Sun Conure Pet Care

The sun conure is a playful, amusing bird that enjoys athletic tricks. These birds are smart, interactive, and easily trained. In general, they are very affectionate and cuddly birds that are gentle to all family members as long as they are treated well.

About the Sun Conure

Sun Conure Pet Care: Cage Set-Up

• Sun conures need a cage large enough for them to stretch their wings, climb, and play. The cage should be about twice the size of their wingspan, but the bigger the cage, the better.
• Your sun conure cage should include at least two perches of different heights, thicknesses, and textures (including natural branches, if possible). These variations help keep your sun conure’s feet healthy. Your bird should be able to move between the perches easily.
  • Do not put perches over food or water dishes. The birds’ droppings will contaminate the food and water.
• Birds are sensitive to strong smells, smoke, and drafts. Keep your lovebird’s cage away from the kitchen and away from windows. 
• Cover the cage at night — your sun conure needs its rest.
  • Most sun conures do best on a light/dark cycle. This cycle helps to approximate their natural conditions.
• Cushion the cage floor with a corncob layer, aspen, wood pellet, or recycled paper bedding, or use a liner.
  • You’ll need to remove droppings frequently.
  • Spot-clean the bottom liner or bedding weekly and replace it once a month.

Sun Conure Pet Care: Temperament

Brilliantly colorful, intelligent, friendly, and loaded with personality, the sun conure has long been popular among families fond of companion birds. The bird is not without assertiveness; it can turn aggressive suddenly if provoked.

Owners should prepare. This bird is one of the loudest medium-sized parrots. They are not good starter birds since they require a lot of consistent training, daily interaction, and constant socialization to keep them tame and well-behaved.

Like all parrots, sun conures are social birds that need considerable interaction with their human owners to be happy. This bird is uniquely suited for those who want a bird for steady companionship.

Origin and History

The sun conure is native to northeastern South America, including Venezuela, northern Brazil, and Guyana.

The sun conure is found mostly in inland tropical habitats and also inhabits dry savanna woodlands and coastal forests. They usually inhabit fruiting trees and palm groves.

Speech and Vocalizations

Sun conures express excitement and fear with shrill screams, and they are not shy birds. They will let you know vocally if they are bored or if their needs are neglected. This bird is not suitable for apartment or condo dwellers.

While the sun conure is not known for its talking ability, some birds demonstrate an uncanny ability to mimic other types of sounds, such as doorbells, microwave buzzers, and telephone chimes.

Sun Conure Pet Care: Diet and Nutrition

• Sun conures, like other parrots, should be fed various foods. They do best on a balanced pellet diet supplemented with fruits, leafy greens, and root vegetables.
  • Slightly steamed sweet potatoes are an excellent food for your pet conure.
• You can give them unlimited pellet food; they only eat what they need. As for fresh fruits and veggies, offer about a 1/8 to 1/4 cup in the morning and at night.
• Like other companion birds, a sun conure needs and appreciates treats, so make healthy snack choices.
  • Nuts and seeds are always the right choices for an occasional treat. Walnuts and almonds are excellent selections.
• Your sun conure should always have access to a cuttlebone or a mineral block to help keep its beaks healthy.
• Your sun conure must have fresh water at all times.

Exercise

Like all parrots, the sun conure is very active and needs adequate space to fly, explore, and play. Your sun conure should be allowed to leave the cage for at least three hours each day.

Foraging and other forms of enrichment are essential for these intelligent birds. Provide the bird with a variety of exciting toys and change them at regular intervals to prevent your pet from growing bored.

Healthcare

Like other conures and parrots, the sun conure can be prone to feather picking. More often than not, this is a sign that the bird is bored or is not receiving the attention it needs. Try some new toys. New toys may distract them from their boredom and spark a behavior change. If you notice any of these signs of illness or distress, contact a veterinarian who treats birds:

• Decreased appetite or weight loss.
• Decreased activity or grooming.
• Feathers fluffed up for a long time.
• Long periods of sitting at the bottom of the enclosure.
• Sneezing.
• Discharge from nose or mouth.
• Change in droppings for more than two days.

Pet Safety

• Use caution when handling pets, and remember they may bite or scratch (especially when stressed).
• Supervise children around pets.
• ALL ANIMALS can potentially carry viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases contagious to humans.
• Thoroughly wash your hands with warm, soapy water before and after contact with any pet or its habitat.
• Adults should assist children with handwashing after contact with a pet, its habitat, or aquarium water.

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