PRECIOUS FEATHERS AVIARY

THE PAINTED CONURE

 
Painted Conure (Pyrrhura Picta)
 


One of our pairs - Dixie & Picasso

Dixie & Picasso again, here you can see what the tail looks like.


Painteds are dark brown crown to nape with blue wash on fore crown; brown/red face and area below eyes; off white ear coverts; dusky brown upper breast scalloped with off white; green/brown lower breast, scalloped with yellow/white; thin blue collar on hind neck; red bend of wing; brown/red patch on center of abdomen; red/brown tail becoming green toward base. Bill dark brown/grey. Eye-ring bare and grey. Eye orange/brown. They grow to be 8-9 inches in length and weigh around 55-75g. They inhabit the Amazon basin, northern Brazil and Venezuela.

 There are a total of 9 sub-species recognized.

Painteds are quite rare in aviculture. I am falling in love with these little guys more and more everyday. They have such sweet personalities. They love to stretch their necks way up high and talk in their little high pitched voices. Picasso one of our males can say, “Peek-a-boo”, “Whatchadoin”, and can make kissey noises. They are fairly quiet conures and would be the perfect conure for an apartment. They are active and quite intelligent and can even be taught to do a few tricks.

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Tiny Tim Bits Story

Tim Bit a baby painted conure came over to me to be hand fed. He was so tiny, and his eyes were just opened to little slits. Whenever you talked to him or picked him up he would chatter constantly. As he began to grow, we noticed he was way behind where he should be and his eyes were not opening like they should. We cleaned his eyes which would help a little, but for the most part he kept his eyes closed. He would open his left eye but only a slit and he would spin in circles to look around at the world. We put him in with some baby Pearlys and Gold Caps and they all got along well and cuddled together and he quite liked the company. One day when I went to feed the babes I could see blood on Tim Bits neck. I immediately cleaned him up and saw several cuts from bites all around his neck area. He seemed quiet and tired. I put some cream on the wounds and fed him and put him in the incubator with a stuffy for company. The next day the wounds were healing up nicely but I went check on him in the afternoon and he was on his side, feet curled up breathing slowly. I thought he was dying!!! I held him and kept him warm. He was very quiet which was very unlike him, he is a very hyper little guy with lots to say!! He was eating fine which was good and he held on through the night. The next morning John took him out of the incubator and handed him to me to be fed. He started to seize in my hands. I held him close to me until he was finished. Later that day he had another seizure in John’s hands and this one was longer and more violent. It is so sad to see them have to go through this.

The seizures would explain the reason for the slow growth, his closed eyes and his ratty feathers. We think that he must have had a seizure when the other birds attacked him. Also when I found him on his side that one day, he had probably just finished seizing. I am happy to say that he has not had a seizure since then and both eyes are wide open and he is learning to fly. I really hope he has grown out of them, and continues to have a seizure free life!! I will keep you updated on his progress! He is a little ball of energy, and will not calm down when you have him out. He chatters and bounces constantly!! One night at the last feeding of the day I fed him, kissed him good night, put him back in his bin and covered it up with a blanket. I went on to feed the other babies and Tim Bit would not settle down, I looked over and could see there was an area that the blanket did not cover and he could peek out and see me! He would not go to bed if he could see me!! I pulled the blanket down and off he went to bed. He sleeps with a stuffed parrot, and turtle. Now if we could get him eating on his own!!! Ha ha ha To be continued…………….

 

A Tim Bit update October 14th 2008.

I am pleased to report that Tim Bit is doing awesome! He has been seizure free and he is totally weaned...except the hand feeding formula Mommy gives him as a treat now and then. He loves all veggies, grapes, cheerios and nutriberries. He is flying around with control and gusto! He still doesn't have a lot of strength in his feet, but I think they are getting a bit better. He still looks pretty ratty but the new feathers coming in are perfect and beautiful. A Vet check up found no problems, but suggested we wait to see how his new feathers grow in which is what we are doing! He is always calling me over to his cage with a little tweet tweet and then he kisses me through the bars...well how can I resist taking him out for a hug!? He makes me smile everyday and I can't wait to see him with all new feathers...he will look fabulous!

 Here is an updated picture of Timbit (left) and his girl Tickles (right), he is really beautiful now just like I thought!!! He is still the sweetest bird in our home! I love him SO much!!!

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