Canary Winged Parakeet
Characteristics
Length: 23-25 cm (about 9 1/5 – 10 inches). Primarily green, darker on breast and belly. Outermost wing-feather edges, epaulet, and primaries bright yellow. Underside of tail blue. Eyes dark brown, beak light horn colored, legs pinkish-red. There may be some blue on the wings. Young birds are duller, particularly the blue and yellow hues. Providing they receive good and proper care, the species can become tame in just a few weeks. It is a pity that they have a fairly loud, somewhat raucous call.
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
One of the reasons these birds breed so well is their friendly and peaceful nature. The beechwood nest should be 20x20x40 cm with an entrance diameter of 8 cm. It should be equipped with a 4 cm thick layer of moist peat moss. in order to assure the best possible breeding results the nest boxes should be hung in the outside flight and not in the night shelter. The female lays 5-6 eggs which are incubated for 23 days. After 7-8 weeks the young leave the nest. During the night the male stays on the nest. The young also like to sleep o the nest after they have fledged.
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.
