, it will not cost much to keep your bird healthy once you have the habitat set up. You will only need to purchase food, treats, and the occasional treat to help keep your pet entertained while you are working.

Additional Costs to Factor In

If you like to go on vacation, you will need to find a sitter for your sun conure. These birds don’t travel well, so even though you might find hotels that accept them and airlines willing to fly them, we recommend leaving them at home. You will need to find someone you can trust to take care of your pet while you’re gone, and if there is no one, you can usually house them at a local kennel for around $50 per day.

Owning a Sun Conure on a Budget

If you need to cut costs to purchase your sun conure, the best way to do so is to look for a used cage that you can buy second-hand. Most cages will last far longer than the bird it holds, so it’s not hard to find someone selling a cage at a significant discount. Many of these cages will also come with other supplies that you need to get started.

Saving Money on Sun Conure Care

The best way to save money on sun conure care is to maintain a healthy diet for your bird without too many fatty foods that could put weight on your pet. Keep the environment as stress-free as possible because these birds are sensitive to yelling and loud noises and could create an anxiety problem in your pet if it goes on too long, affecting its health. Your bird also craves a lot of attention and, if left alone, will develop anxiety. They could also become destructive, making a mess of its cage.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed our look into the sun conure and have found the answers you needed. These birds are friendly, love showing off, and have such bright colors that it’s hard to take your eyes off them. The initial cost of the pet itself and your one-time purchases can reach $1,000. But your monthly costs will be quite low once you have everything set up, and you will only need a few dollars each month to take good care of your bird. If we have convinced you to give one of these birds a try in your home, please share this guide to the sun conure on Facebook and Twitter.

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Featured Image Credit: SHAWSHANK61, Pixabay