Pennant's parakeets
JIMMY PEDERSEN
I'm in desperate need of all kinds of information about
my new parakeet's.
It's a pair of Pennant parakeet's.
I've been to my local library and to the state library, and
have only been able to find 2 VERY small article about them,
but no information about their way of living, nest size and
that kind of practical info.
Anybody got something to say, PLEASE do so.
Desperate Jimmy
* RM 1.3 03101 * Windows: From the people who brought you EDLIN!
Mike Owen
>Hi there
>
>
>I'm in desperate need of all kinds of information about
>my new parakeet's.
>
>It's a pair of Pennant parakeet's.
>
>
>Desperate Jimmy
>
Pennant's Parakeet is known in Australia as the Crimson Rosella. They
occur in eastern Australia from Cairns in the north to Adelaide in the
south. The classification of this group of Rosellas is a bit
confusing, with some scientists including the Yellow and Adelaide Rosella
in with the bright red Crimson Rosella. In the wild they are very
common, and live mainly in eucalypt forest and woodlands and feeding on
seeds, particularly eucalypt seed. They feed both on the ground and in
the trees.
In the aviary they can be very aggressive, and must be housed on their
own, particularly in breeding season. No other Rosella should be housed
in an adjoining aviary if only mesh separates them. Breeding in
Australia is from September to December (our spring to early summer) so
in North America it should be March to June. An aviary of around 15' by
4' and 8' high is suitable accomodation. Nest boxes are usually
rectangular, 12"x12" and 20 to 24" deep with the hole about 3 to 4" in
diameter. Put wood shavings mixed with potting mix in the bottom 3" of
the box.
In Australia the vast majority feed their birds seed rather than pellets,
and a mix suitable for a cockatiel or lovebird is OK. It needs
supplementing with plenty of fresh fruit and vegies, seed should be no
more than 20% odf their diet leading into the breeding season. Many
breeders here use sprouted seed during the breeding season for the extra
protein. In the wild many rosellas feed on insects etc during the chick
raising period, so something like mealworms may be worth trying when they
have babies. around 5 eggs are laid, and the hen incubates for about 20
days. Fledging is after 5-6 weeks and the babies will continue to be fed
for a further 3 weeks.
They do not make good pets. If handraised they are OK for a few months
but gradually become more aggressive, and will start biting at times,
very painfully (I speak from experience!) I know of no successful
Crimson's as pets beyond 18 months, they have all gone to the aviary.
If you have any other queries let me know and I will try to help. A good
book on Rosellas is "A Guide to Rosellas and their mutations" published
by Australian Birdkeeper. Obtainable from Audubon Publishing in the USA
on 1-800-359-2473, costing around $25.
--
Cheers, Mike Owen, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia.
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to see where Mooloolaba is try:-
http://peg.pegasus.oz.au/~futurecom/map.htm