Rosella Bird
Introducing the Rosella: Bird worth Knowing
Rosella, a bird belonging to the parakeet family, is known to be an active and energetic pet that makes for an exciting companion. The Rosella parakeet is colorful and bright and includes eight species and several subspecies. The eight species are Crimson Rosella (also known as the Pennant's parakeet), Green Rosella, (also known as the Tasmanian Rosella), Yellow Rosella, Eastern Rosella (also known as the Golden-mantled Rosella), Adelaide Rosella, Stanley Rosella, Northern Rosella or Brown's, and the Mealy Rosella. Bird enthusiasts love working with the Rosella because of its spirit and intelligence and because it is a hardy species that is easy to take care off. The Rosella is a native of the Australian continent.
The Rosella needs a large cage and plenty of room for movement to grow up to be physically and mentally healthy. The parakeet needs adequate room for exploring and physical stimulation and the general recommendation is to buy the largest cage you can afford. The Rosella also does well in aviaries and its ability to tolerate changes in temperature make it possible to house it in outdoor aviaries also. Aggression is an innate element of the Rosella. Bird owners or breeders try to place them separately except while breeding because of this characteristic. Even placing them in adjacent cages can lead to a lot of bickering and so some spatial separation is recommended.
Parrots and parakeets are priced as pets because of their intelligence and this intelligence demands that you provide adequate mental stimulation for your pet Rosella. Frequent play time with you, plenty of quality toys and perches are all essentials for this bird. Rosella is also a bird that enjoys chewing and you should make sure that some of the toys are built around this preference of your pet.
In terms of the diet of the Rosella, bird food should be provided everyday as also fresh water. You should combine commercial pellets, which offer a balance of nutrients, and fresh fruits and vegetables to provide your bird with an interesting diet. Some human foods, such as cooked chicken, rice and grains, are enjoyed by these birds also.
You have to ensure a hygienic environment for the Rosella: bird cage, food dispenser, water dishes are among the things that need to be cleaned everyday. You can use a newspaper around the cage to collect the crumbs that fall out and change these regularly as otherwise there will be spoilt and smelly food in the vicinity of your pet. The parakeets’ toys should be washed weekly and there should a comprehensive disinfecting of the cage or aviary every few months.
One of the attractions of the Rosella is that it is an easy bird to breed. Experts advise that the Rosella should ideally be bred after the birds cross 18 to 24 months in age. It is effective to house them as single pairs as they can otherwise be excessively aggressive towards their house-mates. The breeding season is usually August through January. Females tend to lay somewhere between five and eight eggs and the incubation period is around 20 days. The small birds can be expected to wean at 8 to 10 weeks stage and it is recommended that you remove them from the parental cage at this point.
Some species of the Rosella bird, such as the Eastern Rosella, do acquire worms when housed in an outdoor aviary and so this is something to watch out for and you can set up a de-worming schedule after consulting a vet. Generally though, these are hardy birds that need only a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. They seem to have the necessary immunity to fight most typical parakeet diseases.
Parakeets and parrots are chosen as pets very often because of their talking ability also and for those who seek a talking pet the Rosella bird is not a good choice. They are vocal but not known to be good talkers. It is also tough to sometimes tame and discipline the Rosella. Bird owners, who are newbies and getting their bearings with aviculture, should start out with a milder species.