My Conure likes to eat bugs?

[ericmu17]

SO while my conure was sunbathing on the window sill today I noticed him picking up an ant here and there and eating it. Are insects bad for conures? Ive since removed him from the window.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Protein yum good. Rio hunts flies, nats, and moths. If she could catch them she would most definitely eat them.

 

[Sterling1113]

I don't have personal experience on conures eating bugs, but I feel like it's something they'd do naturally in the wild.
My biggest concern would be where that bug had been, though. (I.E. had eaten a plant that is toxic, has eaten/been through some sort of chemical or pesticide, etc)
Just do like you would had you caught your conure eating anything else weird. Keep an eye on behavior and stools for the next 24 hours, just in case he gets an upset tummy.

 

[Kalidasa]

As far as I know, ants are toxic to all birds except Flickers. Ants are toxic to alot of animals, so I would discourage that behavior. A better insect to feed your bird would be mealy worms or wax worms (in moderation). Although you might want to keep bugs to a minimum during breeding season (now) because it stimulates the hormones. In the breeding season they eat alot of bugs and small amphibians for the much-needed protein.

 

[MonicaMc]

Very few people feed bugs to their birds, live or dead.


Saying that, I have seen Charlie get a hold of a small green caterpillar and eat it. That was gross! Likewise, I've also seen him take a crap, walk off, forget he poo'd, turn around, walk back over to where he went, tried his own poo, realized how disgusting that was and then fling it! The look on his face was priceless! (as disgusting as what he did was!)



Birds are simply very curious creatures. Some birds are fascinated by bugs while others are terrified of them.



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjaEI21vWFg"]Cuckoo Bird and the Flying Thing (umbrella cockatoo) - YouTube[/ame]



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUgiBjAiMl8"]Meeko runs away from moth - YouTube[/ame]




If you are interested in feeding bugs, please keep in mind that too much protein can be bad for them.

 

[veimar]

LOL, Monica, I loved these videos - laughed out loud! Is this too yours? He reminded me of my cat who had never seen a mouse in her life, and when I brought her one she was so scared of it and was afraid even to touch it.

 

[MonicaMc]

Nope, don't own any 'toos! At least, not yet! My largest birds are conures atm.


My favorite video though is of the cockatoo trying to grab the moth with his foot! Just so silly! LOL

 

[inge]

I had our conure on the patio yesterday (in her "to go" cage) and she caught a bug that was crawling the outside. It was fun to watch her try to get it, she was very persistent, and when she did catch and eat it, she gave a little satisfied squawk. Obviously it is a rare treat.