A few questions~

Hello everyone, as more than obvious - I am new to this amazing community and have some important questions to ask all of you. As I am a complete newbie to bird ownership, I would absolutely love to gain input from varying sources. I've done the research on Conures over the years(about six years now), from books to websites, personal opinions, etc. But I've not ever been able to own one up until my decision was set in stone. I do not yet have my little featherfluff of joy, but I will be getting him from a breeder some hours away once I ensure that I have -everything- that I need to make him comfortable and healthy. And don't worry bird owners, like in my introductory topic - I know for a -fact- that I am up for the responsibility of such a precious creature!

So to start of my hoard of inquiries..

Cages:
I have had one heck of a time attempting to pinpoint an exact cage for my future little one. There are so many varying ones, and some of the absolute -perfect- seeming ones, end up having all these flaws that would not go well with a Conure... I already have a set travel cage, which is in both my limit and will provide a comfy space for my little guy during travel(which won't be so so often anyways). But my main problem aside from the cage issue, is that the ones that ARE perfect without any issues - do not ship to Canada. I looked at PetSmart's website and they have nothing to meet the requirements I am aiming for. So I looked into a website last night, and found an intriguing cage, for a reasonable price. But before I even think about jumping the gun, I'd love opinions on it. I'm not too sure about the size for it, even though my little one will be out more than half of the time - with me.

-HANA HUT™ DOMETOP SMALL BIRD CAGE WITH STAND 20"W X 20"D X 59"H

Are there any other cages you all would recommend(if that one isn't good enough), that are available for shipping(or better yet, purchasing) here in Ontario, Canada?

Cage Setup:
How do you prefer to setup your cage? Do you set the perches, dishes, toys, etc - up in certain ways? Do you recommend a method of perch placement, and such other things?

Diet and Food:
I have heard so many varying opinions on the diet needs of a Conure, and the foods that they should be given. I have a general idea of it, and am confident of it - but I'd love to see what true owners say and feel about diet and feeding habits. For instance, do you use pellets or seeds? The breeder I will be getting my Conure from feeds strictly pellets, with fruits, veggies and the like mixed in. I've heard that seeds can be a bit more harsh on the digestive system(not sure if fact of myth), and that it is a bit harder to maintain a staple and -healthy- diet with them. According to a lot of people, pellets offer a bit more variety and offer a lot more nutrients, etc. Aside from the information I've personally gathered, I'd still like to stick to pellets(and fruit, etc) - as that is the diet that their birds are raised on. As for another question what fruits, veggies, etc - do you give your Conure?

Another question is, how often do you feed your little one? I've heard that twice daily is the recommended amount, but that of course depends on what you feed them, and how you feed them. So I'd love to once again, hear what you all have to say.

Dishes, Perches, Lining, Toys:
Dishes:
First and foremost, I've heard a lot about steel water bowls being very unsanitary. So even though it may not be entirely true, I'm going to be purchasing an actual water dispenser to attach to the side of the cage(if the little guy will take to it). If a dish is required, I do not mind tending to it every time that is needed. Anyhow, what dishes/feeders/waters do you use?[/url]

Perches:
I've heard a lot about what perches are bad, and which ones are good. But then I've also heard about the good being bad, and the bad being good. For instance, sand perches are supposedly a bit harsh due to being able to be broken away, certain materials can be harmful, etc? And that the more coarse ones should be placed near the feeding/watering area to promote natural beak and nail 'buffering'? I also heard that varying sizes of perches is important, to allow the bird's feet to become accustom to different grasps that can avoid arthritis and other problems with the feet. To me, that is common sense anyways as a bird scales many differently sized things in the wild. But what perches do you prefer? Please let me know, with the names(if possible).

Lining:
I've heard that the cheapest means of a cage liner, is newspaper. As I don't usually trust newspaper(even when out of reach), I'd like to know if there are alternatives? I will be getting a cover for the bottom of the cage to catch anything that falls, like seeds or droppings. But to line to the tray at the bottom of the cage, I'd like something that will catch droppings and such - without the full on brunt of a mess. So, what lining do you use?

Toys:
I've heard that when you first get a Conure, they can be a bit skittish at first and prefer to have a slightly spacier environment for the first day or so. As in, limit the cage to one or two toys to allow them to get use to it. Now, I am not sure if that at all is true - as adding even more toys to the cage, after they got use to just the two.. Could be a bit, stressful? If not, then please dismiss my fear of that. But anyways, what toys do you use and prefer(foraging toys as well)? I know and have some basic ideas for toys already, but would love to see what you all have to say and show!

"Grooming":
I've not heard much about a time frame where nail and beak trimming, as well as wing clipping should be taken into account. So I wanted to ask this, as it is very important to me. How often should a Conure's beak, nails and wings be tended to? Obviously "when they seem to need it", but is there any set time frame that you all prefer? My vet will be handling all of the work for this, unless I find a cheaper, closer individual with much experience.

Anything Else: Is there anything else that should be brought to attention, that you would like to offer me? For instance, something that I did forget to mention. What are your opinions on cuttlebones, etc? Are there any other supplements that you would recommend?[/url]



**Note**: My abilities to get a lot of the popularized things that I question, are probably lesser than those in the US, etc. So if possible, please try to list products that are available internationally as well(if they already aren't offered in Canada)!


Thanks so much for your time, and I can't wait to see what you all have to offer!

Etienette said:

Cages:
I have had one heck of a time attempting to pinpoint an exact cage for my future little one. There are so many varying ones, and some of the absolute -perfect- seeming ones, end up having all these flaws that would not go well with a Conure... I already have a set travel cage, which is in both my limit and will provide a comfy space for my little guy during travel(which won't be so so often anyways). But my main problem aside from the cage issue, is that the ones that ARE perfect without any issues - do not ship to Canada. I looked at PetSmart's website and they have nothing to meet the requirements I am aiming for. So I looked into a website last night, and found an intriguing cage, for a reasonable price. But before I even think about jumping the gun, I'd love opinions on it. I'm not too sure about the size for it, even though my little one will be out more than half of the time - with me.

-HANA HUT™ DOMETOP SMALL BIRD CAGE WITH STAND 20"W X 20"D X 59"H

Are there any other cages you all would recommend(if that one isn't good enough), that are available for shipping(or better yet, purchasing) here in Ontario, Canada?

Click to expand...

I would say that cage size is adequate, around the minimum size needed, but if you really want a very happy bird I would go with a much bigger model so that he can move around a lot and exercise. I use a cage that size as a sleeping cage for my Quaker, and he is about the size of a conure. I like the Prevue Flight Cage for smaller birds whose beaks aren't big enough to rip the bars to shreds. I put the Petco link because I think they ship to Canada, but you can find it MUCH cheaper on Amazon.

Cage he came in about 2 inches smaller than the cage you listed:


His new cage:

Etienette said:

Diet and Food:
I have heard so many varying opinions on the diet needs of a Conure, and the foods that they should be given. I have a general idea of it, and am confident of it - but I'd love to see what true owners say and feel about diet and feeding habits. For instance, do you use pellets or seeds? The breeder I will be getting my Conure from feeds strictly pellets, with fruits, veggies and the like mixed in. I've heard that seeds can be a bit more harsh on the digestive system(not sure if fact of myth), and that it is a bit harder to maintain a staple and -healthy- diet with them. According to a lot of people, pellets offer a bit more variety and offer a lot more nutrients, etc. Aside from the information I've personally gathered, I'd still like to stick to pellets(and fruit, etc) - as that is the diet that their birds are raised on. As for another question what fruits, veggies, etc - do you give your Conure?

Click to expand...

Seeds are like candy for a bird! Use them only as treats! Birds should be on something like a 70% pellet, 20% veggie/fruit, 10% seed/treat diet or something similar. Less seeds for birds that are prone to fatty liver disease like my Quaker.

Etienette said:

Another question is, how often do you feed your little one? I've heard that twice daily is the recommended amount, but that of course depends on what you feed them, and how you feed them. So I'd love to once again, hear what you all have to say.

Click to expand...

I feed my birds twice a day, morning and night. Pellets in the morning, pellets and veggies at night.

Etienette said:

Dishes:
First and foremost, I've heard a lot about steel water bowls being very unsanitary. So even though it may not be entirely true, I'm going to be purchasing an actual water dispenser to attach to the side of the cage(if the little guy will take to it). If a dish is required, I do not mind tending to it every time that is needed. Anyhow, what dishes/feeders/waters do you use?[/url]

Click to expand...

They are unsanitary if you don't clean them at least twice a day (morning and afternoon.) I find water bottles much easier to care for as they can't poop in them. Glass bottles with the little metal nipples are good--plastic can harbor bacteria more easily. I change the water once a day and wash the bottle with soap once a week.

Etienette said:

Perches:
I've heard a lot about what perches are bad, and which ones are good. But then I've also heard about the good being bad, and the bad being good. For instance, sand perches are supposedly a bit harsh due to being able to be broken away, certain materials can be harmful, etc? And that the more coarse ones should be placed near the feeding/watering area to promote natural beak and nail 'buffering'? I also heard that varying sizes of perches is important, to allow the bird's feet to become accustom to different grasps that can avoid arthritis and other problems with the feet. To me, that is common sense anyways as a bird scales many differently sized things in the wild. But what perches do you prefer? Please let me know, with the names(if possible).

Click to expand...

I suggest watching your bird and seeing how it affects HIM. The reason you hear so many different opinions is some birds' feet may get scratched up by sandy perches and others are just fine. It is good to have perches beyond just wooden dowels. I like natural wood perches that my bird can peel the bark off of for fun. I also try to arrange my cage like a "tree," with perches sort of randomly poking everywhere so that he gets exercising moving from perch to perch. I also keep his water on the opposite side of the cage from his food so he has to exercise and not sit on his lazy behind.

Etienette said:

Lining:
I've heard that the cheapest means of a cage liner, is newspaper. As I don't usually trust newspaper(even when out of reach), I'd like to know if there are alternatives? I will be getting a cover for the bottom of the cage to catch anything that falls, like seeds or droppings. But to line to the tray at the bottom of the cage, I'd like something that will catch droppings and such - without the full on brunt of a mess. So, what lining do you use?

Click to expand...

I get these liners delivered to me monthly from Drs. Foster and Smith (it's an auto setup). They have liners for every size cage and you can just stack a bunch in the bottom and peel one off every day.[/QUOTE]

Etienette said:

Toys:
I've heard that when you first get a Conure, they can be a bit skittish at first and prefer to have a slightly spacier environment for the first day or so. As in, limit the cage to one or two toys to allow them to get use to it. Now, I am not sure if that at all is true - as adding even more toys to the cage, after they got use to just the two.. Could be a bit, stressful? If not, then please dismiss my fear of that. But anyways, what toys do you use and prefer(foraging toys as well)? I know and have some basic ideas for toys already, but would love to see what you all have to say and show!

Click to expand...

Again it depends on the bird. If he seems distressed, remove some toys and introduce more slowly. If he seems fine, leave them all in. I would buy a variety of toys (wood, plastic, rubber, foraging) and see what he takes a shine to. I bought a ton of pricey wooden toys and all my Quaker wants to play with is bendy straws and cheap plastic budgie toys.

Etienette said:

"Grooming":
I've not heard much about a time frame where nail and beak trimming, as well as wing clipping should be taken into account. So I wanted to ask this, as it is very important to me. How often should a Conure's beak, nails and wings be tended to? Obviously "when they seem to need it", but is there any set time frame that you all prefer? My vet will be handling all of the work for this, unless I find a cheaper, closer individual with much experience.

Click to expand...

The beak should be worn down naturally, which is why it's good to have a sandy perch. As a small bird that may be enough to keep his nails in check, too. About every two months would be when you'd see a little growth, IMO, but maybe not--my Quaker wears his nails down while playing.

Etienette said:

Anything Else: Is there anything else that should be brought to attention, that you would like to offer me? For instance, something that I did forget to mention. What are your opinions on cuttlebones, etc? Are there any other supplements that you would recommend?[/url]

Click to expand...

Cuttlebone is good. Other than that your bird should be getting all his nutrients from his (naturally colored) pellets and his veggies/fruits. Unless he already has a deficiency you probably won't need to give him extra supplements. A balanced diet does that.

I think Puck answered your questions pretty well!
I have two green cheeks and adore them so much.

My system is a little different from most, because I'm stuck home all day, and my guys are out of their cage as a result. I think the amount of time you're able to spend with them outside of their cage should dictate how big the cage is. The more time they spend inside, the bigger the cage should be.
Mine prefer to climb versus flying or running around, so their cage is taller than it is wide.

For food, I feed them chop in the mornings (a mix of veggies, whole grains and greens), then a low-seed mixture later in the day that they have to forage for, then pellets. When I put them away for the night, I'll often put more seed mix in their cage so they have something to eat in the morning before I get up and let them out.
I do not use a water bottle, but have various dishes outside of the cage for food and water. I do plan to start training them to use a water bottle, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I think if you're gone for several hours a day (like most people are), a water bottle is a great idea.
I rotate their dishes often, and they get washed with dawn dish soap.

I have a variety of perches inside of their cage, including edible, a soft, bendable rope perch, natural wood perches, and a safety pumice perch. The pumice perch is on the outside of their cage, and helps trim their beak and nails without hurting the pads of their feet (you'll need to put in on a cage with vertical bars for it to lay the correct way).
I suggest setting up the cage so things are less likely to get soiled. For example, having a high perch directly over food, water, another perch or a toy is bound to be a disaster. You'll soon learn your gremlin's favorite spots to hang out in the cage and can rearrange accordingly.

I personally use newspaper on the bottom of the cage, because the grate is several inches off of the cage floor, so my monsters can't reach the paper.

Since my guys are out of their cage most of the day, I make a lot of foraging and foot toys. My guys love to destroy, shred and throw everything. My girl Genevieve also loves to sleep against/inside a cotton rope toy I got her. She also sleeps wrapped up in my sweater or her little blanket. She's a snuggler, as are a lot of conures!

Conures are fairly individualistic, so your little one will let you know what she likes after a while.

I don't see people post about this often here, but I take my birds into the shower with me once or twice a week. They bathe themselves in the bowls of water I leave out with them, but they need a thorough soaking often. I have them sit on a perch away from the water while I wash up, then I have them step directly up onto my hand (or a dowel perch if I have all three with me at once; they have a cockatiel sister haha), and I have the water bounce off of me and mist them. They love it! Gené gets really excited if I ask if she wants to take a shower now. I think it's a wonderful bonding opportunity. Just be sure to keep them away from drafts until they have air dried properly, and don't do this too often.

Thank you both for the extremely informative and straight forward responses! I went shopping today and bought absolutely everything needed, aside from the main cage. I am still beyond stumped on what a good one would be, which is in my price range and is able to be shipped to me. Unfortunately, Petco does not ship to Canada(I always thought that it did!) - so anything from there is out of the question.

I went and poked around on Amazon Canada, and came across the [ame=http://www.amazon.ca/HomCom-Metal-Parrot-Decorative-Removable/dp/B00CGUWLDQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1427859507&sr=8-5&keywords=bird+cage]HomCom 63" Metal Bird Cage Wire Parrot Decorative House w/ Tray Removable[/ame].

Size Comparisons (interior):
Hana Hut: 20"W x 20"D x 38"H
HomCom: 29"W x 17"D x 32.7"H

Already, there are some differences - where the first one offers better depth and height, while the second offers better width. As far as my concerns flow for the three.. I do want to try and prioritize the width if possible, as I know how dangerous it is for a bird's wings to have little stretching space. My little guy will be out of his cage for basically the entire day with me, in the long run. But anyways - based on opinions of the two listed, which would be the most preferred, and why?

If it were between the two, I'd go with the HomCom personally.
It's still very tall, while being much wider! A conure would love that. The locking door is going to come in handy as well. My rescued GCC, Phaedrus, knows how to open some cage doors, which prompted me to get a cage with a locking main door, and locking food doors.

Hay Needle ships some items to Canada? http://www.hayneedle.com/shared/templates/shipping_details.cfm
This cage is similar to the one I'll be getting Quinn for his 'big boy' cage. HQ Opening Scrolltop Birdcage with Stand - Bird Cages at Hayneedle

Thank you both for your help and opinions on these!
I have decided to go with the HomCom, for it's fantastic width and equally fantastic height. It will fit just nicely in the place that I have available for it! Perhaps later on down the road, when I can save up long-term rather than short notice - is when I'll go for one of the bigger cages. But since my little guy will be out with me everyday, I am not too worried about having a largely spacious cage, just yet.

Despite that though, if anyone else has input on everything else that I have asked about - please don't hesitate to post!

Just one last thing - may or may not help. My little GCC JellyBean has a separate night cage (need not be at all big) with a snuggly sleeping tent - not toys, just water. These little creatures need 12 hours of undisturbed sleep in complete darkness and I found that trying to get him sleep in his big cage with everything else going on didn't work. So now, at 8pm, it is bed time and off he goes to his covered sleeping cage in a quiet part of the house. Worked wonders with him! In the morning I know he is awake when I hear him call "Good Morning" and "JellyBean"

Wow, that may actually be a good idea if my little guy shows to be a stubborn sleeper! I am sure his travel cage would provide a suitable enough sleeping cage for him, if it comes to that. Thank you so much for the tip!

The HomCom is really similar to what I have my baby in very good cage! Lots of room for when we aren't home.

So glad to hear that someone has similar, and finds it to be suitable!
Thanks for your feedback!

A few questions ||Update on Pg. 2||

Hey guys, it has been a few days now and I've not made any update!

I got the cage in the mail, and was a bit disappointed as some of it was bent. But my brother and I put it together without any complications. The pieces were bent back into place once we put it all together, which I am very thankful for. I have set up the perches, toys, and such other things - and will be filling the water bottle and food dishes fresh when my little one arrives.

I spoke to the breeder yesterday, and unfortunately - sexing has not been done on the ones that they are offering. But thankfully, blood has been drawn and has been sent up to Toronto for testing. I should hear back next week on what gender my little one will be. But in the long run, after doing a bit more thinking and research - I really don't mind which gender my little one will be. I will simply be happy and honored to have a featherfluff in my life after wanting one for so long. So.. Tomorrow, I will be leaving at 5am EST to head to the Breeder who is located three hours away, give or take some minutes. I am beyond excited, and have absolutely everything ready for the little one to arrive. I spent all day yesterday renovating my room and building the cage, and so forth! Now all I need to do is pick the little one up(after picking him/her out), and schedule a vet appointment for a check-over!