What Supplies are Needed When Getting a Conure?

Getting a conure as a pet can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Conures are highly intelligent, playful parrots that make wonderful companions when properly cared for. However, it’s important to make sure you have all the right supplies before bringing one home. Having the proper conure supplies set up ahead of time will help ensure a smooth transition and keep your bird happy and healthy in their new environment.

Cage

Size and Bar Spacing

One of the most important conure supplies is an appropriately sized cage. As active birds that love to climb and play, conures need plenty of room. A good minimum size is 24″ x 24″ x 36″ for one conure. The bar spacing between the wires should be no more than 5/8 of an inch to prevent escape or injury.

Many owners choose to provide the largest cages possible to allow extra room since conures spend a fair amount of time in their homes. Good quality conure cages may have bar spacing adjustable to grow with juvenile birds. Consider weight and portability if you plan to travel or move homes frequently.

Cages designed specifically for conures allow room for multiple food and water dishes, ample perches, hanging toys and sometimes space to flap wings. Some conure enthusiasts build customized flight cages to provide maximum space.

Placement

Place the cage in an area of your home that allows your conure exposure to family activities without being overwhelmed by too much noise. Avoid drafty areas, direct sunlight, or locations near vents to prevent drafts.

Ideally, position conure cages out of high traffic paths in your home to prevent excessive stress from constant interruptions. Don’t fully isolate in lonely rooms without interaction. Find the right balance to meet social needs while allowing peace and quiet during nap times.

Cage level should be easily accessible when opening doors and interacting during in-cage play times. Tabletop level or sturdy specialized bird stands work well to optimize interaction.

Toys, Perches, Food and Water Dishes

The cage should contain multiple food bowls, a water bottle or bowl, variable width perches, and an assortment of interactive bird toys to keep them stimulated and prevent boredom or destructive behavior. Be sure to include foraging toys to encourage natural behaviors.

Look for food bowls, water dispensers and perches designed specifically to affix securely and safely to cage wires. Perches of varying textures and diameters strengthen feet and prevent pressure sores.

Ensure food bowls can be removed, cleaned and replaced easily. Some owners prefer attaching water dispensers outside cage doors to simplify refilling while not disturbing birds during naps. Place perches strategically to encourage movement about the cage.

Perches

Types of Perches

In addition to cage perches, provide longer perches of varying textures and widths for exercise. Some good options include natural wood branches, cotton rope perches, mineral perches, and platform perches so they can spend time out of the cage safely stretching their wings.

The variety keeps feet healthy and stems boredom. Ensure wider perches allow easy grip – especially important if toes are disabled or weakened due to past injury. Rough textured perches help trim nails naturally. Always supervise play sessions on perches.

Placement

Strategically place perches around play areas or rooms your conure will spend time in so they have opportunities to fly between perches and get exercise. Make sure landing spots provide stable grip – avoid slippery surfaces that could cause falls and injuries.

Position low perches close to favorite human resting areas to promote bonding and interaction during perching periods. Higher perches allow descending flight practice. Place appropriately spaced perches leading to cage doors or food stations to stimulate movement about the room.

Bird Toys

Rotate new and exciting toys weekly to prevent boredom. Some great options include foraging toys, shredding toys, treat puzzles, bells, wood, straw, and more. Be sure to include toys that appeal to their natural chewing, climbing and playing instincts.

The intelligent, often mischievous conure personality demands regular toy stimulation. Provide puzzle toys to occupy high intellect – food hidden in cardboard tubes or wads of paper wrapped with treats nurture natural foraging behaviors.

Shreddable toys work well for destructive tendencies – just ensure any consumed pieces pass safely if accidentally swallowed. Avoid toys with small removable parts that could become choking hazards.

Food and Water Dishes

Use heavy ceramic bowls that can be sanitized to prevent contamination. Purchase a spare set so one can always be clean while the other is in use. Select a water bottle or bowl that affixes securely to the cage wires. Consider purchasing a water filtration system made specifically for birds to promote good health.

When selecting food and water receptacles, stainless steel, ceramic and even durable plastics make suitable choices for durability and cleaning. Avoid dishes made from harmful materials like lead crystal or pewter.

Match dish size appropriately to conure proportions – depth and circumference allowing easy access without dunking head and wings prevents messes. Anti-tip, anti-spill designs exist for both food and water to keep living space clean.

Fun tip – incorporate a small smooth river stone into water bowls. This entices bathing behavior! Provide ample spare food containers to enrich diet variety.

Play Gym

A play gym with toys, treats, and play areas allows safe time out of the cage to spread their wings. Place over a mat or sheets to simplify cleaning up bird droppings. Supervise all out of cage play time.

Construct play gyms from sturdy bird-safe materials – avoid plastics or treated woods with possible toxic chemicals. Rope, stainless steel and untreated building components work well. Include wood or cement perches, hanging toys with bells, tunnels, swings and mirrors promoting activity.

Bird play gyms allow conures to indulge natural behaviors impossible in cages including flapping, swinging, climbing and foraging. Exercise prevents obesity and accompanying illnesses. Properly constructed play spaces enrich quality of life immensely.

Bird Bath

Birds love splashing in the water! Provide a small bird bath, place in the shower or set up in a safe humid environment to allow them to bathe. This is vital for proper preening and feather health.

Misting bottles help replicate tropical rainstorms and encourage joyful water play. In dry climates add humidifiers nearby to optimize air moisture levels. Always supervise bath sessions. Provide ample towels in human accessible areas after bathing to aid drying and warming.

Bathing regulates body temperature, removes shedding down feathers and promotes preening and skin/feather health. Conures originate from humid tropical regions and benefit greatly from regular hydrating showers or baths. Introduce bathing slowly if fearful – dimming lights sometimes soothes shy birds.

Grooming Supplies

Proper wing and nail trims are essential. Have styptic powder on hand to stop bleeding if you nick the nail quick. Invest in a high quality nail trimmer designed specifically for small birds. Provide various rough surfaces in and out of cage to help keep nails trim.

Keep multiple styles nail trimmers on hand as conure toenails grow rapidly and may require frequent careful clipping. Always have emergency quick stop supplies available when clipping nails. Know where the nearest avian vet office is located in case of over-trims.

Learn to monitor overgrown beaks and overgrown claws carefully – identify normal vs abnormal early. See an avian vet promptly if abnormalities emerge for specialized filing and care.

Nutritious Diet

Conures thrive best on a nutritious diet of high quality pellets, fresh vegetables, fruits and healthy grains. Feed a variety of bird-safe, nutrient rich whole foods. Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

Consider preparing batches of food ahead of time and freezing portions to simplify the process long-term.

Research optimal conure diets including appropriate proportions of seeds, pellets, fruits and vegetables. Variety nurtures health far better than limited bland staples. Treats in extreme moderation prevent obesity.

Adapt menus gradually – radical sudden changes cause intestinal upset. Introduce fresh foods slowly too allowing adjustment from commercial diets. Always monitor droppings for signs of digestive issues.

Learn key nutrient requirements specifically for conures including higher niacin needs. This knowledge enhances ability to nurture your bird properly though all life stages. Feeding properly prevents serious deficiency diseases.

Vary textures – whole fruits and veggies provide beneficial activity. Include sprouted seeds maximizing nutritional value. Share “people food” like healthy table scraps safely.

Supplements and Vitamins

Ensure your conure’s nutritional needs are met with high quality supplements and vitamins specifically formulated for conures when needed. Research whether added calcium or vitamins would benefit a conure based on their diet.

Discuss your bird’s unique nutritional requirements with an experienced avian vet. Let bloodwork guide which supplements aid your bird’s wellness journey. Customize as the individual ages, becomes more/less active, lays eggs or encounters illness.

As seasonal fresh foods fluctuate or age decreases appetite, reassess supplementation adjusting to maximize vitality. Never over supplement without veterinary guidance. More is not necessarily better.

Foraging Toys and Tools