🦜 Conure Care Guide

Conures are intelligent, playful and affectionate parrots packed with personality. They are well known for being curious, energetic and often very people-orientated birds.

There are many species and colour mutations of conure. Popular pet conures include Green Cheek Conures, Pineapple Conures, Yellow-Sided Conures, Turquoise Conures and Sun Conures.

With the correct care, many conures can live for 20–30 years or longer, depending on the species. Buying a conure is therefore a long-term commitment.

This guide covers the basics you need to keep your conure happy and healthy.

♂️♀️ How to Tell the Sex

For many commonly kept Conures, males and females look extremely similar and cannot be reliably sexed by appearance alone.

🦜 Males & Females

Unlike some bird species, male and female Conures often have:

• The same colouration and markings
• Very similar body sizes
• Similar head and beak shapes
• Similar personalities and behaviour

Behaviour such as talking, bonding, aggression or displaying should not be relied upon to determine whether a Conure is male or female.

🧬 DNA Sexing

The most reliable practical method of determining the sex of a Conure is DNA sexing.

A suitable feather or blood sample can be sent to a specialist laboratory for testing.

This is particularly useful for species and colour mutations where males and females are visually identical.

🥚 Egg Laying

If a Conure lays an egg, the bird is obviously female.

Females can occasionally lay eggs even when they have never been housed with a male, so an egg does not necessarily mean that it is fertile.

⚠️ Young Conures

Young Conures generally cannot be reliably sexed from their appearance.

Claims based purely on head shape, body size, colour or personality should not be considered a reliable way of determining sex.

⚠️ Sexing Disclaimer

Please note that Roxy’s Pet Shop is unable to guarantee the sex of any livestock.

Where we provide a suggested sex, this is based on the bird’s characteristics, age, any available information and our experience at the time.

Where greater certainty is required, we recommend DNA sexing.

Any sex stated should therefore be treated as our best assessment and not a guarantee.

🏠 Housing & Cage

Conures are active parrots and require a spacious cage.

For smaller conures such as Green Cheeks, we recommend a cage of at least around 80cm wide × 60cm deep × 90cm high, with larger always being preferable.

Larger species such as Sun Conures should be provided with additional space.

The bird must be able to fully stretch its wings without touching the sides of the cage.

Cage setup should include:

• Natural wooden perches of different thicknesses

• Food and water bowls

• Chewing and shredding toys

• Climbing toys

• Swings

• Foraging activities

• A calcium/mineral source where appropriate

• A suitable cage liner that can be changed regularly

Avoid overcrowding the cage with toys. Your conure still needs plenty of space to move and climb.

Position the cage in a bright, comfortable part of the home where your bird can be involved in family life, but away from draughts, radiators, kitchens and intense direct sunlight.

🦜 One Conure or Two?

Conures are highly social birds.

A single conure can thrive when it receives plenty of daily attention, interaction and enrichment from its owner.

A compatible pair can also provide each other with companionship.

However, never assume that two unfamiliar conures will automatically get along. Introductions should be carried out carefully and birds monitored for aggression.

Keeping two birds also doesn't remove the need for enrichment, exercise and proper care.

❤️ Behaviour & Personality

Conures are often:

• Affectionate

• Playful

• Curious

• Intelligent

• Energetic

• Mischievous

• Social

• Strong-willed

Many conures enjoy spending time with their owners and can become extremely interactive companions.

They can also use their beaks to explore their surroundings. Young birds in particular may need to learn appropriate boundaries.

Positive reinforcement and patience are much more effective than punishment.

🌾 Feeding Your Conure

A balanced and varied diet is extremely important.

A suitable diet should be based around a quality formulated parrot diet/pellets, alongside a good variety of fresh vegetables and other suitable fresh foods. Seed and nuts can be included in moderation rather than forming the entire diet.

Suitable foods can include:

• Quality parrot pellets/formulated food

• Fresh vegetables

• Suitable leafy greens

• Small amounts of suitable fruit

• Limited seed

• Limited unsalted nuts

• Fresh drinking water every day

Vegetables can include broccoli, carrot, peppers, peas, sweetcorn and suitable leafy greens.

Suitable fruits include berries, melon and apple with the seeds removed.

Fruit is naturally high in sugar, so vegetables should make up a larger proportion of the fresh foods offered.

Introduce unfamiliar foods gradually. Some birds need to see a new food many times before trying it.

❌ Foods to Avoid

Never give your conure:

• Avocado

• Chocolate

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Foods containing xylitol

• Apple seeds

• Fruit stones/pits

• Very salty foods

• Very sugary foods

• Highly processed human foods

Fresh food should be removed after a few hours so it doesn't spoil.

💧 Water

Fresh, clean drinking water must be available at all times.

Water should be checked and refreshed every day, and bowls should be cleaned regularly.

Conures often put food into their water bowls, so check the water more than once during the day where possible.

🧸 Toys & Enrichment

Conures are intelligent parrots and can become bored without enough stimulation.

Provide a good selection of:

• Chewing toys

• Shredding toys

• Foraging toys

• Puzzle toys

• Swings

• Climbing toys

• Natural branches

• Bird-safe bells

Foraging is particularly useful because it encourages your bird to work and think to obtain food or treats.

Rotate toys regularly so your conure continues to find its environment interesting.

Always inspect toys for damage, loose threads or anything capable of trapping a foot, head or beak.

🪽 Exercise & Flying

Conures require daily exercise.

Where safe and practical, tame conures should have regular supervised time outside their cage in a secure room.

Before letting your conure out:

• Close all windows and external doors

• Turn off ceiling fans

• Make large windows and mirrors obvious

• Keep other pets safely away

• Remove access to open water

• Remove hot objects

• Secure electrical cables

• Check for dangerous gaps or spaces

Never allow your conure to fly freely outdoors unless it is safely contained within a properly secured aviary.

🛁 Bathing

Many conures absolutely love bathing.

Offer a shallow bird bath regularly or gently mist your bird with clean lukewarm water if it enjoys being sprayed.

Bathing helps maintain healthy feathers and can be particularly appreciated during moulting.

Never force a bird to bathe.

🧹 Cleaning

Good hygiene is essential.

Every day:

• Change drinking water

• Remove spoiled fresh food

• Check food bowls

• Remove obvious mess

• Check the cage floor

Regularly:

• Change the cage liner

• Wash food and water bowls

• Clean perches

• Clean toys

• Thoroughly clean the cage

Always use a bird-safe cleaning product and rinse appropriately.

😴 Sleep

Conures need approximately 10–12 hours of quiet, uninterrupted sleep each night.

A calm, dark environment is important.

A cage cover can be used where appropriate, provided good ventilation is maintained and your bird is comfortable with it.

Consistent sleep is important for both physical health and behaviour.

🪶 Moulting

Conures naturally replace old feathers through moulting.

During a normal moult you may notice:

• More feathers around the cage

• New pin feathers

• Increased preening

• Temporary changes in appearance

• Your bird being slightly quieter or more irritable

Provide a balanced diet, bathing opportunities and plenty of rest.

A normal moult should not cause large bald patches.

Significant feather loss, damaged skin or feather-plucking should be investigated.

🤝 Taming & Handling

Many conures become extremely tame and affectionate.

When bringing home a new bird, give it time to become comfortable with its surroundings.

Start by:

• Talking calmly around the cage

• Offering favourite treats

• Encouraging your bird to approach your hand

• Teaching a simple "step up"

• Rewarding calm behaviour

Never chase or grab your conure simply to make it interact with you.

Trust should be built gradually.

Conures can sometimes become overexcited and use their beaks during play. Calm training and consistent boundaries are important.

🗣️ Noise & Talking

Potential owners should understand that conures can be noisy.

Green Cheek Conures are generally considered quieter than some larger conures, although every individual is different.

Sun Conures can be extremely loud and are capable of producing powerful, high-pitched calls.

This is normal parrot behaviour and should be considered carefully before purchasing one, particularly if you live in a flat or have close neighbours.

Some conures learn words and sounds, but they should never be purchased purely because you want a talking bird.

🪺 Nesting & Hormonal Behaviour

If you don't intend to breed your conure, there is generally no need to provide a nest box.

Dark enclosed spaces, nest boxes and certain types of huts can encourage nesting and hormonal behaviour.

Avoid repeatedly stroking your conure down its back, underneath its wings or around its lower body. For normal social interaction, head and neck scratches are generally more appropriate.

If you intend to breed conures, research the specific species thoroughly beforehand.

🩺 Health

Parrots are very good at hiding signs of illness.

A healthy conure should generally be:

• Bright and alert

• Active

• Curious

• Eating and drinking normally

• Well feathered

• Clean around the eyes and nostrils

• Interested in its surroundings

⚠️ Signs to Watch For

Contact an avian or bird-experienced vet if you notice:

• Sitting fluffed up for prolonged periods

• Unusual sleepiness or weakness

• Staying on the cage floor

• Reduced appetite

• Significant changes in drinking

• Changes in droppings

• Breathing difficulties

• Tail bobbing while breathing

• Discharge around the eyes or nostrils

• Vomiting

• Loss of balance

• Sudden weight loss

• Significant feather loss

• Sudden major behavioural changes

Birds can deteriorate quickly, so don't delay seeking veterinary advice if your conure appears genuinely unwell.

⚖️ Monitoring Weight

Regular weighing is one of the best ways of monitoring your conure's health at home.

Use accurate gram scales and try to weigh your bird under similar conditions each time.

Keep a simple record.

A sudden or continuing change in weight should be investigated.

🌡️ Keeping Your Conure Comfortable

Keep your conure in a stable indoor environment without sudden temperature changes.

Avoid positioning the cage next to:

• Open windows

• Frequently opened exterior doors

• Air-conditioning units

• Radiators

• Fires

• Areas of intense direct sunlight

Good ventilation is important, but avoid constant cold draughts.

⚠️ Household Dangers

Conures are curious birds and their environment must be made safe.

Watch out for:

• Electrical cables

• Open windows and doors

• Toilets and sinks

• Hot drinks

• Open flames

• Unsafe houseplants

• Small objects that could be swallowed

• Other household pets

Birds also have extremely sensitive respiratory systems.

Keep your conure away from:

• Cigarette and vape smoke

• Aerosol sprays

• Air fresheners

• Strong cleaning fumes

• Paint and solvent fumes

• Scented candles

• Heavy fragrances

🍳 Important – Kitchens & Non-Stick Cookware

We strongly recommend not keeping your conure in the kitchen.

Cooking presents numerous dangers including hot pans, boiling water, steam, smoke and food hazards.

Of particular concern are fumes produced when certain PTFE/non-stick coated products are overheated. These fumes can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal to birds.

🐦 Bringing Your New Conure Home

Moving to a new home can be stressful, even for a hand-reared bird.

For the first few days:

• Keep the environment calm

• Allow your bird time to explore its cage

• Make sure food and water are easy to find

• Avoid overwhelming the bird with visitors

• Talk calmly around the cage

• Allow plenty of sleep

• Introduce handling at your bird's pace

Don't be concerned if your new conure isn't immediately as cuddly or confident as expected.

A bird's behaviour in a completely new environment can be very different initially. Give it time to settle and build trust.

👨👩👧 Is a Conure Right for You?

Before buying a conure, remember that you're taking on an intelligent parrot that may live for 20–30 years or more.

They require daily attention, exercise, cleaning and mental stimulation.

They can also:

• Make noise

• Make a mess

• Chew things

• Occasionally bite

• Demand attention

• Require veterinary treatment

• Need care arranging whenever you're away

They are not low-maintenance pets.

However, for the right home, their affectionate, entertaining and intelligent personalities can make them fantastic companions.

❤️ The Most Important Things to Remember

A happy conure needs a spacious cage, a balanced diet, fresh water, daily exercise, companionship, plenty of toys, opportunities to forage and chew, good hygiene and lots of appropriate interaction.

Most importantly, a conure needs an owner who understands that parrots are intelligent, long-lived animals requiring commitment every single day.

With the correct care and attention, a conure can become an amazing companion and a much-loved member of the family.

🦜 Roxy's Pet Shop

Need help with your conure?

Whether you're choosing a cage, food, toys, perches or simply have a question about your bird, please ask us. No question is too small or silly – we'd much rather you ask.

Roxy's Pet Shop
Bloxwich High Street, WS3 3LA
☎️ 01922 492521
🌐 roxyspetshop.co.uk

This care guide provides general husbandry information and does not replace veterinary advice. Individual requirements can vary between conure species. If you are concerned about your bird's health, contact a qualified avian or bird-experienced veterinary professional.