How to Train White-Eyed Conures

Conures are sociable members of the parrot family that enjoy interacting with their owner. Most conures are socialized and tame when they come from a reputable bird breeder. However, abused birds and birds living in poor conditions develop behavior problems that need to be addressed for training to be effective. Interacting with your bird daily, providing social and dietary needs of your conure and providing a safe, clean and calm environment can reduce and flighty and nervous behavior.

Things You'll Need

  • Appropriately sized cage
  • Conure toys
  • Quality conure diet
  • Fresh water
  • Fruits, vegetables and nuts
  • Favorite treat (sunflower seed)
  • Correctly sized perches
  • Cage cover
  • Medium sized parrot food dish
  • Medium sized parrot water dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give your conure as much space as possible. The roomier its cage, the less likely the conure will develop behavior problems such as feather plucking. A cage 36 inches wide, 20 inches deep and 30 inches tall comfortably accommodates the 13-inch long, white-eyed conure.

    • 2

      Feed your conure a quality diet and a full water dish of fresh water daily. A pellet-based diet with fresh chopped fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apples along with some unsalted peanuts added daily keeps your conure's health and temperament in peak condition.

    • 3

      Provide interactive toys that stimulate your conure's interest in chewing and investigating such as parrot enrichment toys that hold treats and wooden chew toys to work the bird's beak. A lack of having interesting toys results in increased aggression, boredom and obesity, making training sessions less productive.

    • 4

      Do not punish your conure for screaming or biting using dramatic or abusive methods such as spraying your conure with a water bottle and banging on the cage. Abusive and dramatic techniques increase behavior problems, such as aggressive or fearful biting.

    • 5

      Do not place your conure in dark places, boxes or closets as a method to quiet a screaming bird. Conures scream because they know their owner will come to them (similar to a chick calling for its mother). A screaming bird is a bird with unmet needs.

    • 6

      Provide parrot toys such as wooden ladders and bells to keep your bird occupied while you are out of the room or away. If your conure seems nervous at your absence offer it a treat and redirect its behavior to a chew toy before you leave the room.

    • 7

      Offer treats (sunflowers) each time your conure does what you ask. Rewards for small daily tasks such as stepping up to allow you to change a food dish can increase trust and good behavior.

    • 8

      Speak in a calm voice, use slow body movements and be gentle when holding your bird. This reduces stress and increases your bird's interest in being with you.

    • 9

      Have time set aside every day to interact with your conure. This time also allows your conure to learn how to interact with you. Conures are social, happy birds that enjoy being with their owner much of the time.