How to Breed Conures

Conures are a diverse group of birds that includes parrots and parakeets. These birds typically have a slight build, with long tails and small, strong beaks. They come in a range of colors and are thought to be intelligent and easy to train. Conures are social animals and make great pets. Breeding conures can be a rewarding pastime as long as the pair breed naturally and raise their own young. However, if the breeder must hand-feed the babies, it can become time consuming and a significant investment.

Things You'll Need

  • Nesting box
  • Male and female conure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that you have a male and a female conure prior to starting any breeding program. If you are unable to tell the sex, you can have the birds professionally sexed by a veterinarian.

    • 2

      Determine if your conures are ready to breed. The breeding age for conures depends on the genus of the breed. The Pyrrhura genus of conures typically breed between December and May after they reach one year of age and will mate every year. The Pyrrhura is small in size, and is frequently green in color with hints of yellow, red and orange. The Aratinga is a larger genus of conure, and normally mates during the warmer, summer months. Aratinga conures begin breeding when they are 3 1/2 to 4 years old.

    • 3

      Assess the health of your birds prior to any breeding attempts. Birds with medical issues can

      have trouble breeding or may pass along undesirable traits to their offspring. Have your birds examined by a veterinarian prior to breeding.

    • 4

      Provide a nesting box. The box should be shaped like a cube, and should measure approximately 12-by-12-by-12 inches. The nesting box can be made of wood or metal and should include a hole large enough for the male and female conure to enter and exit. Fill the nesting box with shavings to make it comfortable. Your conures will likely add to the nest when they are ready to breed.

    • 5

      Provide plenty of fresh water and food to ensure that your conures are content in their environment. Birds that are stressed will often not breed.

    • 6

      Put your birds together in the same environment and wait. Conures, like other birds, cannot be forced to breed, so patience is a key element to any breeding program.

    • 7

      Observe your conures to watch for activity in the nesting box. Once the female lays her eggs, she will typically stay in the nesting box until they have hatched. Females lay between 3 to 8 eggs at each breeding. You may notice the male conure bringing food to the female in the nesting box while she is brooding. Do not interfere with your female conure while she is in the nesting box, as this may create undue stress for the bird and could cause her to abandon the eggs.

    • 8

      Wait 23 to 28 days for the eggs to hatch.

    • 9

      Make sure that your female is properly feeding the babies after they have hatched. If the pair abandon the chicks, you will need to hand-feed them regularly for them to survive.