The conure, a type of parrot, is a very popular pet bird. Besides being beautiful, her character (enthusiastic, funny, happy to chat, likes to play) makes this bird easy to love. With proper care, Conures can live for 20 to 30 years, so you have plenty of time to develop and cultivate a loving relationship with them.
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Part 1 of 5: Preparing the House for Conure
Step 1. Select the cage
Conures are active birds who like to keep themselves busy. He needs a cage that gives him plenty of room to move around and play with his toys. If your Conure is small, the cage must be at least 46 x 46 x 46 centimeters. Larger conures require a cage size of at least 91 x 91 x 91 centimeters.
- The cage can be oriented horizontally or vertically.
- The bars must be horizontal for the Conure to climb. The distance between the bars should be in the range of 2-2.5 cm.
- Consider buying a cage cover so your Conure feels safe while sleeping. Alternatively, use a blanket or large towel to cover the cage at night.
Step 2. Place the cage in an ideal location in the house
Conure cages must not be in the path of dangerous kitchen fumes. Make sure you don't place the cage in a place that's exposed to direct sunlight indoors. Conures are most comfortable in a room with a temperature of 21-27°C, which is the common room temperature in most homes.
- The room must also be free from cold air flow.
- Many fumes are toxic to Conures, including perfume fumes, aerosols, and fumes from cleaning products and nonstick cookware.
Step 3. Place some basic furniture in the Conure cage
A perch is a must-have item in every bird's cage. Choose two perch rods that are at least 1.5 cm in diameter for the Conure.
- Adjust the perch bar so the Conure's tail feathers don't get caught when he sits on it. Place one near the food and water bowl.
- Consider using rods of different sizes, shapes, and textures. This will maintain the health and strength of the Conure's legs. There are usually many different types of rods available at your local pet supply store.
- Prepare two to three bowls of food and water in the cage. Put one container for drinks and one or two more for food.
- Conures love to bathe. Place additional water containers in the cage, especially one large enough for him to soak. Look for water containers like these from your nearest pet or home supply store.
- Line the bottom of the Conure cage with newspaper or paper dividers.
Step 4. Clean the Conure cage regularly
Conures may be messy so you should maintain a regular cleaning schedule for their cage. Clean the food bowl and Conure water every day. Conures love to dip food from their food bowls, so you may have to change their water several times a day.
- Change the cage divider every day.
- Also clean Conure's toys and perch rods daily. Use dish detergent to clean these accessories. Make sure you thoroughly clean off any soap residue before putting these items back in the Conure cage.
- Depending on the nature of the mess, you may need to use a disinfectant to clean the conure cage every week or month. Since bleach fumes can be toxic to Conures, keep them in a separate room when you use disinfectant to clean their cage. After that, make sure the cage is dry before you return the Conure.
- Talk to an ornithologist or ornithologist about cleaning products that are safe to use for conure cages.
Part 2 of 5: Decorating the Conure Cage
Step 1. Put the toys down
Conures love to be busy. Conures can become bored and nibble on their fur if they are not active. Providing a variety of toys will keep your Conure entertained and happy. Some of the popular types of toys for him include hidden toys, wooden chew toys, and crushable toys.
- Hidden toys will trigger Conure's food hunting behavior in the wild.
- Crushable toys help Conures to relieve stress and boredom. If you don't want to buy this toy, put newspaper in its cage instead.
- Avoid toys with small parts. These parts can get caught in the Conure's beak or claws, damaging them or causing injury.
- Keep a variety of toys in the Conure's cage at all times to prevent them from getting bored.
- Consider installing a play stand as a place to store toys in the Conure's cage.
- All kinds of toys can be purchased from the nearest pet supply store.
Step 2. Provide sports channels
Conures need lots of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Swings and ladders will ensure the Conure gets plenty of practice during the day. Install the ladder and swing at a height that prevents the Conure's tail from rubbing against the bars of the cage.
Step 3. Consider placing a mirror in a Conure cage
Mirrors are a great creative alternative to keeping Conures busy. However, only introduce this thing when he's already bonded with you-or he'll end up liking the mirror, not you!
- Mirrors can also stimulate mating behavior (eg by vomiting food and lifting tails).
- Mating behavior can be very problematic for the female bird, as she can lay eggs without a partner. If your Conure is a female, this behavior can trigger spontaneous spawning, which can result in illness and physical stress.
- Conures can think of mirrors as "love toys."
- Consult a veterinarian if you are unsure about placing shiny objects in a conure cage.
Part 3 of 5: Feeding
Step 1. Choose a mixture of pellets and grains for the Conure
Pellets are sold at pet supply stores. Pellets should make up approximately 60-70% of your bird's overall dietary intake. The color of the pellets may vary, so it's more creative and less boring.
- Pellets and grain mixes provide a deliciously nutritious diet.
- Some commercial grain blends contain harmful additives. Check with your ornithologist or staff at a veterinary supply store if you're not sure about the best pellets and grain mix options for Conures. Or, choose a grain blend labeled "organic" (organic) or "all natural" (only made from natural ingredients).
Step 2. Add fresh vegetables and fruits
Variety is key to providing a nutritionally balanced diet for Conures. Vegetables and fruit are good alternatives to ensure this. Some examples of fresh vegetables that can be given to Conures are green cabbage, spinach, pumpkin, and zucchini.
- There are many types of fruit that can be given to Conures, such as mango, blueberry, kiwi, and apple.
- Vegetables and fruits also add important vitamins and minerals to your conure diet.
- Wash these raw items thoroughly with water to get rid of the pesticides.
- Consider buying organic products.
- Cut everything into small pieces.
Step 3. Add nuts in your Conure diet
Nuts provide protein and healthy fats and should be given daily. Some examples of nuts for Conures are hazelnuts, macadamias, peanuts, and brazil nuts.
- All the nuts you give them should be low in salt.
- Although important, nuts should only be given in small amounts due to their high fat content. Conures can become obese if they eat a lot of nuts.
- If giving peanuts, make sure you have peeled it. Peanut shells contain a moldy toxin called aflatoxin. This poison can make Conures seriously ill.
Step 4. Provide grains and legumes
In addition to nuts, seeds and legumes are other things that are mandatory in a Conure's diet. There are many types of healthy seeds that can be given to Conures, such as cooked brown rice or barley, cereals, pasta, and in the form of pastries.
- Conures don't digest sugar well, so avoid sugary cereals.
- Examples of legumes are lentils and various other types of beans (such as green and black beans).
- Legumes and seeds contain vitamins, minerals, as well as those that are important for the Conure diet.
Step 5. Complete the Conure diet with additional vitamins and minerals
You may need to add certain nutrients, including calcium and vitamin K. Include foods rich in these nutrients in your daily diet. Examples are green leafy vegetables, soybean oil, and fish meat. Calcium and vitamin K are important to prevent the disease Conure Bleeding Syndrome.
- You can buy calcium bars for Conures to chew on. Squid bones are also a high source of calcium, but not recommended for conures.
- Add water-soluble vitamins to your Conure drink.
- Consult your veterinarian before adding anything to your conure's diet.
Step 6. Avoid certain foods
Conures are not picky. However, there are some foods that he should not eat. For example, Conures should avoid avocado, chocolate, or onions. These foods contain toxins that can make a conure sick.
Human foods that are high in sugar, salt or fat should be avoided as the Conure's digestive system is unable to break them down properly. Processed foods usually contain a lot of these ingredients
Step 7. Develop a food regime for the Conure
Give food once in the morning and once in the evening. At each meal, place a variety of fresh foods, cooked foods, and whole grains in the bowl. After about an hour, remove any remaining food.
- Give the pellets after you have removed the rest of the food in the morning. He can snack on pellets throughout the day.
- Conures are prone to obesity. To prevent him from overeating, give him as much food as he can finish in one try. You may have to do some experimenting to determine the right portion.
- Since Conures eat messy and like to dip their food in water, you may need to change the water in your Conure's drinking bowl at each meal.
Part 4 of 5: Interacting with Conure
Step 1. Win her trust
Since Conures are very social and friendly, interaction is important in their general care. To develop quality interactions with him, you must first win his trust. One way to do this is to talk to him in a soft, soothing voice.
- Talk throughout the day, especially when you feed him and clean his cage.
- The more often he hears your voice when you are up close, the more he will get used to your presence.
- Another way to win his trust is to approach the Conure's cage slowly and calmly. When he sees that you are not a threat, he will be much more relaxed when you are around him.
Step 2. Get used to the Conure interacting with your hands
Apart from trusting you, he also needs to get used to your hands. Start by placing your hands carefully, either on the outside of the cage or close to it. Speak to your Conure as you bring your hand closer to calm him down.
- When your conure gets used to seeing your hand outside of its cage, slowly insert it. Hold a snack (such as millet or leafy greens) in your hand and hold still as he approaches and examines it.
- It may take a few days to weeks for your conure to get used to the presence of the hand. Be patient.
Step 3. Teach the Conure to climb
When your Conure trusts you and gets used to your presence, teach them all kinds of fun tricks. For example, you can ask him to climb up onto his finger. With your index finger as a perch, gently press the Conure on its lower chest (just above the feet). In this way, he is encouraged to step up to your finger.
- Give treats and verbal praise when he climbs your finger.
- When he's good at this, you can take him out of the cage and practice the same trick in a different room, like the bathroom.
Step 4. Teach Conures to speak
Parrots are known for their speaking ability. However, Conure is not as good as his friends when it comes to talking. Despite trying hard, he might only be able to learn about five to ten words.
- Conures need to really focus all their attention on you in order to learn to speak. Turn off all objects that make noise (eg TV, radio, telephone) and can interfere with his concentration.
- Choose simple words and phrases and associate them with specific objects or actions. For example, you could say "Are you hungry?" when feeding him and "Bye!" when he left the room.
- Speak with enthusiasm. The more engaging your voice, the more excited and motivated your Conure will be to imitate the words you say.
- Conure's voice is high.
Step 5. Help the Conure while he bathes in the morning
Another way to interact with him is to help Conure with his morning shower. Use a spray bottle to slowly splash the water on his body.
- If he allows, wrap Conure in a towel after bathing and hold him in a position close to you to dry. Conures love touch, so they may enjoy being around you after their shower.
- When dry, the Conure will groom itself. It will use its beak to grab the back of the oil glands (which are located at the base of its tail) and spread the oil throughout the fur on its body.
Step 6. Dance with the Conure
Believe it or not, Conures know the rhythm and love to dance! When your conure is attracted or tries to imitate your movements, he will swing his body back and forth. If you like dancing, put on some music and dance in front of it. Watch and have fun as he swings his body from side to side to imitate your movements.
Step 7. Play with it
Playing with Conures is an effective way of interaction. Do a simple game like "peekaboo". Wrap the conure in a towel and say "peekaboo" when you open his face. Do it as often as possible-Conure will love to play like this over and over again.
- Play catch. Throw a soft stuffed toy at the Conure. Be aware that he may not be very good at catching what you throw at him, but he will still have a lot of fun. In fact, the Conure may even throw the toy back at you.
- Imitate Conure's actions and vice versa. For example, when a conure stretches its wings, stretch your arms in response. Move side to side, and see if your conure will do the same.
- Get messy with him. Conures like to break things. When the Conure is removed from its cage, sit on the floor and join in the mess of the newspapers. Give him a special newspaper.
Step 8. Teach the Conure to lie on his back
Conure owners often teach this popular trick to their pet birds. When your conure is perched on your finger when outside of its cage, place it with its back facing you. Then, use your free hand to touch his back and bend down very slowly.
- Keep your hands on the Conure's back as you bend over. Lying on your back may seem awkward to your Conure at first, so he'll need to feel your hand on his back to calm him down with this movement.
- Once he gets used to lying on his back in your arms, play with him. Tickle his stomach. You can also give him a small toy to play with while lying on his back.
- Once your conure is able to lie on its back, you can teach more complicated tricks, such as rolling backwards.
Step 9. Ignore the screams
While it's important to interact with your Conure, don't pay attention to it when it screams. Conures often make very loud noises. Although the screams are deafening, try your best to ignore them when they make these sounds.
- If you visit his cage when he screams, he may learn to do this to attract attention. To him, your attention is a reward for good behavior.
- Regularly interacting with your conure and providing him with lots of toys can help him learn to hold himself back from screaming.
Part 5 of 5: Preparing the Conure for Moult
Step 1. Be aware of the fact that most birds have to shed their feathers
This molt process occurs when the bird's feathers fall out naturally and are replaced with new ones. Molting is necessary for the growth of all birds (including conures).
Step 2. Know the age of the Conure
The molting of feathers begins when he reaches 8-10 months, and continues to repeat every year. This alternation season depends on the species.
Step 3. Understand Conure stress
Conures will be more distracted and less cooperative at this time. He will feel itchy because there are new hairs that grow. You can spray water on the conure to relieve the itching.
Step 4. Provide protein-rich food to help the new hairs grow back
Step 5. Trim the Conure's fur
You can do this by gently rubbing your hands on the Conure's body, to help the new hairs come out. If you keep several conures that are molting at the same time, these conures can help each other by grooming their companions' fur and rubbing against each other.
Trim gently because new hairs can be painful to the touch
Tips
- Conures love to be around humans. Spend as much time as possible interacting and playing with him.
- Conures are easy to train. He'll enjoy learning new tricks and words when you use positive reinforcement (e.g. treats, verbal praise) to train him.
- You'll find it easier to train a conure if its wings are trimmed. Schedule an appointment with an ornithologist veterinarian to do this pruning.
- To keep your conure interested in its food, give it a different shape, color, size, and texture.
- Although Conure is very active, he also needs time to rest. Give him sleep and rest without interruption about 12 hours every day.
- Conures are strong birds that don't get sick often. However, if he shows signs of illness (e.g. decreased appetite, sitting with his head down, discharge from his ears), take him to an avian veterinarian for treatment.
Warning
- Peanut shells contain a fungal poison called aflatoxin. This substance is harmful to Conures. If you are feeding nuts as feed, make sure you remove the shells.
- Some vapors (perfume, aerosols, heated nonstick cookware) are toxic to Conures.
- Certain foods, such as chocolate, avocado, and onions, are also toxic to conures.
- Conures usually bond with people and can be picky when it comes to meeting people they don't know.
- Conures often scream. This scream may sound very disturbing.
- Conures may pluck their own hair. This is a serious behavioral problem. Hair pulling is itself a kind of mutilation, which can be triggered by boredom and stress. In addition to enriching the bird's environment, talk to your vet to determine how to stop this behavior.
- Female conures can lay eggs spontaneously, resulting in malnutrition, osteoporosis, and other serious illnesses.
