Have you ever heard of turquoise parakeets? A species that is quite true is that they are quite new, but in a short time have managed to position themselves as one of the favorites, as they are quite sociable.
Contents
Where’s this bird from?
It is known by the scientific name of neophema pulchella, and comes from Australia, being the result of a natural variation of the common Australian parakeet.
Despite the great fame they have achieved, this bird is more likely to be kept as a pet than as a young bird, since attempts to get a pair to reproduce usually end up having poor results.
And how is this bird?
It’s quite a beautiful bird. Its size usually ranges from 20 – 23 cm, about the same as the Bourke’s parakeet. It presents a slight sexual dimorphism, since males have a red stripe on the back, which females do not have. In addition, females have less blue in the head. However, in some mutations of the species it is difficult to distinguish the sexes, so a DNA test must be used.
It is a very colorful parakeet that is usually green in most of its body, except in the area of the face where it has a light blue mask and wings, which has the same color. In some areas it may have some yellow feathers. Males also have a red stripe on their wings.
There are many mutations of this species, but the best known is the lutheran mutation, which results in birds that are completely yellow, but there have also been cases of birds with white feathers. The main difference between this mutation and the original specimen is that both the male and female are the same color, and in this case a DNA test has to be used to differentiate them.
And what’s he like as a pet?
The first thing to know before you think about having a specimen of the turquoise parrot in your home is that it is not a bird that everyone can get to have young. If a pair were to reproduce, the female would lay 4 to 5 eggs and after 18 days the chicks would begin to hatch, leaving the nest after one month of life. Their main advantage is that they are very good breeders and are monogamous, so they are with the same partner all their lives. So they could be used as wet nurses for other young.
Their diet is made up of a mixture of normal and ordinary parakeets, to which they must add a little fruit, prepared from egg and gravel, in order to receive all the necessary nutrients. In addition, you can add a little vitamin complex to the water, for the care of your feathers and your health.
The cage has to be longer than tall, although it is best to keep this species in an aviary. It is quite peaceful in nature and does not usually have problems living with other birds. However, it can present some problems in the mating season with birds of the same species, and there are battles to prevent another bird from being taken away by its mate, so in this respect you have to be very careful. But, if you have a bird in the aviary that is not a very good keeper, it is always good to know that you can use this species to take care of the chicks.
Related Entries
