Conures
Conures are one of the best talkers around. They make great pets, are suitable for kids, and have big personalities in small bodies. There are 42 species of conures, some of which are loud, and some of which are quiet.
A Conure can be housed in a cage 24 inches square or larger. They climb, play, and chew a lot, so space is used well in a Conure’s home. At 8 to 10 inches in length, their bar spacing should be 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Also make sure that the door locks very well, since most Conures are known to escape from cages easily. Cockatiel sized toys are perfect for a Conure, but some may prefer bigger toys, and some may prefer small, budgie sized toys.Just remember to double check the safety of the toy. If there are frayed edges or chewable plastic, toss it, don’t give it to your pet.
Conures should have a pelleted diet supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Try different brands to see which ones your conure will like. Most pet stores give out samples or can recommend a popular brand, like Kaytee. If your Conure is very playful or you want to spice up your routine, try putting some food in a toy (pet stores sell these special container like ones) and handing it in the cage. Your bird will soon realize it has to get the toy open if it wants the treat!
Most people complain about the amount of noise a conure makes, which is sometimes a behavioural problem, and sometimes not. If you are spending lots of time with it, and it has all the things it needs in its cage, chances are that it is behavioural. But consider that they are birds, not just pets. Look outside. Birds do scream and chirp, because thats what they do in the wild.
If you spent a lot of time with your Conure when you first got it and now are spending less time with it, this may be another reason it will scream. This scream is a “pay attention to me” scream, and is hard to fix. I suggest that you praise it when it is quiet, and cover the cage for five minutes or so (until it calms down) when it is having a “screaming fit”.
Although Conures can be somewhat of a commitment (they live for 30+ years!) they are enjoyable and fun. They are vocal and gregarious, and love to cuddle on shoulders. However, if you discourage their natural behaviour, you’ll end up with a problematic bird.
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