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Conure Care Sheet

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DARK GAMER
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21 views

Conure Care Sheet

Uploaded by

DARK GAMER
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Caring for your Conure

Conures originate from South America. They are generally vocal birds that are very inquisitive.
Most conures make excellent pets and are very playful.
Commonly seen conure species available in Australia include the Sun, Jenday and Green-cheek
conures.
Diet
Being from the tropics of South America it is
believed that these species need a lot of fruit and
while fruit is an important part of their diet it
should not be their whole diet. The reason for
this is that in the wild they often will travel large
distances each day, which makes them burn off
the extra calories associated with a high fruit diet.
In captivity they are generally limited to a smaller
space meaning they often do not exercise as
much. They also have less variety of fruit
available than they would in the wild. This means
that a very high fruit diet is often inappropriate for most conures in captivity.
Every conure is different and has differing dietary requirements so for your own tailored dietary
plan please contact us. General guidelines for conures can be found below:
• 40-70% premium commercial parrot pelleted diet
• 10-35% vegetables (recommended vegetables include: capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn,
carrot, zucchini, squash, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potato, beans and peas) and sprouted
seed.
• 10-40% fruits (i.e. melons, strawberries, banana, blue berries, grapes, peaches, pear,
apple). Please ensure that all stone fruits and apples are free of their seeds.
• 0-15% quality commercial seed mix.
• 1-2% snacks for training and as treats (unsalted nuts (i.e. macadamia, cashew and walnut),
pasta, eggs and brown rice.)

Housing:
We advise a good quality powder coated or stainless steel cage of an appropriate size. Some
painted cages can contain lead elements which can be toxic to your bird so please take care
when selecting your cage. Cages that have been galvanized with a zinc coating can also cause

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problems so please select carefully.

Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are generally recommended as these materials


are not porous making cleaning easier and more effective. Plastic bowls can become
porous after a while and can cause problems if bacteria build up in these areas.

Perches of various sizes are important for exercise of the toes and feet health. They also help to
promote the natural wear of their toe nails. Natural perches from native trees are ideal as they
generally vary in size anyway.

Please do not provide string or rope toys as they often will fray over time and can cause a
gastrointestinal obstruction if swallowed.

If you are feeding a balanced diet, then cuttlefish and other supplements are not needed.

Environmental enrichment is highly recommended and encouraged. Simple things like utilizing
cardboard toilet rolls to hide food can provide hours of entertainment for many birds.

It is important that your bird gets enough sleep as


long-day light exposure can stimulate excessive
moulting and increased reproductive activity. We
recommend you keep to the natural day length. If
your bird is kept inside in a well-lit area, then you
can cover the cage when the sun goes down and
place them in a dark room to ensure that their day
length is not too long.

Common diseases:
One of the most common diseases that we see in conures is an upset gastrointestinal tract.
They will often present for regurgitation, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you see any of these signs we
recommend a consultation as there are many different causes and if left untreated you may be
putting your bird’s life at risk.

Upper respiratory tract infection is characterized by sneezing or ocular discharge and is


common in young birds. Once again it is highly advised to bring them in for an appointment as
there are a range of different causes of upper respiratory tract disease. Chlamydia infection is
common in young birds, this is a serious disease that can be transferred to other birds AND
humans.

Conures are generally very curious and sometimes get themselves into trouble with foreign
objects.

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It is quite common for them to eat or chew on items that they shouldn’t (jewelry,
plastic toys, rope toys, electrical cords etc.). If you are concerned that your bird
may have eaten or chewed on something that they shouldn’t have, then please get
in touch with us.

Reproductive diseases and behavioural problems are also quite common in conures.

If you are at all concerned about your bird please get in touch with us.

Veterinary care:

Regular check-ups every 6-12 months are important, as birds are very good at hiding any
illnesses that they have. These check-ups allow problems to be detected early before they
worsen.

Microchipping is also highly recommended as we see many birds that escape each year.
Microchipping allows your contact details to be easily found if your bird is handed in to any
veterinary clinic or good rescue facility. We use a specialized small microchip that is inserted into
your bird’s pectoral muscle; this is a quick, simple procedure that can be performed in a
consultation time slot.

If you have any further questions about your conure please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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