Conure Care

Conure Facts

Conures are a small type of parrot. They aren’t good at mimicking but can learn to say simple words.

There are 26 different types of Conures you can own but the Green Cheek Conure and Sun Conures are the most common.  Conures are available in a variety of colors and patterns like the Jenday Conure, Nanday Conure, and Cherry Headed Conure.

The average Conure life span is 15-35 years.

Conures reach full length at 8 weeks but should continue to fill out until 6 months of age. They will reach 10-12 inches and length and should weigh between 100 and 130 grams.

A Conure won’t get all of it’s colors until 18 months to 2 years of age.

Conures are diurnal meaning they’re awake during the day.

Feeding

Pelleted foods are important for all birds. Pelleted food should make up 70% of a Conures diet with fruits, vegetables, and grains making up the other 30%.

Cooked Grains:  Amaranth, brown rice, buckwheat, hulless barley, kamut, millet, quinoa, spelt, tuff, whole oats, and wild rice.

Cooked Legumes: Adzuki, lentils, mung, and sprouting peas

Fruit: Any type of berries, apples, apricot, banana, cherries, figs, grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, limes, mango, melons, nectarines, oranges, papaya, pears, pineapple, and pomegranates

Vegetables: Acorn, beet root, bokchoy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, cactus leaf, carrot tops, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chayote squash, Chinese cabbage, collard greens, corn, cucumber, dandelion greens, endive, escarole, green beans, green peppers,  jicama, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, okra, peas, pumpkin, radish,  red peppers, romaine, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, turnip greens, zucchini

Seeds: Almonds, canary grass seed, nyger, oat groats, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, red millet, rolled barley, safflower seed, shelled peanuts, sunflower seeds, white millet, and whole wheat

Other foods: Cooked eggs, corn bread, peanut butter (creamy), sprouted seeds, and whole wheat pasta

Dangerous foods: Alcohol, avocados, caffeine, chocolate, dairy products (besides yogurt), fruit pits, fruit seeds, fruit rinds, garlic, mayonnaise products, onions, peanuts, raw meats, rhubarb, salty/sugary foods, uncooked beans, and uncooked rice

Housing

Provide your conure with the largest possible cage.

Minimum cage size is 20Wx20Hx20L with bars 3/8” apart.

Conures need a variety of perches. It’s best to provide your bird with different size perches. Different size perches help stretch birds’ feet and prevent arthritis.

Provide your conure with a nesting box to sleep in.

Conures need as many toys as possible! Conures with a variety of toys are healthier and smarter than those without them. Toys should not have lead, zinc, or galvanized parts because they can cause medical problems in canaries.

Cages need to be placed away from drafts, heater vents, and open windows.

Cover the cage at night to prevent drafts, keep the birds warm, and keep them on a timed schedule.

Cages should never be placed in a kitchen as Teflon, smoke, and strong odors can be deadly to them.

Cages, perches, and toys should be disinfected once a month. Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily or as needed.

Behavior & Grooming

Conures are social animals and need to be handled for several hours every day. Conures aren’t good at mimicking but can learn simple phrases or sounds.

Conures can be housed with other conures of the same sex but they need time to adjust to each other.  Not all birds are guaranteed to like each other.

Conures can have their wings clipped but it is up to you. Vets and some pets stores will clip wings for you but it is extremely easy to do yourself if you know how to do it right.

Bathe your conure at least once a week in lukewarm water or by using a spray bottle.

Toenails need to kept short or canaries can injure their feet and legs.  Exotic vets will trim nails or you can do it by yourself.  Research how to trim nails before doing it. Be careful not to hit the quick as small animals can easily bleed to death. Bleeding can by stopped with styptic powder. If that doesn’t stop the bleeding you can light a match, blow it out, and immediately press the match onto the toenail to cauterize the bleeding.

Canary Care

Canary Facts

Canaries make wonderful companions if cared for properly. Male canaries over 6 months should sing for most of the day. Female canaries chirp but will never sing, no matter the age.

There are 18 different types of canaries you can own but the yellow canary is the most common.  Canaries are available in white, red, orange, and even with a variety of colors and patterns including the Lizard Canary, and German Roller Canary

The average canary life span is 10 – 15 years.

Canaries are small birds. They should be between 3 – 4 inches from head to tail. They will reach full size at 12 months.

Canaries are diurnal meaning they’re awake during the day.

Feeding

Canaries are omnivores meaning they eat both plants and meat.   Pelleted foods are important for canaries. Pelleted food should make up 70% of a canaries diet with fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of protein making up the other 30%.

Safe Fruits: Apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, coconut, fig, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, melons, mango, nectarines, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, raspberries, and strawberries

Careful feeding canaries citrus fruits as it can give them TOO much iron causing “iron overload disease”

Safe Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, chic peas, chicory, corn, cucumber, dandelion, leaves, kale, kidney beans, lentils,  lima beans, mustard seed, navy beans,  parsnip, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, romaine lettuce, soy beans, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnip tops, watercress, and zucchini

Protein: Boiled eggs, egg shell, and alfalfa sprouts

Do not leave eggs in the cage for over 4 hours, Only offer enough food for your canary to eat in one sitting.

Cuttlebone, pellets, and fresh water should be available at all times.

Millet can be offered as a treat.

Grit should be added to the pellets to help canaries digest food and provide them with more vitamins.

Housing

Provide your canary with the largest possible cage.

Minimum cage size is 18Wx18Hx18L with bars 3/8” apart.

Canaries need long cages instead of tall cages since they fly side to side instead of up and down, flight cages are strongly recommended for canaries.

Canaries need a variety of perches. It’s best to provide your bird with different size perches. Different size perches help stretch birds’ feet and prevent arthritis.

Provide one nest per bird. Canaries prefer open nests.

Canaries like a variety of toys as long as they don’t obstruct flight. Toys should not have lead, zinc, or galvanized parts because they can cause medical problems in canaries.

Cages need to be placed away from drafts, heater vents, and open windows.

Cover the cage at night to prevent drafts, keep the birds warm, and keep them on a timed schedule.

Cages should never be placed in a kitchen as Teflon, smoke, and strong odors can be deadly to them.

Cages, perches, and toys should be disinfected once a month. Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily or as needed.

Behavior & Grooming

Canaries like attention but don’t typically enjoy being handled. Talking and whistling to your canary provides them with needed attention and socialization.

Males should not be housed together as they might fight and injure or kill each other.

Male canaries with mirrors in cages might not sing.

NEVER clip a canary’s wings. Canaries use their wings to help them move around, not just for flying.

Bathe your canary at least once a week in lukewarm water or by using a spray bottle.

Toenails need to kept short or canaries can injure their feet and legs.  Exotic vets will trim nails or you can do it by yourself.  Research how to trim nails before doing it. Be careful not to hit the quick as small animals can easily bleed to death. Bleeding can by stopped with styptic powder. If that doesn’t stop the bleeding you can light a match, blow it out, and immediately press the match onto the toenail to cauterize the bleeding.