Curious, playful, and good-natured, conures are a popular pet bird to have, and gaining their trust is nothing short of rewarding. Much like dogs, a well-loved conure is loyal and affectionate, and your days are sure to be filled with lovely and playful chirps and bird songs.
However, taking care of these small parrots also includes providing the best possible nutrition for them, and that may come off as a bit tricky if you’re new to being a bird owner. Furthermore, conures are also notorious for eating seeds and nuts. The problem, however, is that a diet filled with these isn’t enough to meet your pet’s nutritional needs.
When it comes to bird care, providing variety is very important to ensure your pet is healthy. And to help you achieve just that, this article will go over the types of food your conure’s diet should include, as well as foods they should stay away from.
What Fruits Can Conures Eat?
Luckily, conures aren’t picky with their fruits, and there are plenty of options you can mix and match on a rotational basis. However, what’s important to remember is that fruits should only make up 25% of your pet’s diet to maintain optimal health.
As for the fruits themselves, your conure will enjoy:
- Apples – In general, almost all birds will enjoy eating apples, as they are tasty and nutritious. Apples are also rich in antioxidants and fiber, helping your conure stay fit and disease-free.
- Bananas – Bananas are great not only because they are filled with nutrients but also because they’re soft and easy to feed your bird. Make sure to provide your conure in small chunks, though.
- Berries – Generally, any berry that we can eat can also be enjoyed by your conure. And it’s just as good, as berries are full of antioxidants that your conure will surely benefit from.
- Grapes – When it comes to grapes, both seeded and seedless should be safe for your pet. These are also generally full of vitamins and minerals.
- Guava Fruit – When feeding guava to your conure, make sure you only provide them with the flesh of the fruit, as the skin might be too bitter for them. Additionally, this fruit is filled with vitamin C.
- Watermelons – Another great choice is melons, and no part of the fruit is harmful. Additionally, watermelons will also help hydrate your pet and boost its immune system and organ health.
- Mango – Mangoes are another sweet treat you can give to your conure. This one is a year-round staple that is always readily available.
- Peaches – Peaches are another nutrient-filled treat you can mix into your pet’s diet.
- Papaya – Conures also love eating papaya, so you can put the occasional chunk of this antioxidant-rich fruit into their diet here and there.
Additional reading: Can Conures Eat Strawberries? What You Should Know
What Vegetables Can Conures Eat?
Diet-wise, vegetables are excellent for conures. However, your pet’s diet should contain more vegetables than fruits.
Conure-safe vegetables include:
- Spinach – Spinach, especially spinach sprouts, are rich in vitamins A, K, and E. However, make sure to limit this to only once a week.
- Kale – Kale makes a great addition to your conure’s diet. Just make sure they are washed and cleaned.
- Legumes – Legumes are full of essential nutrients that can benefit your pet’s diet. Just make sure they are thoroughly cooked and mushy.
- Pumpkin – Pumpkins also make great additions to your conure’s diet, as these are filled with healthy fats and protein that are very beneficial.
- Broccoli – Broccolis are filled with protein, water, and carbs, making them a must-have in any bird diet.
- Cauliflower – Cauliflowers are full of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber. Additionally, the caloric intake of cauliflower also makes them perfect snacks for conures.
- Carrots – The best thing about carrots is not only are they are filled with nutrients, but they can also be eaten by your conure, either cooked or raw.
- Beet Greens – These are an excellent calcium source, helping make stronger eggshells.
What Seeds Can Conures Eat?
When it comes to seeds, conures enjoy safflower and millet seeds like most small parrots, as these are high in healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein that will keep your conure’s energy up. From time to time, you can also give your pet the occasional sunflower or canary seed.
If you don’t have time, you can opt for a natural seed mix, as these contain a balanced selection of healthy seeds.
However, seeds should not be your conure’s whole diet, as this can lead to malnutrition. Again, combining seeds with other healthy foods will work best for any pet bird, especially one as energetic as a conure.
What Pellets Can Conures Eat?
Ideally, these should make up a healthy chunk of your pet conure’s diet, as formulated pellets are specially made to meet a bird’s nutritional needs. They’re also great for providing a nutritionally-balanced diet.
With pellets, make sure that it’s all-natural. Luckily, these are readily available in stores, so you should have no trouble finding these.
Furthermore, 70-80% of a conure’s diet should consist of formulated pellets, with the rest made up of fruits, seeds, and vegetables.
What Foods are Bad for Conures?
There are also plenty of foods to be avoided by your conure, as these can cause sickness, poisoning, or even death. Must-avoid conure foods include:
- Avocado – Pretty much any house bird should avoid avocado, as this fruit, unfortunately, contains a substance that can cause sudden death by damaging your conure’s heart.
- Caffeine – Caffeine is another food to be avoided by your pet, as it can be toxic and lead to poisoning.
- Chocolate – Chocolate is also a big no-no, as it contains a substance that can increase your bird’s heart rate to the point that it can develop tremors.
- Alcohol – Of course, you should never let your birds drink alcohol, as it’s harmful even to humans.
- Onion and Garlic – While these make any meal tastier, onion and garlic are to be avoided by conures, as they can cause digestive issues and even break down red blood cells in birds.
- Dairy – While it’s not toxic, birds are lactose intolerant, which goes the same for your pet conure. Small amounts as occasional treats are acceptable, though.
- Meat – Meat often contains cholesterol and saturated fat, neither of which is suitable for your bird’s diet. While some feed small amounts to birds, they are best avoided altogether.
Aside from this, make sure to always check with an expert or veterinarian before feeding your bird something new.
Additional reading: Why is My Conure’s Beak Peeling? Is This Normal?
Related Questions
What human food can conures eat? Most fruits and vegetables that we eat are safe for conures, and they can also enjoy tiny, occasional dairy products. However, it’s always best to stick to their actual diet.
What veggies can cockatiels eat? Veggies are very healthy for conures, and must-try options include cauliflower, kale, spinach, legumes, and pumpkins. Be sure to clean vegetables first before feeding your conure.
What snacks can conures eat? Usual conure snacks include fresh fruit, millet sprays, and honey sticks. When feeding your conure some snacks, make sure it’s controlled and highly moderated.
Final Thoughts
Conures make for great pets, especially when you give them a balanced and varied diet. This way, you are assured that they are happy, active, friendly, and enjoying life to the fullest.
Of course, checking with your vet before making any change to their diet is recommended and good bird-keeping practice.
