Psittacula
krameri manillensis
Of the
many species of parrots available to aviculture in Australia, the Indian
Ringnecked Parrot is one of the most popular birds represented in parrot
collections, certainly the most common of the foreign parrots. They have proved
to be extremely hardy and reliable breeders.
Looking back over some 30 years of keeping this species, there are not many
parrots that we could compare with this lovely Asiatic species. Whether the
climate be dry, wet, hot or cold it does not seem to affect their breeding
performance. We have seen them housed under all types of conditions, from dark
dingy aviaries to large spacious
cages completely open with no protection from the weather, but they always
battle on. Certainly a lot of our native birds would not last long if they were
housed under similar conditions.
Sexing
As
with most Asiatic species, the Indian Ringnecked Parrot is extremely difficult
to sex under 2-2'/2 years of age, unless surgically sexed. Otherwise, it is a
waiting game until black and pink feathers begin to appear, forming a ring
around the neck of the cock. The hen remains completely green showing just an
indentation where the neck ring should be. Adult plumage is attained at three
years of age.
The Indian Ringnecked Parrot looks its worst when moulting and if you are not
familiar with this process, you would possibly wonder if something was dramatically
wrong with its feathers. Within days, tail feathers drop and pin feathers
appear everywhere and the bird looks a total wreck. However, within a few
weeks, new feathers replace the old and they are back to their immaculate
condition. It is surprising how quickly the cock colours during this moulting
period. One week no colour, then completely coloured the next.
Housing
Single
pairs should be housed in open flights, one third being covered, varying in
overall length from 4.8 metres to 6.6 metres (16 feet to 22 feet). However,
experience has proved 4.8 metres (16 feet) in length is generally ample. We
have found that the longer the flight, the more speed youngsters get up when
first leaving the nest. A branch of leaves or similar placed at each end of the
flight prevents damage to heads or wings, on contact with the end wire.
Youngsters soon learn the limits of the flight and thereafter there is no
problem.
Feeding
Diet
includes a basic seed mix of 2 parts grey-striped sunflower, 1 part budgerigar
mix, 1 part hulled oats. Boiled corn or corn on the cob are fed when young are
in the nest, this being continued until they lose interest in feeding on it,
usually about two months after fledging.
Green food is provided daily with milk thistle and/or oats in head being
completely consumed, stalk and all.
They seem to eat a variety of foods from seeds, most fruit and vegetables and
will be the first to try such commercial products as dry dog food or parrot
pellets. We believe they would find food and survive where most other birds
would starve.
Breeding
This
species is very easy to breed and people who have difficult in our opinion,
either do not have a true pair, or are simply not trying. Even if nest logs are
not provided during the breeding season, we have seen hens digging holes in the
earth floor in a desperate bid to form a nesting chamber.
Being such free breeders and long lived birds, one would wonder why they have
not saturated their own market.
The 420mm (16.5 inches) long Normal green cock India Ringnecked Parrot is a
most handsome bird, especially whe displaying to his hen, stretching and bowing
with eyes dilating. Noises like motor vehicles, lawn mowers etc. passing the
aviary usually sets the cock off into a display and with uncoloured birds this
is often a guide to their sex. Only the cock displays.
Hollow logs, hung vertically, are used for nesting. These measure 900mm (3
feet) long with an inside diameter of 200-250mm (8-1 inches) with an entrance
hole, 75mm (3 inches) in diameter, 150mm (6 inches) from the top. An inspection
opening is made 230mm
(9 inches) from the bottom. These inspection openings are certainly a timesaver
as regular checks can be made on incubating progress and it is easy to remove
young birds to be closed rung without removing the log from the wall. Nestboxes
should be about 230mm (9 inche square) x 600mm (2 feet) high with a 75mm (3
inches) diameter entrance hole.
Four eggs is a normal clutch, however, five is not unusual Incubation lasts
21-24 days and the young spend approximately seven weeks in the nest before
fledging.
Indian Ringnecked Parrots are excellent parents, rarely letting young
die.