Barraband’s Parrakeet or Superb Parrot
Characteristics
Length: 32-36 cm (about 12-14 inches). Green, less bright in the female; bright yellow forehead, lacking in the hen; yellow throat and cheeks. Red blotch on throat. Flight feathers blue; tail green, margined in blue; underside black. Orange-yellow eyes, red bill, brown legs. The female’s thighs show some red, and there is some pink underneath the tail. Her eyes are brown. The young resemble the hen; the males have some red in the thighs too, and may retain this, even after the first molt.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies. Peaceful birds.
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
House them in a roomy aviary by themselves for breeding. The female lays 4-6 eggs in a deeply hollowed tree trunk; cover the bottom of the hollow with mold, sawdust, and wood chips. Nest boxes of 2m deep are also suitable. The male feeds the hen during the 20 day incubation time. After 33-35 days the young leave the nest and are independent after another 3 weeks. Cross breeding with the king parrot, Princess of Wales, eastern rosella and red-winged parrot are possible.
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.
