Blue Headed Parrot
Characteristics
Length: 27 cm (about 10 1/2 inches). Green. Head and neck blue. Ear coverts black. Undertail coverts red. Large green tail tips. Eyes brown, beak blackish with red on the sides, legs greenish-gray. The young are much duller in coloration and don’t as yet have the blue head feathers. Well known and loved in aviculture for many years. Young birds especially become very tame and affectionate. Excellent as a cage bird because their voice is soft. In a community aviary friendly towards other species.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies. Young birds may be taught to talk.
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
The female lays 2-4 eggs which hatch in about 26 days. The nest box should be about 35 x 35 x 40 cm with an entrance diameter of 10 cm. Greens, fruits, fresh branches, oats, millets, sunflower seeds, and ground nuts are essential
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.
