How to Train Your Sun Conure

Sun conures, diminutive members of the parrot family, are brilliantly-colored yellow or orange birds with accents of iridescent red, blue and green. Because of their spectacular coloring, small size and lively, inquisitive and affectionate natures, sun conures are prized as pets by beginning and veteran parrot enthusiasts alike. But they require specific care and lots of attention to thrive. Teaching your sun conure tricks is a great way to bond with him.

Things You'll Need

  • Two perches
  • Bite-sized conure treats such as grapes or crackers
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Instructions

  1. Teaching "Step Up"

    • 1

      Move your bird, in his cage, to a quiet room where there are no unfamiliar or distracting sights or noises.

    • 2

      Place your sun conure on his perch, and give him a treat when he stays there. If he flies or hops off, gently replace him on the perch, and give him a treat after he remains for a few seconds.

    • 3

      Once the bird has settled and is sitting quietly on the first perch, pick up a second perch and gently push it against his legs. With your other hand, hold a treat to encourage him to step forward, and say "Step up." By using both a physical cue and a simple verbal command, you are increasing the odds that your conure will understand what you want him to do.

    • 4

      Reward him with a treat once he has stepped onto the second perch, and praise him lavishly, saying, "Good step up!"

    • 5

      Once he is stepping confidently back and forth between perches on command, offer your finger instead of a perch. Nudge your finger gently against his body or legs to encourage him to step on it. Say "Step up."

    • 6

      Praise him with "Good step up! Good boy!" and give him a treat when he complies. If he tries to nip you, blow on him to ruffle his feathers; this is disconcerting for a sun conure and should discourage this negative habit.

    • 7

      Continue working with your bird on the "step up"command, until he is willingly stepping onto your finger as soon as you offer it. Keep training sessions short̵1;about five minutes tops̵1;but strive for at least three a day.

    Teaching "Play Dead"

    • 8

      Hold your bird with his back in the palm of your hand while gently praising him and stroking his feathers. This position may come naturally to your conure; once trust has been established, it is common for sun conures to relax back into their owner's hands. By staying within the bounds of what your sun conure does naturally, you increase the odds that he will master the trick.

    • 9

      Practice holding your bird on his back, petting and speaking softly to him, until he stays relaxed in that position for about a minute.

    • 10

      Say "Play dead" or "Sleep" after he's been motionless for a few seconds.

    • 11

      Repeat "Play dead" several times as the bird lies motionless.

    • 12

      Praise him with "Good play dead!" and offer him your finger to step on. Once he is on your finger, give him one of his favorite treats. No matter how he performed in his first attempt at learning the "Play dead" trick, you're still ending the training session on an upbeat note with a trick he already knows.

    • 13

      Continue practicing the "Play dead" command until your bird happily lolls back in your hand on command. Don't forget to end each sesson on an upbeat note.