. northern rosella
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- An Australian Parrot
(Click on photo to enlarge)
- Scientific Name:
Platycercus venustus venustus
- Common Name/s:
NORTHERN ROSELLA, BROWN'S ROSELLA.
- Sub Species:
Kimberley Northern Rosella = P. e. hilli.
- Origin / Distribution:
Northern Territory, Australia.
- Habitat In Wild:
Woodlands and open eucalypt forests.
- Status In Wild:
Numbers are declining probably due to habitat destruction.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Secure but numbers are not high.
- 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.
- Lifespan (estimate): approx. 15
or more
years
- Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic
- Mutations:
No
- Availability:
Bird dealers
- Temperament:
Some cock birds can be aggressive both to other birds as well as
their mate.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $ 200
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx. 280 mm (or approx. 11 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above (Click on photo
to enlarge).
- Weight: Approx. 170 gms (or approx. 6 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.
As per " Rosellas " web page.
One pair per aviary.
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.
As per " Rosellas " web page.
Nesting:
A basic overview only. 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 cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the
minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
All Australian parrots will breed in hollow logs.
- Nesting months:
May and June through to about August in the wild but better results are obtained in the
cooler states if the birds can be encouraged to start breeding in
the warmer months of spring or early summer. In its natural
habitat, the early breeding season of the Northern Rosella is
designed to avoid the intense summer heat and avoid the young being
subjected to extremes of summer heat that would most likely kill the
eggs and young.
- 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 - 5.
Incubation approx.
20 days. Fledge approx. 5 weeks. Independent approx.
another 2 - 4 weeks.
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 51 No. 12 Dec 1997 Page 277-280 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 32 No. 8 Aug 1978 Page 124-128
- A/A Vol 27 No. 7 Jul 1973 Page
135-138 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 26 No. 5
May 1972 Page 68-72 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 13 No 1 Jan 1959 Page 14, 18, 26 (Inc colour plate).
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 13 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 2000 Page 17-18
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 3. Jun-July 1994 Page 117-120
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