Yet Another Conure Question

[GreenCheekConure1]

Hello! Thanks for the support on my first question and I can tell they both have different personalities so I would have to do a bit more research into how they act.
Two quick questions,
I may easily be able to afford the time and care to look after my bird. I have heard if you are away for a bit put a mirror in their cage...Wouldn't that make them mentally insane after awhile if say I went on a vacation. I don't want it to sort of eventually develop this relationship (with the mirror ) and maybe never want to see me again.

If I do get a Conure should I spoil it/overwhelm it? I've heard from owners saying don't put to many things in the cage at once (or at all because they need stretch wing space) or even introduce your family all at one time. I was planning on getting a Small/Medium cage that is very efficient (pull-out-tray, food tray, water tray, swing, perches). Is that a little much? I know it is basic needs but I would like to know what I should put, I don't want to cram them up or even feel bad that they don't have toys. A little description would certainly help so I know how my Conure will feel . Thank you! Have a great day.

 

[MonicaMc]

No. No mirrors!

https://feistyfeathers.com/tag/mirrors/

Not healthy mentally, and potentially physically as well.



You would have to define "spoil".

I wouldn't recommend a cage smaller than an HQ or A&E Flight Cage personally... that's 32" x 21" x 35", not counting the stand. Toss the wooden dowels and replace with natural wooden perches. It's a good idea to have several toys, say 6+ with several others you can change out.


As far as interacting and meeting new people - use your bird as cues. If he's not ready, don't push him, but if he's fine, go for it!

 

[LordTriggs]

spoiling is hard word to define. Giving a bird the largest possible cage you can get with good food and toys they like isn't spoiling, that's the basic care they need for their life to be worth living. If I could I would make the majority of my home into a bird area and I wouldn't consider that spoiling them.

What I would consider spoiling is say running to their cage whenever they call, allowing bites, letting them take food off your plate, destroying things in the home that are not for them to destroy. In short allowing them to step over boundaries and break rules.

ultimately cage stuff requires some common sense, if you have a cage filled with toys to the point movement is impossible then you have too many toys. If you can barely fit a single toy with them being able to open their wings then the cage is too small. A slide out catching tray has no bearing on them, it's to make your life easier and I can tell you after having the cages you need to dismantle to clean the bottom, you want a slide out tray.

 

[Caitnah]

I bought, what I thought, was a large cage. 32x30x60 (inside). After putting in toys, although my guy has room, it's still a bit tight since almost everything is placed from mid level to top. I don't have much below mid center since poop would be a problem.

Knowing this now, I should have purchased even a larger cage to counter this problem. I am a believer in putting in a large amount of toys so my Conure stays occupied. Don't misunderstand me...he has room to flap his wings BUT, a larger cage would give him even more room.

Get the largest cage you have room for and can afford.

 

[T00tsyd]

Cages? When I got Syd from his previous owner he was in a cage 24"x24"x30" with 2 toys a swing and 3 perches. I thought he looked a bit cramped.
After a couple of weeks I moved him into a second hand cage 24"x24"x40" tall he was substantially happier. Last Christmas I treated him to a brand new cage which is 19"x32"x34" tall.
When I unpacked it I thought I had made a mistake as it seemed huge but the orientation of wide rather than tall has made a huge difference to him and he loves it. So my guess is you can't get too large. Having said that he has the run of most of my living area frequently but not all the time. He also has a sleep cage which is 13"x17"x26" tall which he also loves and settles the second he goes in it for bedtime covered in a black cloth.

 

[GreenCheekConure1]

To exactly define spoiling, I mean give them lots of toys, not exactly the cage.

 

[T00tsyd]

I have been building a store of toys over the year and a bit since Syd accepted me as his house guest. Today he has 7 toys in all hanging from the roof and also the sides so he still has lots of room to move around. I also like to use ladders latched onto the sides of the cage but with the base suspended over a branch/perch. There are currently 3 all at different angles and directions. It has been like that for 2 days but tonight I will move it all around and probably change some of the toys as well.
I love the way he hesitates in the mornings before he lets me put him in while he clocks the changes and after his breakfast etc he takes time to plot his way around. Just by moving the perches it seems to change his liking for toys that yesterday he ignored. Up to now it's worked well and he seems to maintain interest and amusement.

 

[itzjbean]

After I lost my female cockatiel I moved my male cockatiel back into his old cage with his mirror...

Since the lost of his mate, he quickly became attached to the mirror again. It was cute for the first week when he would dance in front of it with heart wings, whistle nonstop at himself, but he then began rarely leaving its sight only to eat, and it became an unhealthy obsession rather quickly. He was always near it. He would lunge at me if I went into his cage and would try to protect the mirror (my precioussss), so when I got a new cage for him, the mirror came out of his old cage and went into the trash. No more mirrors!

I feel it was a sense of some companionship for him after the loss, but over a few weeks time, it becomes an obsession that was not a healthy one. It's clear he needs companions, so until new buddies come home, I will be spending extra time with him until he can hear some real birds again and get healthier mentally.