Red, Eastern, or Golden Mantled Rosella
Characteristics
Length: 32 cm (about 12 1/2 inches). Breast, shoulders, neck and head bright red; less pronounced in the female. White cheek markings. Belly yellow with a green glow. Back green with feathers edged in green-black. Rump green-yellow. Large flight feathers and tail blue; the latter with a white band.; central tail feathers green; feathers under the tail red. Eyes brown, beak gray-white, legs black-brown. The female’s beak is smaller, the chest markings grayish white. Around the eyes grayish-brown feathers, which are always lacking in the male. Females are, however, often as brightly colored as males.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots, including rosella, 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 rosella 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
Excellent breeders and foster parents. The hen lays 4-8 eggs, which she incubates by herself. The male will help feed the young when they hatch after about 22 days. After 35 days the fledglings leave the nest, and 10-15 months later they have achieved adult coloring. Once independent they should be separated from their parents. Breeding results can be obtained when a pair is at least one year old.
Health
All parakeets and parrots, including rosella, 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, including rosella, have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
