Eastern Rosella
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PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. eastern rosella
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    photo of Eastern Rosella
  • An Australian Parrot                       (Click on photo to enlarge)
  • Scientific Name: Platycercus eximius eximius
  • Common Name/s: EASTERN ROSELLA,  COMMON ROSELLA.
  • Sub Species: 3... (Eastern Rosella = Platycercus eximius eximius.  Tasmanian Eastern Rosella = P. e. diemenensis.  Golden mantled Rosella = P. e. cecilae.)
  • Origin / Distribution:  Eastern Rosella  =All of Victoria, parts of New South Wales and parts of South Australia.  Tasmanian Eastern Rosella = Tasmania.  Golden mantled Rosella = Parts of New South Wales.
  • Habitat In Wild: Has adapted well to urban and suburban areas and is often seen in parks and gardens as well as sporting grounds.  Natural habitat include forested, treed woodland areas along with secondary open areas.
  • Status In Wild: Common.  Has adapted well to urban areas and parklands.
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity: Secure
  • Age To Sexual Maturity: Ideally hens should be 18 months of age or older before attempting breeding.  May take up to 2 - 3 years to reach full sexual maturity.
  • Adult plumage: attained at about 15 months
  • Best breeding years (estimate): 2 years onwards
  • Lifespan (estimate): approx. 15 or more years
  • Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic. Sexes are similar.
  • Mutations: Yes, many.
  • Availability: Bird dealers.  Many breeders of Eastern Rosellas do so to produce colour mutations and take advantage of the higher prices the mutations generally command.
  • Temperament: The Eastern Rosella will usually breed well in captivity and is probably the most popular of the Rosellas.  Can be an aggressive bird and best housed one pair per flight.  Individual birds are popular when kept as pets or companion birds.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $60
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx. 300 mm (or approx. 12 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo top right above.  (Click on above photo to enlarge)  
  3. Weight: Approx. 115 - 135 gms (or approx  4 - 5 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Rosellas" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements:  Refer to " Rosellas " and " Housing Birds " web pages for general details on the housing of Australian Rosellas or read on for specific details for this parrot.

The Eastern rosella can be an aggressive bird and best housed one pair per flight. An aviary of at least 3 metres long (10 feet) is recommended. Double wiring between aviaries is necessary.

Eastern Rosellas will hybridize with other types of Rosellas as well as with some other species of Parrots.  Records show the Eastern Rosella producing young with Bluebonnets, Hooded Parrot, Mulga Parrot, Mallee Ringneck, Red rumped Parrot and others.  With this record it is essential that these birds are only bred in an aviary with no other parrots.

Breed well in captivity and is probably the most popular of the Rosellas.

Leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up. This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. Natural branches can be used for perches. These natural perches will be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced regularly.

Diet / Feeding: Refer to " Rosellas " and " Feeding Birds " web pages for general details on the feeding of Australian Rosellas or read on for specific details for this parrot.

In the wild, Eastern Rosellas spend a lot of time on the ground foraging for foods.  This habit of ground feeding appears to be more pronounced in the Eastern Rosella than the other Rosellas.

Because of their preference to feed on the ground in the wild, these birds consume a larger proportion of their foods as seeds or grains from grasses and herbs than the other types of Rosellas.  They consume similar foods in the trees and shrubs as the other types of Rosellas.  In an aviary situation the food requirements of the Eastern rosella are the same as the other Rosellas.

Basic diet includes a quality Budgie mix or Canary mix with added sunflower and safflower seed.  A variety of fruits and vegetables should make up a good portion of their diet to help avoid excessive weight gain.  The Eastern Rosella, along with most captive birds, like to nibble on seeding grasses and greens.  Leafy green vegetables such as silverbeet and endive should be offered.  Fresh eucalypt branches and other suitable fresh branches can be offered so the birds can chew the branches and eat any fruits or berries.  The sunflower and safflower seeds can be offered in separate dishes so the breeder can monitor the amount of these seeds consumed.

Commercial parrot pellets can form part of a balanced diet.

The habit of being a ground feeder may place these birds in a situation that may lead to a higher likelihood of these birds needing treatment for internal parasite infections.

Nesting:
A basic overview only.
All Australian parrots will breed in hollow logs.
Dimensions are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds preferences.  Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.  If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice.  Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.  Try and keep that one for their exclusive use.  Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.  If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is carefully cleaned to ensure it has minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
If a valued pair of birds is successful in a specific size/style nest-box and that nest-box has to be replaced for some reason, make or purchase one as close as possible to the same style, materials and size as their original one.

  • Nesting months: August to February
  • Log / Nest-box:
    • Length / depth  400 - 600 mm (or approx 16 - 24 inches)
    • Log internal diameter approx. 175 - 250 mm (or approx. 7 - 10 inches)
    • Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 175 - 225 mm square (or approx. 7 - 9 inches square)
    • Diameter of entrance hole approx. 65 - 75 mm (or approx 2.5 - 3 inches)
    • Inspection hole (square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
    • A removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
    • Location and height of log / nest-box = high in the covered part of the aviary but not too close to the roof to be affected by heat from the roof in the summer months.
    • Angle of log or nest box = 45 degrees through to vertical.
  • Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
  • Who incubates the egg/s: Hen / cock / both share.

Timber nest-boxes generally require a climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance hole. Both logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening of about 65 - 75 mm diameter and about 100 mm (about 4 inches) from the top. Many species of parrots like the entrance hole to be just big enough to squeeze through.

More details on parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of parrot nestbox/log photos can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 1, sometimes 2.  Eggs per nest 4 - 7.  Incubation approx. 20 days.  Fledge approx. 5 weeks.  Independent approx. another 2 - 3 weeks, sometimes up to 4 weeks.  Generally prolific breeders.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues: Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 53 No. 10 Oct 1999 Page 234-237
  • A/A Vol 47 No. 6 Jun 1993 Page 139-141 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 43 No. 2 Feb 1989 Page 29-32
  • A/A Vol 40 No. 6 Jun 1986 Page 148-149
  • A/A Vol 31 No. 9 Sept 1977 Page 133-136
  • A/A Vol 29 No. 4 Apr 1975 Page 54-59 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 27 No. 9 Sept 1973 Page 167-169
  • A/A Vol 27 No. 3 Mar 1973 Page 38-41
  • A/A Vol 18 No 12 Dec 1964 Page 168.
  • A/A Vol 15 No 12 Dec 1961 Page 157-158 (Tasmanian Eastern Rosella).
  • A/A Vol  1  No 5 May 1947 (Lutino & cinnamon).
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 17 Issue 2. Apr-May 2004 Page 95.
  • ABK Vol 15 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 2002 Page 227.
  • ABK Vol 14 Issue 8. Apr-May 2001 Page 444-446.
  • ABK Vol 11 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 1998 Page 174-175
  • ABK Vol  8 Issue 8. Apr-May 1995 Page 401
  • ABK Vol  7 Issue 6. Dec-Jan 1995 Page 284-285
  • ABK Vol  3  Issue 4. Aug-Sept 1990 Page 160-165
  • ABK Vol  3  Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1990 Page 15-17
  • ABK Vol  1  Issue 5. Oct-Nov 1988 Page 150-151

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