CONURES
CONURES
Conures are large Parakeets native to Central and South America.The extinct Carolina Parakeet was the exception, as it was the only Parrot species that was indigenous to the United States
Discription
For Parrots, Conures are lightly built, with long tails (Conure literally means 'cone tail') They come in a diverse range of colours. Their beaks always have a small cere and are usually horn-coloured or black.
They reach maturity at 1 - 3 years - the smaller species mature more quickly In a safe, healthy environment, they can expect to live up to 35 years.
SPECIES
The more common, or well - known, species are the following
BLUE CROWNED/SHARP TAILED CONURES
GREEN CHEEK CONURES
YELLOW SIDED CONURES
BLUE SIDED CONURES
PINEAPPLE CONURES
BLACK CAPPED CONURES
JENDAY CONURES
NANDAY CONURES
SUN CONURES or SUN PARAKEET
Prices range from £180 - to several thousands for the rarer species.
PERSONALITY / PET POTENCIAL
Conures are clowny birds. We love them for their great sence or humor, their fun - loving personality. With a little training, they usually can easily be trained to do tricks. Most may learn to talk. These birds, in general, love to snuggle under things, so providing them with a tightly woven cloth, soft piece of fabric, or fuzzy toy will be appreciated. A bird tent as a place to sleep andhang out is uaually eagerly accepted and treasured. As they like to climb unsed pillows and blankets, care needs to be taken not to accidentally smother them.
They make great birds for those who don't mind the occasional ( or not so occasional ) screeching outburst. This is something to be considerd when thinking of adding one to your family. They can be VERY noisy and can also be nippy, if not trained and socialized properly. They do enjoy learning new tricks and can be very entertaining. They love to dance, and can easily be taught to do this.
These Parakeets do require more time and effort than say a Cockatiel or Budgie. Please keep this in mind. Owners report that they are samrt and interactive, but are also more prone to behavioral problems than are Cockatiels or Budgies. They all require a committed owner who will work with their pets to guide their behavior, while Cockatiels and Budgies are "Beginner Birds).
THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR CUDDLINESS
However, individual differences do exist, as some will accept cuddling only on their terms. But these are the exception to the rule. Most seem to thoroughly enjoy cuddling whenever their favorite human is available.
THEY LOVE TO PLAY
These Parakeets are very active and like to play, explore, and chew. Lots of toys are recommended to keep their beaks from "getting busy" on your furniture.
Toys can be purchased from our offline and online shop (Shop button on our home page)
THEY ARE SMART
Most will hold their own with any of the mid - sized or medium - large Parrots in terms of smartness. They can be taught simple tricks pretty easily and more complicated tricks with some training.
HOW MUCH ATTENTION DO THEY NEED.
Like all Parakeets & Parrots, they are social birds. They do require daily interaction with their social group. entertainment, things to do - or else they will become bored and develope behavioral problems. In the wild, they would never leave the company of their flockmates. In captivity, a hand from you and your familyfed bird requires the same social interaction.
If you have little time to give, a Parakeet / Parrot would not be a good choice for you. You would need someone at home several hours a day at minimum, preferably someone should be home much of the day. I would recommend that there be people at home, with the bird, for at least several hours every day oe the majority of the day. Its best to keep your pet where the centre of activity is, usually the family room, and leave the cage door open or allow your pet to be on a playpen when ever someone is at home. During this time some direct interaction should be provided, such as talking to your pet, petting it, or placing it on your shoulder while you watch TV, or go about your day.
Most appreciate a daily misting / being lightly sprayed with warm water. Additionally offering a shallow bowl of water for them to bathe in will also help keep the dander down in the environment. One has to remember that in the confinement of our homes, pollutants will collect in much greater density than they ever would in the wild. Especially in small, poorly ventilated spaces pollutants - such as dander, dried droppings and skin / feather mites - can be a major issue, daily ventilation ( opening windows and doors ) is the best and cheapest way to get fresh air into your home. If that is not possible - an air filteration system should be considered for those who are concered about their pets as well as their own health.
DO THEY MAKE GOOD FAILY PETS
In general, Conures make good family pets as long as they have been well socialized. They dont mind a lot of activity - in fact, the more "fun stuff" is going on, the more entertained and happier they tend to be. They usually get along well with all family members, although sometimes they are likely to eventually choose a favorite, but as long as they are exposed to, and socialized by, other family members, they should maintain their friendliness with others. They love to be touched and handled - another reason why they often do well with kids.
However, they will go through nippy stages that can be hard on children as well as on adults. Teaching the child appropriate handling of a Parakeet / Parrot will help prevent some painful experiences - however,it will never entirely eliminate them. The tamest pet bird gets startled and bites - without this being a true reflection on its personality. Its a natural reaction. Experienced pet owners learn to read the body language of their pets and can avoid most of these accidental encounters " Traning is important to prevent an accidental bite from turning into a behavioral problem.
It is difficult to instruct smaller children on proper Parakeet / Parrot handling, and their interactions with these birds should always be supervised. But children who have learned to handle the pet gently and confidently usually dont have a big problem with aggression. How well the child - Parakeet / Parrot interaction goes really depends on the maturity level of the chil, as well as the proper socialization - level of the Parakeet / Parrot. Admittedly through, some genetics come into play as well. Some individual Parakeet / Parrots are more aggressive than others. Often this is a family trait and one breeding pair produces sweet babies, while others sometimes produce nippy offspring. Sweet babies can turn nippy, if not socialized well, and nippy ( unsually nervous / fearful birds ) can be taught to be good family pets. Birds do pick up on stress and anger that we humans may feel and this can impact their personality and likelihood to be aggressive towards us. It is always best to approach a bird calmly and focus on, and enjoy, the interaction with the Parakeet / Parrot rather than reflecting on problems in your life, Doing so well actually be conductive to your own health, as it will help you relax.
There never will be a guarantee that a meaningful relationship between the children in the family and the pet Parakeet / Parrot developes and if things dont go well, it may end up being a pet for the adults only. For this reason, it is not recommended to buy a Parakeet / Parrot as a pet for the kids - this needs to be a family pet, with the adults taking most of the reaponsibility.
TRAINING AND BEHAVIORAL
Conures, albeit their smaller size, do present their challenges, and they are not the best "starter" birds, altough some species are easier to keep than others. It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior befoe an undesirable behaviour has been established
They are known for their loud and harsh calls, which is a natural way of communication and social interaction and should be "trained away" - however, they can develope into excessive screamers, which really requires early intervention.
Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance, this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation, Behavioral challenges that the Parakeet / Parrots present include.
EXCESSIVE CHEWING
Any Parakeet / Parrot will chew in nature, they use their beaks to " customize " their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition, This problem is excessive and undersirable chewing. Undisciplined birds will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of " healthy " chewing opportunities ( Bird toys, natural wood branches, etc ) and training is necessary to teach your pet what is " off limits "
BITING
They can become nippy, Like most Parakeet / Parrots they are likely to discover their beaks as a methord of " Disciplining us " once they are out of the " Baby stage " It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established.
THE NOISE FACTOR
They are known for their high pitched screech that can be annoying. However, even though it cant ( Or should not ) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet.