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Buying a pair of Indian Ringnecks as pets will bond the birds to their mates rather than you, and during the breeding season male-unsatisfied females can even kill the males, therefore single birds are more recommended for pets, unless you cannot give your bird at least ten minutes a day (and fifteen if it is under six months old). |
Buying a pair of Indian Ringnecks as pets will bond the birds to their mates rather than you, and during the breeding season male-unsatisfied females can even kill the males, therefore single birds are more recommended for pets, unless you cannot give your bird at least ten minutes a day (and fifteen if it is under six months old). |
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Buying an Indian Ringneck parakeet as a pet requires consideration including but not limited to housing, once-a-time and regular expenses, veterinarian |
Buying an Indian Ringneck parakeet as a pet requires consideration including but not limited to housing, once-a-time and regular expenses, veterinarian visits in cases of emergencies and your family satisfaction. If you have young children at home, your bird should never be left near them without the supervision of you or any other adult you trust. Explaining them the sensitivity of a bird is also a task (see "[[bird-proof]]" for more information). |
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==Attention== |
==Attention== |
Revision as of 00:31, 8 February 2006
Indian Ringneck Parakeet | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Species: | P. krameri
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Binomial name | |
Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769)
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The Indian Ringneck or Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) is a parrot which breeds in north and central Africa, and tropical Asia across to southern China. It was first described and named by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1769, naming it for the Austrian naturalist Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer.
It has been introduced elsewhere, and there are established feral populations in southern England and a number of other European cities. There are also apparently stable populations in the USA in Florida and California. It is a resident species which does not migrate. It is one of the few species of parrot which has withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation and seems to thrive in 'disturbed habitats'. With its loud calls and rapid fire flights it brightens the skies of otherwise dull cities in India.
In the wild, this is a noisy species with an unmistakable squawking call. Now these birds come in many mutations, including but not limited to the common green, blue, grey and lutino among others. Males sport black facial markings under their beaks and a dark band of colors around their necks.
Diet
In the wild, the Indian Ringneck Parakeet usually feasts on a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. While it is best for captive birds to eat mainly a nutritionally balanced commercial diet of pellets and seeds, a Ringneck will appreciate the occasional fruit, veggie or nut treat. For pet Indian Ringneck parakeets, food and water containers should be emptied, cleaned and refilled regularly. A captive Indian Ringneck parakeets should always have fresh water in his cage.
Distribution and Environment
In the wild, the Indian Ringneck Parakeet is a bird of tropical rainforests but now it is found almost everywhere in captivity. They should be kept in a place with stable temperature and can be vulnerable to extreme temperature changes, though a healthy bird can tolerate temperature changes of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Too cold temperatures are not good for Indian Ringneck Parakeets, but not very hot either.
Size
The Indian Ringneck Parakeet a medium-sized bird that is on average 16 inches long (including the tailfeathers). The Indian Ringneck parakeet's average wingspan of a single wing is 7 inches. Their tail counts for a large portion of their length.
Indian Ringneck Parakeets as Pets
Considerations
Like with about all pet birds, the Indian Ringneck Parakeet requires commitment to be kept as a pet. In captivity, if kept properly, these birds usually live for 15 to 30 years, though in some cases longer. Even though an Indian Ringneck requires relatively less attention as compared to other parakeets, it still requires daily regular attention and human interaction, especially until it is six months old. A hand-raised/hand-fed baby bird will generally bond faster to its owner, but most of the situation depends on how much care and attention the bird gets. The best age to buy an Indian Ringneck parakeet is when it is between ten to twelve weeks old.
Buying a pair of Indian Ringnecks as pets will bond the birds to their mates rather than you, and during the breeding season male-unsatisfied females can even kill the males, therefore single birds are more recommended for pets, unless you cannot give your bird at least ten minutes a day (and fifteen if it is under six months old).
Buying an Indian Ringneck parakeet as a pet requires consideration including but not limited to housing, once-a-time and regular expenses, veterinarian visits in cases of emergencies and your family satisfaction. If you have young children at home, your bird should never be left near them without the supervision of you or any other adult you trust. Explaining them the sensitivity of a bird is also a task (see "bird-proof" for more information).
Attention
You must be able to fondle, cuddle and/or play with your Indian Ringneck for at least 15 minutes a day (fundamental if it is single) until it is six months old. Even when your bird is over six months old it will still need considerable daily human interaction (at least ten minutes a day). However, an Indian Ringneck parakeet can get bugged if physically handled too much, over two hours a day. Ideally a pet Indian Ringneck parakeet should receive between one to one-and-half hour a day.
Housing for pet Indian Ringneck Parakeets
Their cages must be no smaller than 20 inches tall, 16 inches wide and 16 inches long. The bigger the cage, the better it is. As a fundamental, it must be big enough to allow your Indian Ringneck flap its wings comfortably without touching the cage's wall and should have enough space so that the bird's head does not touch the ceiling and the bird's tail does not touch the bottom when it is rested on the perch (therefore perch-positioning is also a strategy).
The cage must be provided with four food bowls (for seeds, fresh fruits, pellets and fresh water respectively), safe toys (about three) and a perch. The perch must not be very smooth and should have a rather gritty and slightly uneven texture to exercise the bird's feet. Having a swing in your bird's cage is a good idea and is very strongly recommended.
The swing must have enough space to let your bird fit easily through it, though wing-flapping is not necessary. If you have a cage with dome-shaped or sloping ceiling, then your bird can bump into it while swinging (unless the swing is positioned low enough), therefore cages with flat ceilings are recommended.
Avoid circular swings and cages as they are found to be detrimental to birds' health and buy angular cages and swings. The bird's housing should not contain anything that is not bird-proof. The cage should be located in an active part of your home (where most of your family members hang out).
When traveling with your Rose-ringed parakeet, you will need a carrier. The carrier must meet the cage's fundamentals. To save space your carrier can have less household than your cage, with three food bowls (for seeds, pellets and water) and two toys. If there is a swing in your Rose-ringed parakeet's carrier, it must be well-positioned like it should be in the cage.
Feral Indian Ringneck Parakeets in Great Britain
Rose-ringed Parakeet established itself in Britain during the mid to late 20th Century from introduced and escaped birds. There are two main population centres: the largest is based around south London, Surrey and Berkshire, and by 2005 consisted of many thousands of birds. A second smaller population occurs around Margate and Ramsgate, Kent. Elsewhere in Britain, smaller feral populations have established from time to time (e.g. at Studland, Dorset).