What to feed a Sun Conure

I have been looking at getting a pet that isn't going to take a lot of maintenance while it being a good pet to have at the same time and the Sun Conures are very pretty exotic looking birds and I want to get one, but I want to do my research before buying one.

I have read that they have good temperaments if you can spend at least an hour a day with them (which I would be with it a lot more than that). I don't want to have to run to the grocery store every week to buy fruits/vegetables because that can get expensive. I have read a few different things on what you "can" feed the Sun Conures, but what do you feed them every day? Do they have pre-made mixes you can give them that aren't horrible for there health?

A pelleted based diet is best... however, they still require fresh foods in their diets.

If you eat a lot of fresh foods, you can always share what you buy for yourself with your bird. However, if you aren't, you'll need to. Grains, legumes, vegetables, some fruits and the occasional cooked eggs.

With my [larger] flock, I typically spent about $60, give or take, on foods (depending on what I had on hand and what I didn't), making up a big batch and freezing in small portions. At one point in time, I had around 15 birds, so this was ideal for me... And the foods lasted a month or longer. I now have 6 birds and don't spend quite as much since I'm making less. For a single bird, it's usually easiest to share what you already eat and then some.

My sun conures are not to fussed on pellets but do eat some so i mix them through the small parrot seed. Only about 1 tablespoon of this mix, plus raw nuts, sprouted/soaked mix, plus their veg with a small amount of fruit.

Conures

i give all my guys zupreem and roudybush pellets. i think petsmart is starting to carry roudybush, too. all the birds i have love zupreem fruit and the avian entrees spicy pellets. also, goldenfeast and abba seeds from the bird store. i use frozen organic bagged veggies that are really inexpensive and have some bananas or apples. the fresh fruit and veggies are the cheapest and easiest to get for me than going to different pet stores.

Conuregirl said:

i give all my guys zupreem and roudybush pellets. i think petsmart is starting to carry roudybush, too. all the birds i have love zupreem fruit and the avian entrees spicy pellets. also, goldenfeast and abba seeds from the bird store. i use frozen organic bagged veggies that are really inexpensive and have some bananas or apples. the fresh fruit and veggies are the cheapest and easiest to get for me than going to different pet stores.

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Do you feed them the fruit and veggies every day? Do you mix both the Zupreem and Roudybush pellets together? or you switch between the two ever other day?

Another question I forgot to ask. My house is usually 65 at the coldest in winter time and 95 in summer time. Are these temperature's going to be ok or does it have to be between 70 - 80 degrees all the time?

My birds get temperatures between the low 50's to the high 80's, and sometimes in the low 90's. They've done fine with these temperature changes. If it's too cold, I'll leave a heater on (temperature controlled). If too hot, I'll leave ice cubes in their water.


Short and simple, parrots are not easy pets! They can be messy, loud, obnoxious and demanding! However, if you can get past that, they can make excellent companions that enjoy snuggling, doing tricks, hanging out, going places, etc!

If you're looking for a low maintenance pet, I'd say a parrot, and especially a Conure isn't the right thing for you. Maybe a parakeet? They were my first 'parrots' and a great pet minus all the hardships that come with owning a large bird. Conures need way more than an hour a day with their human, are extremely loud, and if their conditions aren't what they want they'll let you know. I'm not discouraging you, because I LOVE my Conure, but you should consider all these before getting one to possibly help keep one of craigslist or something a month/year down the road.

i put 2 different cups of food in the cage for them everyday. 1 cup is mixed with seeds and zupreem fruit pellets and the other cup has roudybush and zupreem entree spicy. each bird has some find of foraging toy that i fill with pellets, too. nutriberries as treats. they love corn, carrots, peas, edamame soy beans, bananas, grapes, apples, and pears. they pretty much beg me for food if they see me eating. they like medium or big size pellets to hold it with their foot.

don't ever give chocolate, avodcado, onion, caffeine, or alcohol to pet birds and most pets.

your temps seem ok but i do keep my home a little warmer. i cover 1 side of the cage for my nanday since he is by the window. any temps higher than 95 could be unhealthy since birds and people could get a heat stroke. you could use a fan and have extra water around.

i bought harrison's because people say it is the best but neither of the birds would eat the treats or pellets. most birds like zupreem and roudybush pellets.

I agree with Scott that parrots are not low maintenance pets. First and foremost they are expensive. First you purchase a $250 to $1000 parrot and then you need a good cage which depending on the size is another $150 to $500. Then there is the initial vet visit were you have the options of getting blood and poop test and that cost another $200 and then another vet visit every year. We haven't even begun with food and toys yet.

As for easy maintenance, Parrots are not to be left in the cage all day. They require time and training out of the cage, at least 4 or more hours a day. Every moment the bird is out of the cage it needs to be monitored to keep it out of trouble. If you get a nice play stand for the parrot that is another chunk of cash. You need to be prepared to be chopping fruits and veggies, shopping for the healthy stuff and if you have any non-stick cookware throw it out. Additionally, if you have a parrot and it bonds with you that is a wonderful thing but what if you get a girlfriend/boyfriend? The parrot may not like having them around and may attack them or even you due to jealousy. There is much to consider so I recommend you do a lot of research first and think about it for quite a while. Don't jump into it because parrots are beautiful.

This just scratches the surface but if you are willing to fully commit to the life of a parrot the reward is tremendous. BTW, you don't own the parrot, the parrot owns you!

I hate to throw a wet towel on your bird purchase, but birds are not easy pets. We are relatively new to parrot ownership (6 months) and while we love our birds, they are not easy to have and they are expensive too. They require specialized vet care (which is expensive); cages and toys are expensive and they ruin toys easily; they must have fresh fruit and water daily; and pellets and even seed can be expensive. Even a tidy bird is messy. Our birds like to be covered at night and they must spend daily quality time with you--not just playing outside of their cage--to be happy and bonded. I personally wouldn't have the house temperature below 70 because they do get cold. We have two parrots and I work at home, so while I have time to spend with them, sometimes when I am busy it can be tough. Also, while we do leave them for short weekends, in my opinion, anything beyond maybe 60 hours, would require a pet sitter or someone to come and check on them. If you need to take them with you, then you will need a travel cage or a cage at your destination. We do routinely travel with our birds, and we have cages for them at our cottage and travel crates too. We have to keep the birds in the car while the cottage heats up in winter. Now that I have listed all of this stuff, I am wondering why I ever got parrots They are truly unique and wonderful pets, but NOT easy. If you are worried about costs, steer clear of them right now because the cost of the bird is a drop in the bucket! I am sorry to be brutally honest, but you should go into any pet ownership with a good understanding of what to expect.

I just got a new sun named Blue. I am curious what not to feed her.

Does anyone have a good link to a site that lists the not good human foods, and foods that are specifically needed for proper nutritional value of etc

DrmChld said:

I just got a new sun named Blue. I am curious what not to feed her.

Does anyone have a good link to a site that lists the not good human foods, and foods that are specifically needed for proper nutritional value of etc

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There are a lot of lists online. The following thread may be of help.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

Fatty and oily foods should also be on the 'do not feed' list.

Do NOT feed them apple seeds as they can be poison, absolutely no avocado and no chocolate.

12 Most Toxic Fruits and Vegetables : TreeHugger

Conures are not easy, by any means. They require lots of attention and veggies and fruits daily. I get all my fruits and berries like mango, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries frozen from whole foods market. The normal bag cost average 1.25 each bag except those blackberries but they last a long time frozen. I also get fresh green beans sugar and snap peas and edamame, u can buy fresh and freeze.

My conure gets no seed or pellet anymore he gets all fruits veggies, sprouts, nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans or cashews for his fat intake.

Conures love peppers to green, red and hot peppers omg he goes nuts for jalapeno and peppers freeze very well. I grow hot peppers in my garden and cut them in wheels and freeze it lasts them a long time plus i make salsa with them to

You can boil sweet potato, pumpkin and carrot make a mash and freeze it in ice cube trays and wrap in clear wrap to make it easier.

Rice and beans (beans is a mix black, pinto, white, navy, black eyed, split pea what ever u can find) boil them up and cook rice wrap individual portions in clear wrap.

If u beans which is great for them make sure u feed rice with it. I forgot exactly why the vet told me and I cant remember exactly why.

I prefer this type diet its easier for me because i have another bird that eats organic foods only so i incorporate him into her diet and adjust for his needs.

However u can feed pellet with some seed and fresh fruits or pellets/ fresh diet. Both mine were some seed junkies so i had to change their diet drastically when i got them for their own health sake