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RingneckandAlexandrineparrotcare!

RingneckandAlexandrineparrotsarefascinating,inquisitivebirdsthatcanmakeverygoodpetsintherighthome.Manyareveryplayfulandvocal.Ringneckparrotsareavailableinawiderangeofcoloursandmutations.

Sexualdimorphism(avisualdifferencebetweenmalesandfemales)isevidentinmaturemaleswhen they forma ringat thebaseof theneck.The ringusually formsafteroraround18-24monthsofage.PriortothistheycanbedifficulttosexvisuallywhichiswhereDNAorendoscopicsexingcomesin. DNA sexing is generally preferred and can beperformedbytaking1dropofbloodfromyourparrot.

Malesandfemalesofeitherspeciescanmakegreatpetsand the sex of the bird doesn’t generally impact howgoodofapettheywillmake.

Diet - Every bird is different and has differing dietaryrequirements so for your own tailored dietary planpleasecontactus.Generalguidelinesforringnecksandalexandrineparrotscanbefoundbelow:

• 40-70%premiumcommercialparrotpelleteddiet• 10-35% vegetables (recommended vegetables include: capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn,

carrot,zucchini,squash,spinach,pumpkin,sweetpotato,beansandpeas)andsproutedseed.

• 10-40% fruits (i.e. melons, strawberries, banana, blue berries, grapes, peaches, pear,apple).Pleaseensurethatallstonefruitsandapplesarefreeoftheirseeds.

• 0-15%qualitycommercialseedmix.• 1-2%snacksfortrainingandastreats(unsaltednuts(i.e.macadamia,cashewandwalnut),

pasta,eggsandbrownrice.)

Housing:Weadviseagoodqualitypowdercoatedorstainlesssteelcageofanappropriatesize.Somepaintedcagescancontainleadelementswhichcanbetoxictoyourbirdsopleasetakecarewhenselectingyourcage.Cagesthathavebeengalvanizedwithazinccoatingcanalsocauseproblemssopleaseselectcarefully.

Stainlesssteelorceramicbowlsaregenerallyrecommendedasthesematerialsarenotporousmakingcleaningeasierandmoreeffective.Plasticbowlscanbecomeporousafterawhileandcancauseproblemsifbacteriabuildupintheseareas.

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Perchesofvarioussizesareimportantforexerciseofthetoesandfeethealth.Theyalsohelptopromotethenaturalwearoftheirtoenails.Natural

perchesfromnativetreesareidealastheygenerallyvaryinsizeanyway.

Pleasedonotprovidestringorropetoysastheyoftenwillfrayovertimeandcancauseagastrointestinalobstructionifswallowed.

Ifyouarefeedingabalanceddiet,thencuttlefishandothersupplementsarenotneeded.

Environmentalenrichmentishighlyrecommendedandencouraged.Simplethingslikeutilizingcardboardtoiletrollstohidefoodcanprovidehoursofentertainmentformanybirds.

Itisimportantthatyourbirdgetsenoughsleepaslong-daylightexposurecanstimulateexcessivemoultingandincreasedreproductiveactivity.Werecommendyoukeeptothenaturaldaylength.Ifyourbirdiskeptinsideinawell-litarea,thenyoucancoverthecagewhenthesungoesdownandplacetheminadarkroomtoensurethattheirdaylengthisnottoolong.

Commondiseases:

Oneofthemostcommondiseasesthatweseeinthesespeciesisanupsetgastrointestinaltract.Theywilloftenpresentforregurgitation,vomitingordiarrhoea.Ifyouseeanyofthesesignswerecommendaconsultationastherearemanydifferentcausesandifleftuntreatedyoumaybeputtingyourbird’slifeatrisk.

Upperrespiratorytractinfectionischaracterizedbysneezingoroculardischargeandiscommoninyoungbirds.Onceagainitishighlyadvisedtobringtheminforanappointmentastherearearangeofdifferentcausesofupperrespiratorytractdisease.Chlamydiainfectioniscommoninyoungbirds,thisisaseriousdiseasethatcanbetransferredtootherbirdsANDhumans.

RingnecksandAlexandrineparrotsaregenerallyverycuriousandsometimesgetthemselvesintotroublewith foreignobjects. It isquite common for them toeator chewon items that theyshouldn’t(jewelry,plastictoys,ropetoys,electricalcordsetc.).Ifyouareconcernedthatyour

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birdmayhaveeatenorchewedonsomethingthattheyshouldn’thave,thenpleasegetintouchwithus.

Reproductivediseasesandbehaviouralproblemsarealsoquitecommon.

Ifyouareatallconcernedaboutyourbirdpleasegetintouchwithus.

Veterinarycare:

Regularcheck-upsevery6-12monthsareimportant,asbirdsareverygoodathidinganyillnessesthattheyhave.Thesecheck-upsallowproblemstobedetectedearlybeforetheyworsen.

Microchipping isalsohighly recommendedaswesee many birds that escape each year.Microchipping allows your contact details to beeasily found if your bird is handed in to anyveterinaryclinicorgoodrescuefacility.Weuseaspecialized small microchip that is inserted intoyourbird’spectoralmuscle;thisisaquick,simpleprocedurethatcanbeperformedinaconsultationtimeslot.

Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsaboutyourparrotpleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.