Help with new conure

[phillyfan]

Hello everyone,

I am new here and kind of new to owning a bird. I had rainbow lorikeet many years ago and decided to get a conure. I have recently rescued a 6month green cheek (turquoise) conure. Her name is storm, she was a bit nippy in the beginning, but now she has grown very attached to me and is very playful. She loves being out with me and absolutely loves getting her belly rubbed along with her head. If she is in her cage she makes little clucking noises at me to bring her out. I absolutely grown attached to her too, I couldn't imagine not having her by my side at all times. I have a few questions for anyone willing to help. First i hear people talk about covering the cage at night, I have not done so. Storm seems fine just sitting on her perch, having one of her toys laying against her back while she sleeps. She will never sleep without her toy laying against her. Should I cover the cage at night? Second, I am using Kaytee Fiesta conure food,that is what the previous owner was using. Is there a better food I should be giving her. I want to give Storm the best nutrition I can. I know I need to be giving her fresh fruit and veggies everyday, but I dont think the previous owner was giving it to her. I have been trying constantly to give her fresh stuff and im starting to make slow progress on it. She takes some stuff now testing it, if she sees me eating it she will try it. I cut some fresh fruit and veggies and slow baked them in the oven dehydrating them and she loves them that way. Will that cause it to loose the nutritional value? Any other advice would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed.

Try chop too. Big batch of every veggie known to man ( EXCEPT THE POISONOUS ONES ) chopped up in a food processer and you can freeze portions in ice cube trays. Thaw a portion ( i zap them ) and mix it with Avicakes ). For more ideas and receipies go to our nutrition sub-forum. Bob Appetite !

Covering at night - We cover Salty because his cage is in the middle of our kitchen, living and family room. He is in bed by 10Pm and up at 10 AM. You can use a cover to control the sleep cycle you parrot has.

 

[SailBoat]

Hello everyone,

I am new here and kind of new to owning a bird. I had rainbow lorikeet many years ago and decided to get a conure. I have recently rescued a 6month green cheek (turquoise) conure. Her name is storm, she was a bit nippy in the beginning, but now she has grown very attached to me and is very playful. She loves being out with me and absolutely loves getting her belly rubbed along with her head. If she is in her cage she makes little clucking noises at me to bring her out. I absolutely grown attached to her too, I couldn't imagine not having her by my side at all times. I have a few questions for anyone willing to help. First i hear people talk about covering the cage at night, I have not done so. Storm seems fine just sitting on her perch, having one of her toys laying against her back while she sleeps. She will never sleep without her toy laying against her. Should I cover the cage at night? Second, I am using Kaytee Fiesta conure food,that is what the previous owner was using. Is there a better food I should be giving her. I want to give Storm the best nutrition I can. I know I need to be giving her fresh fruit and veggies everyday, but I dont think the previous owner was giving it to her. I have been trying constantly to give her fresh stuff and im starting to make slow progress on it. She takes some stuff now testing it, if she sees me eating it she will try it. I cut some fresh fruit and veggies and slow baked them in the oven dehydrating them and she loves them that way. Will that cause it to loose the nutritional value? Any other advice would be appreciated. Thank you

Covering the cage at night depends heavily on where in this Huge World you are and the variation between night time and day time temperatures. Also variation over the year. Covering the cage has much to do with whether you have lights on into the night. Or, the temperature change over-night and more importantly, whether you have drafts that they maybe exposed too.

Drying foods tend to concentrate everything, so it becomes important to provide smaller positions.

If you are home and its safe, why would you have her in the cage?

 

[phillyfan]

Wrench13 thanks that is a great idea. I will definitely try that and check out the other forums on it. The place I have her the lights are out by 10pm and not back on until we are up getting the kids ready for school around 7. She is also in a place where I don't have to worry about drafts or anything like that. The reason I keep her in the cage when I'm home sometimes I'm in out of the house doing chores, lawn work, walking the dog, etc. She is not in the cage that much when I'm home.

 

[Flboy]

Hi, as to the question on the Kaytee diet, there are better choices out there! I believe your blend has sunflower and peanuts. Peanuts are a risk because of mold! Sunflower seeds should only be given as an occasional treat because of their fat content!
For pellets, I feel TOPS is the best there is, but my JoJo gets TOPS, Zupreem-fruity and natural, and Roudybush! With TOPS, the first ingredients are not soy, rice, corn, nor wheat!
I also give him a high quality seed mix that I sprout!
Covering the cage at night- both JoJo and Bongo expect it, our first fid, Tango, was terrified if covered!

 

[Notdumasilook]

I also cover the cage at nite... plus I have a washcloth hanging from the top of Boogers cage right over his sleeping perch. Booger wraps up in it like a baby in blankie. Covering them does seem to make him sleep better... I can come in the room and not wake him.
On foods.. like others I feed a mix of pellets AND lots of fresh fruits/veggies.

 

[clark_conure]

I never cover the cage, so long as my bird sees that I'm not out having excitement without him, he's docile and quiet. Kaytee is a fine brand I use them for some of their treats, especially the healthy toppings, it's papya treats mine loves them as a snack or treat.

 

[phillyfan]

Thanks everyone with their advice and input.