are conures good beginner birds

Conures are a diverse group of small- to medium-sized parrots that are great for first time pet parents. Our conure overview guide provides basic care needs for a range of small conure species, including:

Conures are exceptionally active and intelligent—they love to jump, dance, and climb. They can even be taught to perform tricks! Conures usually enjoy human interaction and benefit from daily playtime, so it’s important to socialize your conure by allowing them time outside their enclosed habitat every day. When your conure is outside their habitat, supervise them closely to ensure they don’t injure themselves or interact with something harmful.

Conures may nip or bite at their pet parent on occasion, especially when feeling excited, confused, or threatened. If this happens, don’t yell your conure or give attention to the behavior. This will only encourage repeat behavior. Instead of reacting negatively, put the bird down (in a pet-safe area) and walk away. This acts as a “time-out” for the bird that teaches them biting does not get attention.

You can minimize the risk of a bite by paying attention to your conure’s body language before approaching or handling it. If the bird has pinned eyes, flared tail feathers, or is lunging at you, the conure may be feeling emotions that could lead to a bite.

While conures are usually not avid talkers, they’re highly vocal and might not be a suitable companion for noise-sensitive pet parents. Green-cheeked conures are known to be quieter than their other conure cousins, but they still squawk, chatter, and chirp.

Can a Green-Cheeked Conure talk?

It is possible to teach Green-Cheeked Conures to speak a few words. They can mimic some human speech, but their voice is a little gravelly, so they’re not the best birds for talking.

They are generally quiet birds, but they do enjoy interacting with people, so if you give them enough time, they can learn to communicate, though not all of them will.

Similar to parrotlets, green-cheeked conures are small, quiet birds with limited speech abilities.

Find out how and why Parrots talk.

How much does a Green-Cheeked Conure cost?

Green-Cheeked Conures cost between £100 and £300. The cost is determined by the bird’s age, appearance, degree of training, and amount of human contact.

Although there are many Conures for sale online for between £150 and £200, young, hand-reared birds with vibrant colors are probably more expensive.

Always make sure you buy a healthy bird. Think about purchasing from a reputable merchant that owners have recommended or from a seasoned breeder. Please do not hesitate to inquire about the origin of the bird and the amount of daily care it receives.

If you choose to purchase the bird online, you can inform the seller that you would prefer to view it in person before making a choice.

Check out our guide to the five essential questions before buying a bird.

How long does a Green-Cheeked Conure live for?

In captivity, a Green-Cheeked Conure’s lifespan ranges from 10 to 25 years. This large age range is due to the fact that it depends on the bird’s level of care and whether it eats a healthy, balanced diet.

In the wild, a healthy conure can live for more than 30 years, though much longer lives are uncommon.

The average life expectancy of Green-Cheeked Conures is thought to be lowered by neglect in captivity, which includes inadequate nutrition, though there is little information on how old these birds live.

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FAQ

What are the disadvantages of conures?

Owners should be prepared; this bird is one of the loudest of all the medium-sized parrots. So while conures are good pets, they are not good for beginners since they require a lot of consistent training, daily interaction, and constant socialization to stay tame and well-behaved.

What bird should I get for my first bird?

Budgie / Budgerigars These wonderful birds are among the smallest species kept as pets, are easy to care for and if you get one when they are young, they are easy to train too! Budgies are also quite affordable, playful, and active. They can learn to talk and provide their owners with hours of amusement.

Are conures low maintenance?

All parrots are high maintenance. They need nutritious food (not just seeds), fresh water, clean cages, toys and lots of interaction with their human(s) daily, preferably multiple times daily. Regular checkups by an avian vet are a necessity.

How hard is it to take care of a conure?

Conures are active and playful birds that need a large cage to climb around in. Time out of the cage is extremely important. Bonding, training, and physical and mental health are affected by cage confinement. Wing trims are recommended for safety.