It can be an amazing experience watching new life grow in your home. But let me tell you something, breeding conure won’t be easy without a deep understanding and their daily needs. In the world of aviculture, whether you’re a seasoned breeder or a beginner, this article provides you with everything you need to know about successful conure breeding. I will share the essential aspects of conure breeding, from selecting the perfect pair to caring for their offspring, and address some common challenges.

Types of Conures

There are some varieties of conure species with their unique characteristics. The most common and popular conures are:

1. Green-Cheeked Conure: They are my first conure and are known for their affectionate nature and relatively quiet demeanor. They are very popular among the breeders because of their manageable size.

2. Sun Conure:  They are the most popular pet bird in the parrot species. They are recognized by their vibrant yellow and orange feathers. They are very active and vocal.

3. Jenday Conure: They are known for their lively personalities. Similar in appearance to the sun conure they have distinctive green feathers. People rarely find the difference between Jenday and Sun conure.

4. Blue-Crowned Conure: They are larger and popular for their intelligence and calm temperament.

There are more conure species that have specific needs. Breeding might slightly change because of their specific needs, but overall they have breeding requirements.

Diet and Nutrition for Breeding

In order to have healthy breeding you need to focus on the diet and nutritional requirements. I would suggest offering high-quality pellets for their regular diet. Pellets provide vitamins and minerals for your birds. Also breeding conure requires extra protein. Some good sources of proteins are boiled eggs, legumes, and sprouted seeds. Calcium supplements are also essential specifically for a female conure. Calcium plays a vital role in preventing egg binding and other reproductive issues.

Also offer a variety of fresh produce such as leafy greens, carrots, apples, berries, and cucumbers. Nutritional deficiencies can affect your conure breeding, so adding these fresh foods and vegetables is important. Also, offering fresh water for regular showers and allowing them to clean themselves and become healthy.

Breeding Season and Timing

You can’t breed them all year long. You have to wait for the perfect breeding season and time. Conures typically breed during specific seasons which includes factors like temperature and daylight hours. It also depends on the species and the region they are in. Generally, spring, fall, and early summer can be the perfect time for conure breeding. In North America, February to June can be a perfect time for conure breeding.

All You Need to Know about Successful Conure Breeding

Step 1: Choosing the Right Pair

First, we have to choose the right pair. Successful conure breeding begins with the right pair. How to choose the right pair? Well, first look for their age and maturity.

Experts say the minimum age for breeding is 18 months but I would recommend after 2 years for healthy breeding. Make sure they both are healthy. To avoid the risk of genetic disorders in their offspring, avoid inbreeding by choosing unrelated birds with strong genetic backgrounds. Aggressive or overly dominant birds may not make a good breeding pair.

Step 2: Cage & Breeding Box Setup

To encourage successful breeding you have to create an optimal environment. Make sure you provide a spacious, clean, and secure cage so that they can move freely without feeling crowded. Also, place the cage and nesting box in a quiet, undisturbed area. The size of the cage and box has to be appropriate, here is the minimum recommendation:

These are the minimum recommendations, higher cage sizes are better for their breeding. Also, maintain a stable temperature and humidity level in the breeding area. The suggested temperature could be 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C).

Step 3: Mating Behavior in Conures

There are some common signs you must look for that gives you a clear indication of whether your birds are ready to breed or not. If your birds feeding and preening each other, it can be a great sign. Try to pay attention to whether your pair is spending more time together or not. Increasing affection and bonding behavior is another good sign. The last and final sign is that the female may start exploring the nesting box and spending more time inside.

Observing these behaviors indicates that the pair is ready to mate, and breeding is likely to be successful.

Step 4: Egg Laying Process

Once mating has occurred, it takes 1-2 weeks for the first egg to be laid. Conures typically lay a clutch of 3-5 eggs, with each egg laid 1-2 days apart. In this time the female becomes more sedentary and spends more time in the nesting box. Provide some calcium (such as cuttlebone) at this time.

Note: Watch for egg binding. It is very common and can be a serious issue for first-time breeding. Get expert help to prevent egg binding.

Step 5: Incubation and Hatching

Now, this is the fun and most exciting part. After laying eggs, they require careful incubation to ensure successful hatching. Incubation lasts 23-28 days, depending on the species. It is important to keep a consistent temperature (around 99-100°F). Too much variation can negatively affect embryo development. Female conures naturally turn the eggs to ensure even development.

Caring for Newborn Chicks

This is the most challenging part once the eggs are hatched. In the wild, the parents will feed the chicks regurgitated food. If you are interested in hand feedings, you need to provide a specialized formula every few hours. Early interaction with humans can help form a strong bond and make them more comfortable around people as they grow.

Keep monitoring the chick’s growth and health. You can weigh them every few days to check their growth. Also, watch for feather development and activity levels, as it can be a good indicator of a chick’s healthy progress.

Common Breeding Challenges

You might face some challenges such as egg infertility. It is caused by factors like age, health, or improper pairing. You already know about egg binding, which is a serious condition where an egg gets stuck inside the female. Your bird can end up dying without proper care. Lastly, some pairs become aggressive during breeding, leading them to serious injuries. So, keep monitoring the pair and take immediate action if necessary.

Please note that your birds can be affected by parasitic infections. You might see a lot of mites or parasites in your breeding box. You need to take immediate action to help your birds. 

Read this article to learn more about it:

Best Expert Tips for Managing Bird Mites in Your Aviary

Mohammad Solaiman

About Author

I’m a bird lover & breeder living in New York. I always love to share the journey I have with my friends, family, and the people surrounding me. On this website, I only share my personal experiences related to birds and some informational content based on my research and the knowledge of some of my bird lover friends. While I’m not a veterinarian, none of these articles are intended to replace professional veterinary advice. If your bird has medical concerns, always seek professional assistance or take them to a vet.