How to Adopt a Conure in the United States | PetzLover

Why adopt a conure, and which kinds might a rescue offer?

VCA gives conures an average lifespan of 20 to 35 years, so many outlive their first owner's plans, and notes that they may nip or screech if they do not get what they want. Adopting lets you meet a bird whose voice and habits are already known, and gives it a home it might otherwise wait years for.

Rescues may list a bird simply as a "conure". Ask which species it is, because the groups differ:

If you live in an apartment, a Pyrrhura is the likelier fit; PetMD says green-cheeked conures are known to be quieter than other conures, though they are still vocal.

Where can you adopt a conure in the US?

• Bird rescues such as Phoenix Landing, which places birds through foster care in its region, and Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, which adopts only within California.
• Sanctuaries such as Foster Parrots in Rhode Island, which places some birds with guardians in New England.
• Animal shelters that take in birds, and directories such as Petfinder and Adopt a Pet, which list adoptable birds by location.
• Owners and rescues advertising directly: you can browse conures for adoption near you on PetzLover and save a search to get alerts about new listings.

Many rescues place birds only within their area, so start with groups near you and ask whether they keep a waiting list for conures.

How does conure adoption work?

Steps vary, but Phoenix Landing's process is typical and takes at least a month from application:

1. Fill in an adoption application describing your home, experience and the kind of bird you hope for.
2. Attend a free core parrot care class.
3. Have a home visit and interview with a volunteer, in person or by video.
4. Work with an adoption coordinator to find a bird that suits you; say honestly how much noise you can live with.
5. Foster the bird for about two months.
6. Sign the adoption agreement and pay the fee.

Expect the contract to ask you to return the bird to the rescue if you can no longer keep it; Foster Parrots, for example, requires placed birds to come back.

How much does it cost to adopt a conure?

• Adoption fee: Phoenix Landing charges $300 for quakers, ringnecks and conures and says its fees do not begin to cover its costs; Foster Parrots charges a $200 placement fee toward vet costs, not including the enclosure or food.
• Range: The Vet Desk gives a typical adoption range of $25 to $1,000 or more for conures (updated January 2026).
• Set-up: typically $260 to $1,600 or more, including a cage at $70 to $1,000, unless the bird comes with one.
• First avian vet check: typically $50 to $200 before tests.

Breeder prices for conures typically run $200 to $3,000 or more, so adoption is usually the cheaper route, but the running costs are the same.

How do you prepare your home for the home visit?

• Cage: at least 2 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 3 feet long (VCA); more room for a larger conure.
• Location: a family room away from drafts and the kitchen. PetMD lists Teflon (nonstick cookware fumes) and heavy metals among conure poisonings.
• Noise: check your lease or HOA rules, and warn close neighbors that a parrot is coming.
• Diet: pellets as at least 60 to 70 percent of the diet, plus vegetables and some fruit, and no avocado, fruit pits, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol (PetMD).
• Toys and time: VCA says tame conures demand a moderate amount of daily attention, and PetMD warns that bored conures can start plucking.

What are the first weeks with an adopted conure like?

Book an avian vet exam within the first 7 days, as VCA advises; the Association of Avian Veterinarians has a Find-a-Vet search. Keep the conure away from your other birds until it is cleared. The Merck Veterinary Manual says PDD, caused by avian bornavirus, primarily affects macaws, conures and African greys, and the CDC warns that birds can carry psittacosis without looking sick.

• Keep the rescue's diet and routine at first, then change food slowly with your vet's advice.
• Let the bird set the pace of handling, and read its body language before you reach in.
• If it nips, stay calm and give a brief time-out instead of yelling, as PetMD advises.
• Never take it outdoors unsecured: the World Parrot Trust reports feral nanday, mitred and blue-crowned conures in Florida and California, and Florida, for example, makes it illegal to release nonnative species.
• Stay in touch with the rescue; most will help with problems.

Rescues and owners can follow how to list a conure for adoption, so expect careful questions. If you also look at birds offered privately, read how to get a free conure safely and how to buy a conure.