Green-Cheeked Conure parrot eggs

Green Cheeked Conure parrot eggs

Green-Cheeked Conure parrots are small, colorful parrots native to South America. They are popular pets due to their playful nature and relatively manageable size. If you are interested in breeding Green-Cheeked Conures, here are some key points to consider about their eggs and breeding process:

 Breeding Environment

1. Cage Size: Provide a spacious cage that allows for flight and activity. A minimum of 24x24x24 inches is recommended.
2. Nesting Box: Include a suitable nesting box, about 10x10x10 inches, lined with safe, non-toxic nesting material such as shredded paper or pine shavings.
3. Diet: Ensure a balanced diet rich in calcium and protein. Offer a mix of pellets, fresh fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Supplements like cuttlebone can provide additional calcium.

Breeding Behavior

1. Pair Bonding: Green-Cheeked Conures form strong pair bonds. It’s essential that the pair is compatible and bonded before breeding.
2. Mating Signs: Signs of readiness include mutual preening, feeding each other, and increased vocalization.

Egg Laying

1. Clutch Size: A typical clutch consists of 4-6 eggs.
2. Incubation Period: The female incubates the eggs for about 24-26 days.
3. Candling: To check for fertility, you can candle the eggs by holding a light to them to see the development inside. This should be done carefully to avoid disturbing the eggs too much.

 Post-Hatching Care

1. Chick Development: Chicks are born altricial (helpless and without feathers). They require warmth and constant feeding by the parents.
2. Weaning: Chicks usually fledge (leave the nest) at around 7-8 weeks old and start weaning from the parents’ feeding soon after.
3. Handling: Regular handling from a young age can help chicks become tame and well-socialized pets.

 Health and Monitoring

1. Health Checks: Regularly check the health of both the parents and the chicks. Look out for signs of illness such as lethargy, feather plucking, or changes in eating habits.
2. Vet Visits: Schedule visits to an avian vet to ensure all birds are healthy and address any health issues promptly.

Breeding Green-Cheeked Conures requires commitment and careful attention to their needs. Providing a safe and enriching environment will help ensure the health and well-being of both the parents and the chicks.

With our recent move to acreage we have been able to implement a long-standing desire of mine to successfully set up large aviaries and keep a number of pairs of large Macaws. Previous attempts at keeping birds has failed due to high levels of noise and re-location. We have set up large aviaries which have both indoor & outdoor access which allows us to manage weather extremes and the high noise levels that comes with keeping large parrots. The custom modified shed that we have designed provides the backdrop for four large aviaries housing all pairs of Macaws. Eight pairs of Blue & Gold Macaws including the jaw dropping ‘Opaline’ mutation with the interesting sex-linked mode of inheritance when considering replication & the straight forward recessive ‘Lutino’ mutation. Over the coming years we hope to replicate and further the viability of these colours which are still in their infancy in the bird hobby. Finally, we have a pair of the large & impressive Green Wing Macaws which have amazing personalities