Elegant Grass Parakeet
Characteristics
Length: 23 cm (about 9 inches). Golden yellow, less vivid in the female, which lacks the orange feathers on the belly. Yellow triangle between beak and eyes; small blue eyebrow; blue edges on the wing feathers; olive-green back; black flight feathers (brown in the female). Young males are a brighter yellow than the hens at the time they leave the nest, but do not yet have the band on the forehead. After six months the juvenile molting is completed.
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
Egg-laying is very common in the smaller parrots and can start any time from five months to over ten years of age. Excessive egg-laying can be a health risk, check with a vet. Nest box should be 30x 30 x 45 cm; entrance diameter 9 cm. Cover the bottom with moist turf. The hen will lay between 4-5 eggs. Various cross breedings have been achieved, mainly with the turquoise, scarlet-breasted, and blue-winged parrakeets.
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.
