Ringnecked Parakeet

[juliehainsworth]

ok just got a ring neckedparakeetlast night from my partners uncle I know you should research something before getting one but I had to take him as he's been chewing his feathersasnd the kidswerent looking after him properly they were washing him in sink nearly everyday.

I realise I need a bigger cage than what its in now but I've decided in meantime to give him run of bathroom during day once he has settled in. I've been out and bought some grit for him, and a couple of toys too, I've been given some parot food for him and cutlefish.

What I need to know is do they require dust baths? Can I give him fresh fruit and veg if so what is ok for them and any other info you guys can give

Thanks in advance

 

[Erised]

Congrats with the new addition, hope the bird will feel better soon. I'm guessing he's started to chew his feathers because of the lack of attention (notice: guessing). Ringnecked parakeets are very social being living in flocks in the wild. Once he/she is settled in a bit you could definatly do with trying to give him/her more attention than it's been getting. Just the every day changing of the water/food attention isn't enough for these birds, they *need* to be handled and played with.

Now, I know you're very busy with the dog, household and new baby, so I've googled and will quote some bits that are probably helpful for you.

feeding

There are parakeet seed mixes for birds the size of a budgerigar, cockatiel mixes for birds a bit bigger, and conure/small parrot mixes for the larger parakeets. A single small parakeet will eat about two tablespoons of seed a day and a half a cup of fruits and vegetables. A larger parakeet will eat about four tablespoons of seed a day and a cup of fruits and vegetables.
Supplements are very important and can be put in an extra dish and rotated for variety. Some of the supplemental fruits include apples, grapes, bananas, pears, cherries, mangos, oranges, papaya, melons, peaches, and berries. Many garden vegetables that are good include spinach, watercress, field lettuce, poppy, chickweed, dandelions, carrots, corn on the cob, peas, zucchini, green peppers, endive, and sweet potatoes.

Note: Do not feed avocado as it is toxic to birds! Other foods that are indigestible to birds are raw and green potatoes, all the cabbage family, grapefruit, lemons, plumbs, rhubarb, and dried fruits that have been treated with sulphur dioxide.

bathing

The personal hygiene of your parakeet (for those species that like it!) can include a bath or shower two or three times a week to help keep it's plumage in good shape. Different species prefer different kinds of bathes and some do not want a bath at all. Bathing can be accomplished with either a flat earthenware dish that your bird can step into and use it's beak to throw water on itself, or by spraying your bird with a light mist of lukewarm water. Use either a hand held shower sprayer or a hose with a fine spray head.

I'm aware that doesn't exactly answer your question. I did try to find a more specific answer but failed. I've read of people who say their ringnecked parakeet loves being misted, I've read people saying their ringneck parakeet uses it's birdbath daily ... I haven't read anyone mention a sand bath though, so I *guess* the answer to needing dust baths is no. If your bird really doesn't like water, this might come in handy:

if you really cant get him to shower, a good thing is to just tie up a bunch of freshly washed veggies like parsley near his perch where he can just rub himself into it.

housing

You will need dishes for food, water, treats, and grit. Also provide two perches starting at 1/2" (12 mm) for the smallest parakeets, with larger diameters for larger birds. Perches can be round or square as well as various sized fruit tree branches. Natural perches from willow, poplar and fruit trees are good for the bird's feet and for it's beak. The gnawing it will do on the perches will also alleviate your pet's boredom. Place one perch up high for roosting and one low by the food, water, and grit dishes.

handling

Parakeets are generally most receptive to training in the evening and each session is best if limited to under 20 minutes with about an hours rest in between. Your first goal is to get the parakeet to accept a treat from you, which will lead to it allowing you to gently scratch it's head. Then you can begin to work on getting your parakeet to step up on your hand.

activities

Exercise and play are important activities for the physical well being and psychological health of your parakeet. Being designed for long distance flying, parakeets need to fly! If you keep your parakeet in a cage, you should let it out to fly a couple of hours each day.
They also love to climb and chew! Natural perches and fresh twigs from willow, elder, poplar, chestnut, linden, hawthorn, and fruit trees work well for this, as does knotted hemp rope. Provide your parakeet with lots of activities! Other playthings they will enjoy are climbing ropes, wooden ladders, chains, bells, parrot swings, and wooden or other bird safe toys.

potential problems

Behaviour problems usually stem from something missing in the bird's environment. Boredom, lack of trust, lack of interaction with other birds or people can lead to problems like biting, feather plucking, and screaming. Try to develop a bond of trust and spend time with your bird to help avoid these problems.

So the quotes turned out a bit longer than I expected Hope it will be of help anyway and that your parakeet will be feeling better soon =)

 

[juliehainsworth]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my questions it has helped alot for me. I will start tonight in trying to gain his trust and hopefully tomorrow will get him out of his cage for some flying time round the bathroom, I know its not ideal but its the easiest place to clean and he'll get some peace in there to do what he likes, there is also a shower rail that he can rest on and I'll find somethings for him to do. Going to go and get some real tree branches for him to perch on as suggested.

I'm a glutten for punishment taking on another pet at this point but I just couldnt leave him there. I will try and get some pics of him and update how he is getting on. I hope to eventually have him loose around Ty but that is a long way off or probably me just being over enthusiastic.

 

[joycould]

Ringnecks are cavity nest builders so you won't beable to let it have the run of the house. I have a quaker (they are not cavity nest builders} that pretty much stays out of his cage the whole time I am home. If your bird is pucking feathers it might mean that it is needing attention or a bath. I found my bird will only take a bath in my bathroom sink in the past I have had other birds that enjoyed misting the humidity makes the pin feathers open easier. My bird is very bonded to me and will actually demand attention. One day I fell asleep with him out and he came into bed with me and gently pulled open my eyelid. When you are taming him don't bring your hand over his head since that is what a predator and freak out. Take it very slow with him and spend time talking to him first before trying to touch him if he is on the shy side. If you are able to convert him to an all pellet diet instead of mainly a seed diet it will mean less clean up no seed hauls. Good luck with him!!

 

[WildernessLofts]

A large parrot diet works.

Parrots don't take dust baths. That's more of a poultry-type thing. I wouldn't mist him too often. Maybe one or twice a month just to keep dust down.

He's a plucker, eh? That's never very good. Hopefully, it was just from stress and not a mental disorder and he'll stop.

Give him lots of love, toys, space, treats, etc and maybe he will stop plucking and show his true beauty.

 

[juliehainsworth]

Thanks for the responses, well I'm pleased to say his wing feathers are returning although he does look sabby so wondering if its him not grooming or age as I dont know how old he is. I've decided to take slightly drastic action over the last three days as havent got anywhere with being able to handle him and felt sorry for him being cooped up in his cage 24/7 so I've been taking him out and giving him run of the bathroom where I've been able to handle him a bit more without him being as stressed, even had him on my hand whilst I gave him a shower as he was stood watching me. ok I did have to catch him but he sat willingly on hand for a couple of mins after his shower I put him back on curtain rail as he likes to be high. I do feel bad though as it cant be nice being caught twice a day.

Are there any other birds I can get to keep him company and possibly help groom him.

Oh I'm pleased to report that he found his voice too as kept on hearing him during the day although since he's been in bathroom he's been quiet again.

 

[WildernessLofts]

Yeah, he'll probably look shabby for a while. A whlole bunch of feathers coming in at once is really hard on them. They should start looking better when they start molting naturally.

Try tempting him with treats. Put something he can easily recognize like grapes or something in his cage. When you notice he's been eating them, try to coax him out of the cage with a couple. Eventually, he should start trusting and warming up to you. Then you'll have a buddy for life.

 

[juliehainsworth]

How many feathers should a parakeet loose naturally? I've noticed recently alot of his under feathers (the fluffy little ones) in his cage and a few of the larger coloured ones which were tatty all around the cage. He doesnt look bald or anything and I've not witnessed any plucking.