Alexandrine Parakeet vs. Sun Conure

Question
Hello! I have a little problem. I don`t know what should I choose between those two. I understand that conures interact with humans more than alexandrine, but is conure like alexandrine when it comes to learning tricks? I want to teach my bird to do things, not just keep it in the cage. I had 3 budgies (2 died and 1 flew away in misterious circumstances when I wasn`t home) and now I own 2 budgies, 1 lovebird and an Indian Ringneck that I will give away because he seems impossible to tame.. He just starts to run when he sees my hands or when I go around his cage.

Another thing that I`m scared of is that I heard Indian Ringneck and Alexandrine Parakeet have similar behaviour (but all alexandrine that I saw were very gentle, and you could toush his had without problem, in fact one was begging for it). The breeder told me that sun conure he has is 4-5 months old and is hand fed, but alexandrine is aprx. 1 month old, but not hand fed. I hope I gave you enough information to give me an advice. And, if you can, please give it untill Saturday because Saturday evening I`ll go get my parrot.

Oh, something else! I read somewhere about a gym (or something like that). Can you tell me what is a gym? What is composed of?

Sorry for my english, I`m from Romania so it`s not my native language. Thank you for reading this!

Answer
Your English is excellent!

This is a difficult question because how a bird learns and behaves is very dependent on the owner.

If you're patient and interact every day, are gentle and forgiving, each bird will reward you with their devotion and love.

When it comes to tricks and speaking, it's probably more important that you learn their language first.  For example, I have two in-house macaws that are rescued from different situations.  One talks a lot more than the other and is far more interested in doing things we might call "tricks", but what is really happening is that this bird wants to do what she sees us doing and wants to mimic our words.  We don't try to teach her, she just wants to learn.  
  
The other bird barely says a word and doesn't do much when it comes to 'tricks', but I don't really notice.  She has her own personality and her own way of being endearing.  

 A bird "gym" is a toy or play area.  You don't need one.  All you need are some good chewing toys (natural wood, fibers, etc) and time with you every day.

You can find out more - all for free - at my site.

www.4AnimalCare.org

And ask me anything at any time, I'll try to help