Australian King Parakeet
Characteristics
Length: 35-40 cm (about 14-16 inches). The male has red on throat, head and underside. The rump is blue, continuing to the uppermost tail feathers; balance of tail is dark brown, greenish-black on top. Wings and back are a dark grass-green; brown eyes with yellow irises; pinkish-red beak, edged in black; gray legs. The female is pale grass-green where the male was red colors, except for her belly, which is pinkish-red. The beak is gray-black. Young birds resemble the female, though the beak is yellow. After 6 months the sexes can be distinguished because the males will then have a shiny beak and a great deal less gray in the plumage than the females. After a year the males will start to show red on the breast and head, bit it takes still another year before their adult coloring is complete and they are ready for breeding.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a parakeet or parrot should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
These birds need a large garden aviary (6 x 2 x 2 m), with a shelter of at least 4 x 4 m. This aviary may be constructed of wood, as they don’t chew wood. Be scanty with scrubs. Ideal measurements for the nest box are 35 x 35 cm, with a depth of 90 -140 cm; place a thick layer, about 15-20 cm, of turf, wood chips, and mulched wood on the bottom of the nest box. The female lays 3-6 eggs which hatch in about 20 days. After 7 weeks the young will leave the box. The breeding season lasts from September through January.
Health
All parakeets and parrots should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
