Post by Smiley on Mar 7, 2008 5:12:35 GMT -5
Common Name: Parakeet - Princess of Wales
Other Common Names: Princess Parrot, Queen Alexandra Parrot, Queen Alexandra's Parakeet, Spinifex Parrot, Rose Throated Parrot, Yellow Princess Parrot.
Scientific Name: Polytelis alexandrae
Origin or Range: Australia
They inhabit the harsh inland deserts of the state, including the Canning Stock Route, where it is most often seen. It seems to prefer true desert and is not often seen in areas such as the Pilbara or Goldfields. It is also found throughout the arid Tanami region of the Northern Territory and possibly extends into arid Queensland.
The Princess parrot is a charming parrot to have among many aviculturists and pet owners. They have a lovely personality in addition to striking good looks.
The Princess parrots are relatively quiet and passive, but they are by no means shy. They are hardiness and may be a good choice for a beginning aviculturist. Whiles they are considered quiet when compared to some of the larger parrots, they are quite capable of producing large amounts of noise, and may not be suitable for all households. They are quite intelligent and some will even talk and mimic whistles.
They are a medium sized parrot, measurement approximately 15.5 inches (40 centimetres) at maturity. There are three popular colour mutations of the Princess. These are the Lutinos, Albinos, and Blue mutations.
SEXING:
They are sexually dimorphic; hence males and females can be distinguished visually.
There are several factors to look for when sexing Princess:
·The rump of the cock is a violet-blue, whereas that the hen is a more greyish-blue
·The head of the cock is bright blue and the bill coral red, with the hen the crown is a slaty-blue and the bill wine coloured
·The central tail feathers on the cock are up to 8cm longer than the hen's.
The cock bird also develops a spatula on the third primary feather in each wing. This seems to develop at the second complete moult and becomes longer as the bird ages. The wing coverts of the cock are brighter. The iris of the cock is orange and the hen browner.
Diet:
In the wild, mainly grass seeds, also fruits, berries, flowers, nectar; probably also insects and their larvae.
Seed mix of canary seed, various millets and weed seeds, oats, wheat and a little sunflower; various fruit and vegetables, particularly apple and carrot; rose hips; green food (chickweed, dandelion etc.); insect soft food and sprouted sunflower for rearing.
Their life span is thought to be as long as 30 years.
Breeding:
Boxes shape: some breeders have bred them in a normal upright boxed. But it has been non for princess parrots to jump on there eggs. Having an L shape box helps to prevent this.
I find that they breed well as single breeders as well as in a colony with not only there own kind, but with other breeds as well.. They also have been housed with crimson wings, king parrots, regents. cockateils and a few others. But do take care with hybridised.
Females usually reach sexual maturity some time before they are one year old, while males are ready for breeding when they are about two. Most attempts to breed at this age fail. 3-4 years before they are fully mature.
Breeding season will usually begin in September and generally ends in December. However, some breeders report that breeding season will begin in March - depending on the area they live in.
The average clutch size ranges from 3 to 6 eggs. The incubation period lasts for 18 to 20 days. Only the females incubate the eggs. The young remain in the nest for around 5 weeks.
Health:
Princess parrots love to scratch around on the floor and will be found there on hottest part or the days. This propensity to spend time on the aviary floor exposes the birds to his or her own droppings and worm infestation. Worms are possibly the
Greatest single killer of princess parrot the way to prevent worm infestation is to keep the floor completely dry. Better still housing them in suspends will help to prevent this.
Susceptible to eye infections.
They are delightful companions and they can become very good talkers. Some have a large vocabulary and even seem to be talking in context.
Other Common Names: Princess Parrot, Queen Alexandra Parrot, Queen Alexandra's Parakeet, Spinifex Parrot, Rose Throated Parrot, Yellow Princess Parrot.
Scientific Name: Polytelis alexandrae
Origin or Range: Australia
They inhabit the harsh inland deserts of the state, including the Canning Stock Route, where it is most often seen. It seems to prefer true desert and is not often seen in areas such as the Pilbara or Goldfields. It is also found throughout the arid Tanami region of the Northern Territory and possibly extends into arid Queensland.
The Princess parrot is a charming parrot to have among many aviculturists and pet owners. They have a lovely personality in addition to striking good looks.
The Princess parrots are relatively quiet and passive, but they are by no means shy. They are hardiness and may be a good choice for a beginning aviculturist. Whiles they are considered quiet when compared to some of the larger parrots, they are quite capable of producing large amounts of noise, and may not be suitable for all households. They are quite intelligent and some will even talk and mimic whistles.
They are a medium sized parrot, measurement approximately 15.5 inches (40 centimetres) at maturity. There are three popular colour mutations of the Princess. These are the Lutinos, Albinos, and Blue mutations.
SEXING:
They are sexually dimorphic; hence males and females can be distinguished visually.
There are several factors to look for when sexing Princess:
·The rump of the cock is a violet-blue, whereas that the hen is a more greyish-blue
·The head of the cock is bright blue and the bill coral red, with the hen the crown is a slaty-blue and the bill wine coloured
·The central tail feathers on the cock are up to 8cm longer than the hen's.
The cock bird also develops a spatula on the third primary feather in each wing. This seems to develop at the second complete moult and becomes longer as the bird ages. The wing coverts of the cock are brighter. The iris of the cock is orange and the hen browner.
Diet:
In the wild, mainly grass seeds, also fruits, berries, flowers, nectar; probably also insects and their larvae.
Seed mix of canary seed, various millets and weed seeds, oats, wheat and a little sunflower; various fruit and vegetables, particularly apple and carrot; rose hips; green food (chickweed, dandelion etc.); insect soft food and sprouted sunflower for rearing.
Their life span is thought to be as long as 30 years.
Breeding:
Boxes shape: some breeders have bred them in a normal upright boxed. But it has been non for princess parrots to jump on there eggs. Having an L shape box helps to prevent this.
I find that they breed well as single breeders as well as in a colony with not only there own kind, but with other breeds as well.. They also have been housed with crimson wings, king parrots, regents. cockateils and a few others. But do take care with hybridised.
Females usually reach sexual maturity some time before they are one year old, while males are ready for breeding when they are about two. Most attempts to breed at this age fail. 3-4 years before they are fully mature.
Breeding season will usually begin in September and generally ends in December. However, some breeders report that breeding season will begin in March - depending on the area they live in.
The average clutch size ranges from 3 to 6 eggs. The incubation period lasts for 18 to 20 days. Only the females incubate the eggs. The young remain in the nest for around 5 weeks.
Health:
Princess parrots love to scratch around on the floor and will be found there on hottest part or the days. This propensity to spend time on the aviary floor exposes the birds to his or her own droppings and worm infestation. Worms are possibly the
Greatest single killer of princess parrot the way to prevent worm infestation is to keep the floor completely dry. Better still housing them in suspends will help to prevent this.
Susceptible to eye infections.
They are delightful companions and they can become very good talkers. Some have a large vocabulary and even seem to be talking in context.