Green Cheek Conures Introduction
The Green Cheek Conure is a very popular pet parrot in the world and rightly so. These birds are small, colorful, playful, and intelligent and make loving pets to first-time bird owners as well as to those who are very experienced in keeping birds. This is a complete guide to all the information you need to know about Green Cheek Conures: their origin, behavior, diet, training and health requirements.
What Is a Green Cheek Conure?
Origin and Background
Green Cheek Conure (Pyrrhura molinae) is a miniature parrot that is native to South America. They are mostly located in the forests and woodland regions of Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay. Famous because of their beautiful green plumage, maroon tail feathers and their playful nature, they are part of the genus Pyrrhura, a group of small to medium sized parrots.
Life span and Size
Average Life Span: 10-25 years (when well taken care of)
Size: Approximately 10 inches beak to tail
Weight: 60 – 80 grams
Why Green Cheek Conure as a Pet?
1. Amicable and Loving Personality
Green Cheek Conures are considered to be very bonded to their human keepers. They are soft, loving and enjoy being out of their cages, and they tend to cuddle into your neck or hide in your hoodie.
2. Low Noise Level (In comparison to Other Parrots)
Although they talk, Green Cheek Conures are not as noisy as the bigger parrots such as the Macaws or Cockatoos. This renders them suitable to apartment life or houses with noise limitations.
3. Intelligent and Educable
These conures are smart and are able to learn tricks, be trained to obey commands and even repeat simple words or sounds.
Colors and mutations of the Green Cheek Conure
Green Cheek Conures have a number of color mutations. Among the most popular ones, there are:
Pineapple: a blend of cinnamon and yellow-sided mutation
Turquoise: Blue green variation that is lighter in color
Cinnamon: Light green, brownish color and pale beak
Yellow-Sided: Chest feathers are red and yellow in bright color.
Suncheek: Lighter version of the pineapple, usually more colourful
All the mutants can be slightly different in personality, but they are all lovable.
Creating the Ideal Home
Cage Requirements
Min Cage Size: 24 x 24 x 24 (the bigger the better)
Bar Spacing: 1/2 inch
Material: Stainless steel cage or powder coated cage
Crucial Cage Attachments
Perches of different diameters (wood, especially natural is the best)
Mental and chewing toys
Food and water dishes
A swing or little rope ladder
Best Cage Location
Locate the cage in a bright area where your bird would be able to enjoy the family activities, but it should not be exposed to drafts, kitchen odors, or high temperatures.
Diet and Nutrition
Green Cheek Conure Food.
To live long and to be active, a healthy diet is required. They should eat:
High-Quality Pellets (70 percent of diet)
Fresh Fruits and Vegetable (20%)
Seeds and Nuts (as an occasional treat)
Safe Fruits and Veggies
Fruits: Apples ( without seeds), grapes, bananas, mango, papaya.
Veggies: Broccoli, carrots, leafy green, sweet potatoes
Foods to be avoid
Avocados
Chocolate
Caffeine
Alcohol
To begin with, instead of savoury or sweet treats
Green cheek conure Behavior and personality traits
Playfulness
Green Cheek Conures are very active and affectionate to be upside down, chew toys and climb. They love socializing and thought-provocation.
Cuddly Companions
Most websites claim that their Green Cheek sleeps in their shirt or cuddles into their hair. They like to be in close contact and live on affection.
Territorial Behavior
Similar to most other parrots, they are subject to being territorial unless socialized well. They can bite in case they feel frightened, provoked, or unpaying attention.
Green cheek conure training tips
1. Hand Taming
The first step is to get exposure to the cage. Speak in low tones and give snacks. Slowly put your hand through the cage, and get them to step up.
2. Target Training
take a small pointer or stick. When they touch the tip with the beak be sure to reward them. This preconditions a lot of tricks.
3. Trick Training
Green Cheek Conures can be taught to:
Wave
Spin
Play dead
Bring home small things
Whistle or noises imitations
Always positive reinforce (praise and treats) and do not make the sessions too long, make them fun.
Health and General Problems
Healthy Conure indicators
Wide awake eyes
Clean feathers, beak.
Playful and action behavior
Normal food and defecation
Ordinary Health Issues
Feather Plucking (as a result of stress or boredom)
Psittacosis (a bacterial disease infection-avian vet)
Poor Diet (causes Vitamin Deficiencies)
Problems with breathing (dust, mold or powerful fumes)
Vet Visits
Make sure to have an annual appointment with an avian vet and call an emergency number in case you believe that there are changes occurring.
Socialisation and Interaction Everyday
Cases where Green Cheek Conures have been kept outside their cage must have a minimum of 2 3 hours per day. They love:
Seated as on shoulders
toys Playing with toys
Discovering new grounds
Learning tricks
Without enough attention, they may become bored, lonely, or aggressive. Make sure they are part of your daily routine.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Green Cheek Conure
Pros:
Loving and smart
Small volume and minimal noise degree
Long lifespan
Apartment-sized great
Trainable: easy to train
Cons:
Will get nippy without socialization
Keeps it busy with attention and time out of the cage daily
Easily bored when not stimulated
May be sloppy eaters and will fling food about
Is Green Cheek Conure the bird right for you?
And, in case you are prepared to make a long-term commitment to a high-energy, cuddly, playful bird that likes interaction, then yes, a Green Cheek Conure is your match! They need effort, time and love but in exchange, you will obtain a loyal feathered companion.
Conclusion
Green Cheek Conures are colorful, affectionate and ever-entertaining birds. If taken care of, trained, and treated, they will bring a lot of happiness and companionship during decades. Both an avian novice and an expert will fall in love with these little bright parrots, which is why they are worth considering as future pets.
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