About feeding a conure
Conures are playful, energetic small-to-medium parrots with hearty appetites and a sweet tooth for fruit that can unbalance their diet.
How much should a conure eat?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 129 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×1 for a typical bird at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure.
| Body weight | Daily calories |
|---|---|
| 70 g | 18 kcal |
| 81 g | 20 kcal |
| 93 g | 22 kcal |
| 104 g | 24 kcal |
| 116 g | 26 kcal |
| 127 g | 27 kcal |
| 139 g | 29 kcal |
| 150 g | 31 kcal |
What to feed
Pellets plus a variety of vegetables and limited fruit. Their activity level is high, but seed and fruit still need rationing.
How often to feed
Offer measured pellets and fresh veg daily.
Frequently asked questions
What do conures eat?
A pellet-based diet with plenty of vegetables and limited fruit. Conures love sweet fruit, so keep it modest and make vegetables and pellets the staples.
How much should I feed my bird?
It depends on species: a budgie (30 g) eats roughly 5-8 g of food a day, a cockatiel (90 g) around 8-12 g, and larger parrots proportionally more. Offer measured pellets plus fresh veg and weigh your bird weekly.
Are seeds bad for pet birds?
Seeds aren't toxic, but as a staple they're too fatty and lack vitamins A and calcium. Use them as a small treat and make formulated pellets and vegetables the base of the diet.