Quick Overview
Getting just one conure or two conures is a common dilemma for potential conure owners. Both options have their own pros and cons. Some key factors to consider are:
- Conures are highly social, flock-oriented birds, so getting two conures can provide companionship and mental stimulation.
- However, two conures together can sometimes form a stronger bond with each other than with you, the owner.
- A single conure will bond very strongly with you, but may get lonely when you are away.
- Two conures cost twice as much in terms of purchase price, housing, toys, food, veterinary care.
- Two young conures together can be quite loud with all their chattering and squawking.
There is no definitively right or wrong choice – it depends on your individual lifestyle, preferences, budget and ability to provide proper care. Doing thorough research and self-reflection on if you can fully commit to caring for one or two conures long-term is essential.
The Pros of Getting Two Conures
Here are some potential benefits of getting two conures:
Companionship
Conures are highly flock-oriented parrots that naturally live in large groups in the wild. Having another conure provides social interaction, bonding, preening and physical closeness that conures crave. Two conures can keep each other company when you are away or busy.
Mental Stimulation
Conures are intelligent, active birds that thrive when kept engaged and entertained. Two conures play together, forage together, vocalize together and overall lead more enriched, stimulating lives together in the same environment versus being solitary in separate cages.
Secure Bonding
Though certainly not a guarantee, many times when two young, unrelated conures are raised together, they will form an extremely strong, secure pair bond with each other for life. This can lead to less issues like screaming, self-barbering or neurotic behaviors caused by poor bonding, loneliness or insecurity that sometimes occurs with single parrots.
Learning Social Skills
When housed together from a young age, conures learn important social skills like communication, reciprocity, boundaries and social hierarchy by interacting with another conure daily. This helps them better relate to other birds compared to conures raised in isolation who lack experience with normal parrot social behaviors.
Fun and Activity
Simply put, most parrots are a lot more active, vocal and animated when living with another parrot. The playfulness, curiosity and high energy of conures is enhanced in a flock environment. Things are likely to be more interesting and dynamic in a multiple conure household.
The Cons of Getting Two Conures
However, there are also some potential downsides of getting two conures:
Stronger Bonding to Each Other Than You
Conures raised together often become inseparable and may not be as interested in bonding with their human caretakers compared to a single conure who is dependent on you for socialization. They may resist being handled, preferring to stay with each other.
Higher Housing Standards
You need a significantly larger cage to comfortably house two conures than one conure. The minimum recommended is 30″ x 30″ x 18″ for two birds. You also need multiple food bowls, perches etc to decrease resource competition. Proper housing for two conures can be costly.
Higher Costs
Everything is doubled – two conures means paying twice as much for the original purchase price, vet exams and medication, toys to keep them stimulated and food bills. Caring for multiple conures is a larger financial commitment.
Aggression Problems
Though generally social, conures can still become aggressive or territorial towards each other, leading to dangerous fights. Closely monitored introductions and balanced flock dynamics are essential to avoid bullying or attacks.
Noise Levels
A pair of energetic young conures together in the same cage can be extremely loud with all their squawking, shrieking and chattering which may bother some owners. The noise levels of two conures versus one needs to be factored in.
Benefits of Getting Just One Conure
On the other hand, here are some upsides of only getting one conure:
Strong Bonding to You
A solitary conure will form an exceptionally close bond with you, their caretaker and main source of companionship. This allows for better training, handling and overall a more special pet relationship compared to a pair-bonded conure.
Easier Housing
One conure is simpler to provide adequate housing for, only needing a minimum cage size of 24” x 24” x 18”. You only need one set of food bowls, perches, toys, etc. Housing a single conure is more affordable and manageable.
Lower Costs
Only needing to pay for one conure is obviously cheaper upfront as well as for ongoing expenses like food, enrichment items, vet bills down the road. If budget is a main factor, one conure makes more sense.
No Aggression Issues
You do not have to worry about two conures potentially fighting or not getting along when you only have one bird. There are no concerns about flock dominance, competition or territorial disputes with a solitary conure.
Less Noise
While any conure is potentially noisy at times, a single conure tends to be quieter than two conures interacting. One conure housed alone does not shriek, chatter and squeak constantly at their companion all day long.
The Cons of Getting Just One Conure
However, there are also drawbacks of only having a single conure:
Loneliness When Alone
Conures are social flock birds, so a solitary conure may experience loneliness or feel depressed when left alone for extended periods without you around. Some single conures even pluck their feathers out of boredom and stress.
Problematic Screaming for Attention
Some single conures become clingy and scream persistently for their owner out of separation anxiety and excessive dependence. They may overattach to you as their sole companion and exhibit neurotic behavior patterns.
Lack of Flock Interaction
Conures communicate, forage, perch, preen and play together in the wild. A solo conure is deprived of this normal social enrichment. They can become withdrawn, inactive or frustrated without daily conure companionship.
Stress and Health Issues
Lonely, anxious parrots may have higher levels of circulating cortisol hormones and weaker immune systems. Solitary housing situations are associated with higher rates of stress-related feather plucking, self-mutilation and health problems in conures.
Inexperience with Conure Cues
A conure raised alone will lack practice using species-specific body language and vocalizations during their development. This hampers their ability to properly socialize and communicate with other birds later on.
Key Considerations When Deciding Between One or Two Conures
If trying to choose between getting one conure or two conures, here are some important factors to keep in mind:
Your Schedule and Availability
Realistically assess how much time you can spend directly interacting with your conure(s) each day. Two conures left alone frequently may become bonded and noisy versus a single conure may become needy, loud and neurotic when frequently left alone.
Travel Frequency
If you must travel often and leave your conure(s) in someone else’s care, this may disrupt bonding between multiple conures being separated but be less problematic with just one conure. Frequent travel is easier with one bird.
Noise Tolerance Level
How well do you handle loud squawking or screaming? Two young conures together in the same space can be extremely noisy at times. If you have low noise tolerance, one conure makes more sense.
Prior Parrot Experience Level
First-time conure owners may want to start with just one bird to establish their skills. More experienced owners may better handle challenges like bonding, housing, aggression, etc. that can come with getting multiple conures.
Age When Acquiring the Conure(s)
If the conure(s) are older juveniles or adult rescues, bonding may be easier between two birds versus babies that imprint on owners. However, babies housed together imprint on each other, not you. Consider ages.
Your Energy Level
Can you regularly spend time actively engaging two young, energetic conures? Do you have the stamina to constantly supervise their interactions? Caring for multiple conures can be exhausting so be realistic.
Long-Term Commitment
At minimum, conures require 10-15 years of responsible care, often living 25+ years. Make sure you can fully commit to caring for either one or two conures for their entire long lifespans.
Tips for Successfully Housing Two Conures
If opting to get two conures, here are some tips for setting them up for success:
- Get the largest cage possible to decrease territorial issues – minimum 30” x 30” x 18”.
- Provide multiple sources of food, water, enrichment to prevent resource guarding.
- Give each their own designated perch/sleeping area to reduce squabbles.
- Avoid competition over perceived “scarce” resources which can trigger fights.
- Consult an avian vet for optimal nutrition, housing, introductions advice.
- Take things slowly and closely monitor their initial interactions.
- Be patient – it can take weeks or months for a stable flock dynamic to emerge.
- Ensure each conure gets one-on-one interaction time with you daily.
Following this proper introduction protocol while providing adequate space and resources can facilitate success in housing two conures long-term.
Final Summary – One Conure or Two?
In conclusion, there are compelling advantages and disadvantages to both having one conure versus two conures as companion birds. Two conures provide social enrichment, activity and bonded companionship. But two birds cost more, require more space, can be noisy and may bond to each other instead of you. A single conure forms an intense bond with you but may be prone to separation anxiety, loneliness and neurotic screaming.
Ultimately there is no universally right or wrong option – it depends on your individual circumstances, lifestyle and abilities as an owner. Conures are long-lived parrots requiring a major commitment. Take an honest assessment of your budget, schedule, experience level and patience before deciding to welcome one or two conures into your family. Meet the specific needs of your individual bird(s) and you can have an incredibly rewarding relationship with your conure(s) for years to come!