How to entertain your conure parrot

The conure parrot is one of the smallest species in the parrot family, yet it has a bold and lively character. To stay happy, a conure needs a variety of toys that can shake, rattle, chew, tear, and a lot of time outside of its cage. Conures are social birds, but you can prevent them from getting bored when you're away by creating a stimulating environment with sounds and activities. You may even find that your parrot is the one entertaining you!

Give the parrot chewable items. Fun toys will keep your conure busy while protecting your furniture from being chewed. Conures always need a few things to gnaw on in their cage. Suitable toys include:

• Balsa wood or pine wood sticks
• Pieces of leather and leather cords
• Woven twig balls
• Grass mats
• Willow basket
• Old newspapers
• Fruits and vegetables (like carrots, celery, lettuce, and apples)

Choose toys for your parrot to play with using its feet. Conure parrots love to play with toys using their feet. Try giving your parrot a few toys that it can grab, spin, and kick. Good options include rattling balls, dice, blocks with holes, and wooden weights.

Provide noise-making toys. Conure parrots enjoy making sounds. You can place bells in the cage so they can shake and ring them. Rattling balls or metal-ringed hanging toys will also delight your parrot.

Hide their favorite treats for the parrot to find. Conures love to forage for food. Even if they're well-fed, they spend a lot of time looking for their favorite treats inside the cage. You can hide snacks and toys within twigs, creating a natural foraging environment. To keep them busy, you can also hide toys and treats inside items like:

• Cereal boxes
• Rolled-up newspaper
• Wooden sticks with drilled holes
• Egg cartons
• Grape vine rings or willow branches
• Bird nests
• Birdseed cups

Rotate new and old toys. When you notice your parrot losing interest in a toy, it’s time to introduce something new. Don’t toss out the old ones just yet. Remove them from the cage until the parrot grows tired of the new toy. Then you can rotate back to the older toys. Conures will treat the old toys like new again.

• If your parrot doesn’t engage with a new toy after a day or two, remove it and try again another time.
• If toys get dirty over time, wash them and refresh them to make them more appealing.

Let your parrot play indoors. Conure parrots enjoy exploring your home, and they may even follow you around. Allow your parrot to spend at least one hour outside its cage every day.

• Always supervise your conure when it is outside its cage to prevent any trouble!
• Ensure the indoor environment is safe when letting your parrot out. Close windows and turn off any fans. Keep electrical cords and candles out of reach.
• Always supervise your conure around young children and other pets. If your other pets tend to be aggressive towards small animals, move them to another room.

Give your parrot a bath. Conure parrots love to bathe every few days. Fill a bowl with water and let your parrot enter it. The parrot will bathe itself once it’s in the water. If your parrot doesn't bathe on its own, gently mist it with water to encourage it. After the bath, wrap your parrot in a towel and gently pat it dry.

• You can use a plastic container or a dog food bowl for bathing. The bowl should be wide enough for the parrot to comfortably walk inside.
• If your parrot refuses to bathe, try taking it outside and try again another day.

Take your parrot outdoors in a controlled manner. Birds usually enjoy being outside, but to prevent your parrot from flying away, you need to manage its time outdoors. Use a harness and let your parrot perch on your shoulder while holding the leash. Alternatively, you can place your parrot in a cage and take it outside.

• If it’s your parrot’s first time outside, it may be scared. Keep the first outdoor session brief.
• Even if the parrot’s wings are trimmed, it can still fly away. Always use a harness or keep the parrot in a cage when outdoors.
• If possible, let your parrot play on a screened porch. This way, it will get used to being outside and enjoy the fresh air without the risk of flying away.

Play peek-a-boo with your parrot. Just like children, conure parrots love the game of peek-a-boo. Hide your face behind a corner or object and let your parrot search for you, then pop out and say 'peek-a-boo!' Soon enough, your parrot might start mimicking you and hide its face too.

Play catch with your parrot. If your parrot enjoys throwing things, playing catch can be a fun game. Roll a plastic ball towards your bird and it may pick it up and throw it back. Keep rolling the ball back and forth until your parrot gets bored.

• Depending on the size of your parrot, you can use a ping pong ball, small pet toys, or a rope ball.

Turn on the radio or TV. Background noise can help your bird feel more content when it's alone. You can play nature documentary channels, classical music, or radio talk shows.

Place the birdcage near a window. You can place the birdcage near an open window so your parrot can watch the world outside. Remember to open the curtains or blinds. Your conure might enjoy watching other birds and people passing by the window.

• Be mindful of the heat and sunlight that might shine on the cage near the window, as it could cause your conure to overheat when you're not home.

Get another bird to keep your parrot company. Conure parrots are generally social animals. They may enjoy playing with other conure parrots or even sometimes interact with other parrot species. These birds can keep each other company when you're not home.

• Ensure that the new bird has a similar temperament to your parrot.