Conures are not only clever, but also extremely affectionate and rewarding to train. They can learn to speak, obey commands and even do tricks, as long as you know how to teach them. Here are some helpful hints to get you started.

First things first, if you want to train your conure, you must clip its wings. This will allow you to handle the conure more easily, and it will not harm the bird in any way. If you are unsure of how to do this, you can always take your conure to your avian vet to have it done.

Next thing you should remember is to begin training in a neutral place. Neutral places are places where there is very minimal distraction, such as intense light, noise, items, or open windows and doors. Some sources say that the bathroom is a good place to begin, as the space is small, and you can easily close windows and confine the movements of your conure. Place a perch in the bathroom and cover the mirrors and glass surfaces with cloth.

When you are beginning your training, have some conure treats on hand, such as nuts or sunflower seeds. You will also need to be gentle and patient when handling your conure, as it can easily get distracted or alarmed by anger.

To start, place the conure on the perch. If it flies off, pick it up gently and place it back on the perch. You may need to do this several times for it to understand that this is what you want it to do.

Next, place another perch near its chest, and instruct the bird to go up. You can use a keyword for this, and you can place a treat above its head to motion the conure to ascend. When the conure has understood the concept of the climbing command, you can use your hand or finger as substitute for the perch.

Allot about 10 to 15 minutes per day for training. Always include play along with your sessions, and always reward good behaviour and each success with loving of praise and a treat. It will be able to retain its lessons better this way.

This article was first published on theconureparrot.com and was edited by the All About Birds team for readability.

Recommended reading: For further information on Green Cheek Conures, see A Guide to Popular Conures as a Pet & Aviary Bird and A Guide to Pet and Companion Birds. Links will open in a new window.