Companion Bird Care

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Common Disorders of The group of birds known as Conures conures consists of several separate • Behavioral problems (screaming, biting) genera. They are small to medium- • Bacterial and fungal infection sized parrots with long tails and • Injuries and toxin exposure CONURES proportionately broad, heavy beaks. • Reproductive-related disease They have a body shape similar to macaws. Free-ranging conures are • Viral infections, such as polyomavirus, Proventricular Dilitation Disease, and found from Mexico to Central and herpesvirus South America. Most conure species are very sociable and live together in small groups, spending time grooming each other. Some species are considered nomadic. Most have a loud, raucous call that can be Many diseases can be prevented with regular veterinary heard for some distance in the forest. care, proper diet and housing. For these reasons, it is Conures are generally hardy and important to develop a relationship with a veterinarian popular aviculture and pet birds, who is experienced in avian preventive care, medicine and bringing to captivity their sociable surgery. For help in finding an avian veterinarian in your nature and loud voice. The most area, contact the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) commonly seen species are by visiting www.AAV.org and click on “Find a Vet” or primarily of the Aratinga genus. contact the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Larger conure species, such as by visiting www.ABVP.com/diplomate. Patagonian and golden (Queen of Bavaria) conures, are relatively rare in captivity.

Companion Bird Care SERIES What Your Veterinarian Looks for in a Healthy Conure What to Expect from Your Conure Clear, bright eyes onures are usually gregarious, playful, animated Are Conures Tame? How to Keep Your (no discharge) birds that enjoy and seek out attention. Conures are Young, hand-raised conures adapt readily to new Conure Healthy, Dry, open not usually timid. Like all birds, time outside of the cage surroundings and handling procedures. They should be nares Happy and Safe! Alert, erect posture should be carefully exposed early in life to novel situations (car travel, ✓ Take your Conure to your supervised. These birds hospital visits, playing “peek-a-boo” with a towel, veterinarian immediately after ital Statistics Smooth beak V can occasionally learn a multiple visitors in the household, other household pets) purchase, then once annually for Smooth, bright Body length: 9-12 inches (23-31 cm) examinations. few words, but are not so that they are well-adjusted to these events. The best feathers that are not Body weight (most): 80-200 g ✓ Provide stimulating known for their talking way to encourage desirable behaviors is with patience Good body ragged, discolored environmental enrichment by or broken Age of sexual maturity: 1-3 years ability. Their noise level and by offering positive reinforcement, often in the form offering toys, social interaction condition Maximum life span: 35 years during vocalizations can of food rewards. Even with training, all birds are and foraging opportunities. be very loud and capable of biting under the right circumstances. ✓ Feed a fresh, high quality, toxin- free formulated diet with fresh Even pattern sometimes irritating. The less common dusky-headed and chopped fruits, vegetables and of skin on the feet, nails of How to Identify Your Bird green-cheeked conures are somewhat quieter than the whole grains according to the appropriate length manufacturer’s recommendation. more familiar jenday, sun, mitred or half-moon conures. Conures occasionally escape outdoors, and permanent identification may help to return birds to their owners. ✓ Provide clean, fresh uncontaminated drinking water Is Your Conure a Male or a Female? One method used to permanently identify your bird is and change frequently. Conures It is difficult to reliably distinguish a male from a implantation of a microchip, as is performed in other pets. can be trained to use a water female conure based on physical characteristics; Some birds already have leg bands for identification. bottle. therefore, endoscopy or laboratory methods must be Although closed leg bands seldom cause injury, some ✓ Many birds enjoy bathing. Try providing a warm water bath, or used for sex determination. owners prefer to have them removed. gently spraying with clean warm water daily if possible. What Should You Feed Your Conure? Should the Wings be Clipped? ✓ Avoid spraying house with For a long, healthy life, conures should be fed a high The decision to clip wings or allow free flight should be insecticides. quality, toxin-free formulated diet. Supplementation may made carefully. Birds allowed free flight benefit from Housing for your Conure should: include small amounts of chopped organic vegetables and exercise and mental stimulation; however, free flying birds ✓ be as large as possible. fruit and whole grains. may be injured by hitting windows or ceiling fans or hurt ✓ be clean, secure and safe. by encountering toxic materials. With careful planning ✓ be constructed of nontoxic Conures are very curious and will investigate anything new in their environ- What Do Conures Do All Day? and training, some birds may be allowed free flight in a materials (some cages may ment. That is why it is important to prevent their access to: Conures are adventurous and may play hide-and-seek contain toxic metals, such as safe area. The goal of clipping the wings is not to make zinc). ✗ ceiling fans ✗ pesticides or chemical cleaners with a towel or brown bag in their enclosure. Toys must the bird incapable of flight but to prevent it from ✓ ✗ stove tops with hot burners, ✗ easily dismantled toys be sturdy and free of toxic metals, hooks, sharp objects contain variable-sized perches developing rapid and sustained flight and to prevent made of clean, nontoxic, pans or skillets ✗ dogs, cats and unsupervised and easily consumed components. They should be escape. Clipping must be done carefully and tailored to pesticide-free wood or branches. ✗ fumes from overheated non-stick children rotated frequently to prevent boredom. Large diameter each individual to prevent flight and injuries from falling. ✓ have easy-to-clean food and cookware ✗ sources of heavy metals, such as fresh-cut branches from nontoxic, pesticide-free trees water containers. ✗ sandpaper-covered perches lead or zinc (stained glass windows, pewter, some mini- should be available. Check with your veterinarian for ✓ have perches not placed directly ✗ tobacco and cigarette smoke over food or water bowls. blinds or linoleum) recommendations on locally available safe trees. ✗ chocolate, avocado, salt, alcohol ✓ ✗ plug-in air fresheners offer opportunities for protected ✗ outdoor exposure to fresh air, toxic houseplants ✗ scented candles direct sunlight and exercise.

Text updated by AAV, 2015 Photography by Miriam B. Walling/We Shoot Birds Front cover: sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis); Inside: dusky-headed conure (Aratinga weddellii)