Australian Native Parrots

[Steve Weir]

Hi Guys I work rotating shifts at work. I am a bus driver. So some days I start work at 4am and finish around midday. Some days I am on day shift so I start 6 or 7 am then finish at 7 pm. Then some days I start midday and finish at 11 pm to midnight. So as you can see some days especially in the winter months and nights I can't enter the aviary to feed and clean because it would be dark and I don't want to give the birds night fright.

So basically I think I need to breed seed eaters which are more "set and forget" Because I have a ton of experience with them and I know as long as I or someone in my family gives them fresh water every day and they have plenty of seed then it's all good. And I can clean the bottom of the aviary on the weekends.

I marked out an area in my back yard where I want to build the aviary it's 3.5 meters wide by 6 meters long the shelter will be 2.5 meters high and the flight will be over 3 meters high. I have the potential if the Mrs agrees to make 2/3 of the backyard a huge planted flight which would be about 12 meters by 5 meters as as high as I can make it. So my main question is what Australian Native parrots would suit my requirements? I was thinking of Eclectus but after doing some research into them I have worked out they are just as much work as Lorikeets. I don't want the stereotypical Budgies and Cockatiels. I was thinking of maybe Princess Parrots but I was horrified by the price people are charging for them nowadays. So then I was thinking if I was going to spend that much on relitively common birds I may as well spend the money on something like Crimson or Eastern Rosellas and King Parrots. What do you guys think?

I was also thinking of neophemas like Bourkes, Turquoise and swift parrots. But I am more interested in medium to large parrots.

 

[Bokkapooh]

May want to read up on diets. All those birds need more to their diets than just seed.

 

[Steve Weir]

I know that. I am fully prepared to offer fruits and vegies and native grasses with seeds. It's just I would really love Rainbow Lorikeets or Elclectus but I don't have the time available to devote to such birds

 

[blackivory]

May want to read up on diets. All those birds need more to their diets than just seed.

He just means for his family to be able to give them fresh seed and water while he's working odd hours over winter. In Australia A LOT of parrots are kept outdoors in flight avaries 24/7 and in winter you can't enter the aviary after the birds have settled.

Hey Steve. I'm in Perth WA and currently have four outdoor flights, with a secure walkway that each flight is allowed access to when I'm in their aviary. Each parrot is trained to return to his/her flight when I'm done in their aviary.

It is hard when you have one large aviary and I'd suggest building the thing as a whole but adding in smaller enclosed flights. That way you can keep each species separate during breeding season.

My largest flight is mixed ... seven Cockatiels [so underrated], one male Malabar and two Bourkes. Malabars are the quieter and calmer choice to Indian Ringnecks but don't have the liberty of so many mutations. Still really expensive though!

Defiantly suggest Bourkes!! The sweetest little parrot ever with a song out of this world.

I know all species of Rosella require their own flight per pair. But still gorgeous birds. Some of the Yellow and Adelaide Rosellas are to die for A lot more uncommon than the Eastern.

A mate keeps Eastern King Parrots. Relatively calm birds. But I can find out more from him for you?

Red Rumps are like Rosellas, must live in pairs only. But there is a rainbow of colours these days.

I agree, The Princess Parrot is still really expensive for such a common bird. Never had much to do with them and doubt I ever will.

As for diet, I offer mine a standard budgie mix with added canary, millet and jap millet. And sunflowers, that I add myself. Never fed a small parrot mix due to the sheer amount of sunflowers they all contain. Plus the mixed aviary have a bowl of pellets too. They get whatever I have in the house, and what the Eclectus don't like

Plus I soak/sprout wheat, oats, buckwheat etc then add fruit and veg that way, plus any left over pellets from the Eclectus.

The Kakariki don't really get pellets as they chicken scratch their food and most ends up on the floor, where they prefer to eat. They get the sprout mix but again, they kick it all on to the floor. They are ground eaters in the wild.

They are also given picked native browse from my garden. I'd love to plant stuff in their flights but I know they wouldn't get a chance to re-grow! So if you plant anything, take that in board. They WILL shred it!!

And I own a pair of Eclectus Parrots but they live indoors.

We are blessed in Australia to be able to keep parrots outdoors all year round.

Jack doing some acrobats and pulling faces as me because I have almonds on my desk!

 

[Steve Weir]

Thanks Blackivory. After visiting our local specialist bird warehouse we have decided on Eclectus. I was talking to the owners and they are of the opinion that we can keep Eclectus in an outdoor aviary all year round in Victoria as long as the aviary is north facing which mine will be and it will be protected against the harsh notherly winds by the house so all good.

 

[Steve Weir]

Hey Guys

I've been doing alot of research on Eclectus apparently you should do as much research as possible before purchasing birds. I have been reading about toxic and non toxic plants for Eclectus. It mentions that palms are not toxic to them and they are among their natural diet. I am not thinking of planting out the aviary as I imagine that a pair of Eclectus will strip an aviary of all it's vegitation in no time. But I am planting around the outside of the flight. And as I am doing that I don't want the birds to nibble on any toxic plants that might be close to the wire. So back to palms, I am wondering if Cocos Palms are ok?

 

[CheekyBeaks]

Personally I don't find my lorikeets any more work than my non nectar eaters, I spend a good 1 1/2-2 hours per morning preparing and serving fresh food, pellets water etc... Daily and most of the preparation time really goes into my non nectar eaters and a majority of my birds are aviary birds.

I agree with Bokkapooh I would have a good study of diets, fresh food daily is a must and pellets and depending on the species some seed, I would never recommend an all or majority seed diet for any bird, I think the normal recommendation these days is no more than 20% seed.

I've always loved princess parrots, I've never found the normals or blue to be expensive at all, aviary birds here normally go for around $100 sometime less, the mutations can go for a lot more though.

If you are looking into ekkies more definitely look into diets a lot more as they do need a large percentage of their diet to be fresh food and can have issues with hypervitaminosis and food allergies @Birdiemarie can give you good info on diet and care of ekkies. Also look into what licensing you need some states are stricter than others.

 

[Steve Weir]

CheekyBeaks I am doing my research into Ekkies I am reading everything I find and have made up my mind I am getting Ekkies. I have had extensive experience with Princess Parrots and Neophemas so I do know a bit about parrots. I am now looking for a species that's a little more challenging and Ekkies fit the bill, plus they are beautiful majestic birds. I have found out both from the net and a reputable bird dealer in my local area with over 30 years experience that you only need a licence for the Australian Mc Gilvray Ekkie. All the other sub species you don't need a licence for well in Victoria anyway I'm not sure about the rest of Australia. And I have always fed my parrots no matter what species they are fresh fruit, vegies and nut along with their seed diet. I have also found a few time saving tips on feeding the fresh food. And I was told by the bird dealer if I want to breed them (and he recommends it) to buy a bonded pair or alternitavley buy a hen first and when looking at males to take her with me because she needs to pick her mate not me...funny birds.