Meet Our Feathered Friend:
Green-Cheeked Conure
01
Overview
Common Name: Green-Cheeked Conure
Latin Name: Pyrrhura Molinae
Native Region: South America
Average Lifespan: 20-25 Years
Average Length: 25cm (10 inches)
Average Weight: 60 to 70 grams
Song Type: Tropical Squawking, Vocal Communicator
Interaction: Highly Social
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> Green-Cheeked Conures come in a variety of eye-catching colour mutations.
> The popular conure genus ‘Aratinga’ means “little macaw” in Latin.
> Conures generally like to be where the household activity is.
02
Pet Profile
Green-Cheeked Conures are excellent pets for someone with previous bird knowledge but can certainly make a great first pet bird with the proper knowledge and understanding of training and care needs. These birds are often compared to having toddler in the house with their antics and attitudes and are sometimes considered “nippy”. They are not necessarily the best choice for young children, as a more mature owner will often have an easier time training the bird out of “nippy” and unwanted behaviors. Like with any bird though, its behaviour is a near-direct reflection of what the owner puts into the relationship.
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Green-Cheeked Conures are forever entertaining and can be a great blend of snuggles and play. These birds are more inclined to be curious and bold instead of shy and cautious. Conures are active and busy birds that need plenty of toys and other forms of enrichment to keep them happily occupied throughout the day. A conure can make a great family pet because of its playful and outgoing personality. In a family situation, children should be taught how to respectively interact with the conure, including proper handling and not forcing interaction. A conure loves to be where its people are or on them; even going so far as to climb under their owner’s shirt, head poking out of the collar during cuddle time. Some conures will dance back and forth and might even mimic its person’s movements. Conures can also be taught to perform tricks on cue if trained using positive enforcement.
04
Common Health Conditions
This species can be prone to feather plucking. If a complete medical exam rules out medical causes, know that boredom and/or lack of appropriate mental stimulation can be a cause. Proventricular Dilatation Disease, Psittacosis, beak malocclusion and Aspergillosis are among the other conditions conures are susceptible to. Regular health checkups by an Avian Certified Veterinarian are crucial to your conures health.
05
Diet
Conures should be fed a pellet-based diet supplemented with lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Seeds and tree-nuts can be used as treats, but should be fed in moderation. Green-Cheeked Conures will benefit from additional Vitamin K and Vitamin A in their diet which can be added through choosing vegetables rich in these vitamins.
06
Housing
A Green-Cheeked Conures cage needs to meet the minimum cage requirements of 24" x 24" x 24" with maximum wire spacing of 5/8" to 3/4". Proper toys and perches must be present in the cage. Each cage should have multiple perches with a variety of textures, materials, and diameters to ensure the feet of your conure are well exercised and prevent bumblefoot and severe arthritis as your bird ages. Conures are active birds and strong chewers who would benefit from access to foraging toys, as well as toys that they can destroy and chew apart. Your cage should have a variety of toys which can include enrichment, shredding, foraging, natural, wooden, metal, and plastic toys. DO NOT put a mirror or fake bird toy in your cage as these have been shown to do more harm than good. We generally recommend housing handfed birds one per cage. If you house multiple handfed birds in the same cage, it is possible for the birds to remain friendly, but this requires a lot more time spent with each bird by their owners.
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​NOTE: Although the minimum cage size requirements are listed above, like with most birds, the more space the better. Keeping in mind the wire spacing requirements, we suggest acquiring the largest cage your budget and space can afford. Length is more valuable than height.
03
Noise Level & Talking Ability
Green-Cheeked Conures are generally a relatively quiet bird for their size. This sub-species of conure is among the quietest of the species. However, their signature sound is a high-pitched screech which is often emitted when the bird is excited, startled and/or when it wants attention. Many owners make the mistake of inadvertently reinforcing a conures screech by running over to the cage or otherwise giving the bird direct attention whenever it begins to screech. By doing this, it negatively reinforces what is called ‘contact calling’. Green-Cheeked Conures need to be provided with the appropriate exercise both mentally and physically. The higher the boredom, the higher the likelihood of noise increases from your Feathered Friend.
Some Green-Cheeked Conures will learn to speak, but they are not known for being able to speak many words or speak well.