How to Train Sun Conures
Sun conures are brightly colored, highly social parrots that live in large groups. They can bond strongly to their owners and are capable of learning to speak and perform simple tricks. Because of their social nature, sun conures will be happier when kept in pairs. A cage mate will reduce loneliness as well as make training easier.
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Instructions
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Place your conure in a calm, quiet location in your home. Parrots are easily frightened and will scream and become destructive when they hear jarring sounds and witness sudden movements. A safe environment will make training easier and discourage shrieking and feather-pulling.
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Socialize your conure to people. Slowly approach your conure's cage, talking calmly and sweetly to it. Give your bird a treat through the cage bars. After several days of doing this, progress to opening the cage door and giving your bird a treat. When your bird no longer seems frightened by your approach, put your hand in the cage and encourage your bird to take a treat out of it. Conures associate food with positive feelings, so encourage visitors and other family members to give your parrot a treat when they approach it.
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Teach your bird to perch on your finger. Place your hand in the cage, with your index and middle finger extended out to form a perch. Gently rub your bird's belly upward using your fingers and wait for it to perch on your fingers. When it does so, give it a treat. Practice this several times a day. After a few days of practice, encourage your bird to perch and then take it out of its cage. Give your bird a treat if it remains on your hand.
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Teach your bird to talk. Most conures will begin spontaneously imitating words if they are spoken to frequently. Talk to your bird daily. When your bird responds to you by squawking or chirping, give it a treat. If you repeat the same word every time you interact with your bird, it will be more likely to learn this word.
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Discourage destructive behavior by giving your bird lots of exercise and time out of its cage. Your conure should be permitted to explore the area outside its cage for at least an hour every day. Give your conure lots of toys and cage ornaments to keep its mind occupied when it is in its cage. Some birds enjoy having the television on at a low volume, so watch how your bird reacts to television. Birds who enjoy television are less likely to get bored and begin pulling their feathers or screaming.
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Tips & Warnings
Conures will be more responsive to training when they have a strong relationship with their owner, so establishing trust is vital. Never punish a conure. This can cause fear-based aggression and other inappropriate behaviors.
Only allow your bird out of its cage in an enclosed environment where it cannot escape or be injured by dogs or cats.
