Introduction
The conure is a small- to medium-size parrot that comes in a wide range of bright colours. He primarily originated in the Caribbean Islands, South America, and Southern Mexico. As a family companion, the conure is a spunky bird with a playful and sociable personality.
To keep the conure bird happy, he requires daily interaction and playtime. He is a smart bird with a love for learning. Through proper training, the conure can perform fun tricks and even learn how to talk.
Most birds are sensitive to the cleanliness of their environment and sudden changes in routine. Thus, keeping the conure’s environment clean and stress-free is necessary. The conure is a wonderful pet bird, provided that he is well-cared-for and given the affection that he needs.
Habitat
Where do conures originate from?
The origins of the conure bird can be traced back to South America, Southern Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. There is a broad range of different conure species in existence. This includes blue-crowned conure, dusky-headed conure, green-cheeked conure, pineapple conure, red-masked conure, sun conure, and peach-fronted conure.
Appearance
What does a conure look like?
The conure’s size ranges from small to medium. He can grow between 25 and 50 cm, depending on the species. In general, the conure has a slim build. His tail may be short, which gradually narrows down at the tip or elongated and slender.
The colour of his wide and sturdy beak may come in a black or light horn. The cere located at the base of the beak is slightly broad.
Each species of the conure parrots have very vibrant and colourful plumages. Their feathers come in an assortment of blue, green, orange, red, and yellow. The conure has a distinctive trait called ‘eye-ring.’ This refers to the lack of feathers surrounding his eyes.
Female conures have narrower eye-rings compared to their male counterparts. Interested in getting a colourful conure as a family companion? Find the right one here.
Sexing a conure
Every species of conure birds are considered monomorphic. This means both males and females are closely similar in appearance, which makes it difficult to identify their gender. To accurately determine the sex of your pet, you need to let him undergo DNA testing.
READ: 8 Best Pet Bird Breeds
Housing
How big should a conure’s cage be?
A conure’s size is approximately 25 to 50 cm. If his size falls under the small conure species, the recommended cage size for him is 30” x 36” x 30”. It should have a bar spacing of about ½ or 5/8 inches. Meanwhile, a mid-size conure’s minimum cage size is 36” x 40” x 36” with a bar spacing of around 5/8 and ¾ inches.
As always, the rule of thumb is the larger, the better. If you can provide a more spacious enclosure for your conure bird, it will give him more room to stretch out his wings and fly around, thus making him a happy and satisfied pet bird.
Keep in mind to check the bar spacing. It should not be too far apart or else your conure may escape. There should at least be two bird perches inside the cage. Each of them must have different heights, thickness, and materials. This will allow him to exercise and keep his feet strong. Do not put the perches directly above food or water bowls to avoid dirtying and contaminating them.
Place the birdcage on a family-centred room with minimal foot traffic. This is to prevent him from getting stressed. At the same time, it provides him with an opportunity to bond with the rest of the family.
Avoid putting the cage in a draughty area or direct sunlight. The room temperature should not be over 80 degrees as it can cause heatstroke.
Care
How to care for a conure
The conure thrives in socialising just like all parrots. Therefore, daily interaction with him is a must. Spare at least over an hour of your time to play with him. As a merry and curious bird, the conure enjoys dabbling with various toys. Provide him with bells, chew toys, ladders, ropes, and swings.
These promote exercise and will keep him busy. Lack of toys may lead him to become bored and lonely, which may result in behavioural problems.
Whilst the conure parrot loves playtime, he must get the right amount of sleep. Make sure that he rests about ten to twelve hours every day. Cover the cage at night to ensure that he will be undisturbed in his sleep.
Bathing is another crucial part of your conure’s routine. Wash him at least two to three times a week. Let him take a dip on a shallow bowl of warm water. You can also use a spray bottle and spritz him with water. Just make sure to avoid misting his face and nose.
Do not forget to clean your conure’s water and food bowls. This is to prevent the proliferation of bacteria, which can cause various health problems. Full cleaning and disinfecting of his birdcage should be done at least once a year. Make sure to use a bird-friendly disinfectant to avoid the risk of poisoning your conure.
Temperament
Are conures good pets?
The conure is a natural charmer with his chirpy and light-hearted personality. He is an inquisitive bird that relishes in exploring his surroundings. Since he is very playful, it isn’t uncommon to see him pull mischievous and comical stunts. If socialised properly, a pet conure will mature to be a people-loving family companion.
He is fond of his family and enjoys being a part of fun family activities. Children and conure birds can get along well. However, children must learn how to gently treat pets. Rough handling can cause the conure to be nippy. For this reason, adult supervision should always be observed whenever both interact.
Behavioural problems
The conure has a reputation as a noisy bird. He would often let out a high-pitched scream whenever he is excited or simply wants your attention. Although you cannot remove this trait completely, it can be inhibited. If your pet conure screeches, do not pay him any attention. Instead, cover his cage with a cloth to calm him down. Giving him different toys also helps in curbing his loudness.
Intelligent
Are conures smart?
The conure is an intelligent bird that is easy to train. He can learn new tricks if trained properly. When it comes to talking, he does not have the most extensive vocabulary. However, he still has the knack for mimicking a few words and phrases.
Feeding
What should conures eat?
A conure’s diet is primarily made up of high-quality pellets bird food, seeds, vegetables, and fruits. 75 to 80 per cent of his food should consist of premium-quality pellets. Seeds should be combined with it as well. However, it should be in limited amounts since it is too fatty. All seed diet is discouraged as it can lead to nutrient deficiency.
A mix of fruits and vegetables comprises of 20 to 25 per cent of his daily diet. Fruits should also be given in small amounts. It is high in sugar, which can cause health problems such as diabetes mellitus.
Before serving fruits and veggies, wash them thoroughly to remove any toxic chemicals. Do not forget to get rid of seeds and pits as well, which are choking hazards. Listed underneath are the vegetables and fruits that are safe and healthy for your conure to eat:
Vegetables
- l Beans
- l Broccoli
- l Carrots
- l Cauliflower
- l Chard
- l Corn
- l Cucumber
- l Kale
- l Lettuce
- l Peas
- l Potato
- l Spinach
- l Apple
- l Banana
- l Blueberry
- l Grape
- l Mango
- l Melon
- l Orange
- l Pear
- l Pineapple
- l Strawberry
- l Tangerine
Health
How long do conures live?
The average lifespan of a healthy conure is between twenty and thirty years. Proper care and attention are important to prolong his life. Thus, make sure to consistently provide your conure with his basic needs daily. These include providing him with clean and spacious housing, healthy and balanced meals, upholding a relaxing and stress-free environment, and giving him toys and ample amounts of exercise and interaction.
What are the most common health issues of conures?
Similar to all birds, the conure is highly sensitive to changes in routine. He is also vulnerable to developing diseases if he lives in an unkempt environment. Below are the most prevalent health problems found in conures:
- Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD)
- Psittacine beak and feather disease
- Psittacosis
- Beak malocclusion
- Aspergillosis
Knowing the first signs of illnesses will help in saving your conure’s life. Look out for red flags, including lack of appetite, weight loss, dirty plumage, sneezing, and peculiar discharge from the nose or mouth. If your conure is showing these symptoms, bring him to an avian veterinarian immediately for diagnosis.
Cost of Ownership
Is conure expensive?
The price for a healthy conure ranges from £100 to over £300. He can be quite a costly pet bird. The total annual cost for food is about £300–£400. The cost of getting a cage is approximately £30–£100, depending on the size. You may need to pay around £40–£70 for his basic items such as food and water bowls.
Purchasing perches, stands, and toys will cost you about £40. Spare £30 for every session of vet check-ups and £20 for microchipping. If you are acquiring pet insurance, approximately £8 will be added to your monthly bill.
Do you want a lively conure as your new pet? Check out our For Sale and Rehoming page to find the perfect match for you.
Conure Fun Facts
The conure is one of the most diverse parrot species. There are approximately one hundred variations of species and subspecies of conures.
Unlike his larger counterparts, the conure is more likely to bond with many people instead of one. Proper socialisation will aid in moulding him into a people-loving bird.