Blue-crowned conures can learn to talk, but you should never choose a parrot based on its talking ability; instead, select a parrot based on your compatibility with the parrot's personality. With proper socialization and attention, blue-crowned conures make entertaining and lively family pets.
Instructions
Purchase a suitable cage for your blue-crowned conure. The cage should be at least 24 inches by 22 inches. Blue-crowned conures are slightly larger than most other conure species, so it's a good idea to get a cage slightly larger than the recommended minimum. The bar spacing should be 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch, and the top of the cage should be no higher than the top of your head.
Cages with bowl-holders, preferably three (one each for seed/fresh fruits and vegetables, pellets, and water), are the safest for your blue-crowned conure. Keeping bowls in all bowl-holders at all times, even when not in use, will prevent your blue-crowned conure from injuring itself if it tries to escape. Built-in bowl-holders also make it easier to remove bowls for cleaning and feeding, as you don't have to open the cage door to remove them.
Purchase at least three perches in different sizes, styles and materials, and set them up in your blue-crowned conure's cage. A variety of perches ensures that there isn't always pressure on the same part of your conure's feet, which can lead to atrophy or injury over time.
Perches are usually labeled according to the size or type of parrot for which they're intended. Perches labeled medium to small, or perches that are 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, will provide a nice variety for your blue-crowned conure. To ensure your conure's comfort, check that its feet wrap about two-thirds of the way around the perch.
Purchase toys for your blue-crowned conure's cage. It's a good idea to keep three or four toys in the cage at all times to alleviate boredom and prevent bad habits such as screaming and feather-picking. Toys labeled for small to medium parrots are the best size for blue-crowned conures. Always be sure to buy safe, non-toxic toys specifically for parrots.
Feed your blue-crowned conure a balanced diet. A balanced diet consists of a seed mixture formulated for conures, pellets, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The seed mixture should contain sunflower and safflower seeds and dried fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be offered daily, as they are vital to keeping your parrot healthy and provide far more vitamins and minerals than seed mixtures, but they should be removed after a few hours so that they do not spoil. Some parrot owners remove the parrot's seed and replace it with fruits and vegetables for those few hours to encourage the parrot to try the different food.
Some nutritious foods you can try feeding your blue-crowned conure include: apples, peaches, pears, bananas, grapes, strawberries, mangos, melons, oranges, pineapples, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, brown rice, whole wheat noodles, oatmeal and a tiny amount of natural yogurt.
Provide your blue-crowned conure with fresh water, changed every day.
Spend time with your blue-crowned conure every day. This is vital to keeping your conure happy and well-behaved, and it will prevent or eliminate bad habits such as screaming and feather-picking. An hour outside the cage, socializing with family members, is ideal, but at least 30 minutes a day is necessary.
Find a bird-groomer and a veterinarian who specializes in parrots, and keep their contact information on hand in case of an emergency. Schedule regular appointments to keep your blue-crowned conure's nails and wings trimmed (a lot can go wrong here, so it's best to let a professional groom your parrot), and schedule a check-up with the veterinarian to ensure your parrot is in good health.