Turquoise Parakeet

(Neophema Pulchella)















                                                                
Contents of this Page: ( Push at the subject)
About Turquoise Parakeet
How to take care
Breeding

                                                              

































Original Country:
                                                                                     
Turquoise Parakeets live in South-east Australia from Victoria to Queensland. They are in Forest, open Woodland, Savannah with Trees, Groups of Trees along Water courses and Cultivated areas on Slopes.
They live usually in Pairs or small Groups - exceptionally flocks of up to 30 Birds. Visists Water places in early Morning to drink and they are very cautious there. During Day to be seen foragning on Ground, perching on Bushes, Trees, telegraph Poles or Fence Posts. Is not shy when feeding. Prefers to forage in shade of tall Trees. Seasonal migration in Localities..
They eat mainly Grass Seeds as well as Weeds and Vegetable matter foraged on Ground.










Types:

The Australian Parrots:
a) Budgerigar               (Melopsittacus undulatus)
b) Grass Parrots          (Neophhema)
c) Rosella Parrot         (Platycercus)
d) Prinsess Parrot        (Polytelis)
e) King Parrot              (Alisterus)		                                                                 

                                                                     
Turquoise Parakeet/Parrot belongs to the Neophema family (Grass Parrot).
It consists of 7 small types:		           

1) Scarlet-chested Parrot
2) Turquoise Parrot
3) Elegant Parrot
4) Blu-winged Parrot
5) Bourke´s Parrot
6) Rock Parrot
7) Orange-bellied Parrot		     
( Neophema  splendida)
( Neophema  pulchella)
( Neophema  elegans)
( Neophema  chrysostoma)
( Neophema  bourkei)
( Neophema  petrophila)
(Neophema  chryssogaster)


Male


General Plumage Green. Facial area Blue with paler Cheeks. Throat, Breast, Abdomen and under Tail-coverts Yellow. Throat and Breast often with slight Orange tinge. Inner lesser Wing-coverts dark Red. Bend of Wing, outer lesser and median Wing-coverts Turqoise. Outer Webs of Flight Feathers and under Wing-coverts dark Blue. Middle Tail Feathers upperside Green. Outer Green with Yellowish Tips. Tail underside pale Yellow. Bill Greyish-Black. Narrow Periophthalmic ring Grey. Iris Dark Brown. Feet greyish-horn colour.


Female


Female as Male, but with Blue Facial area. Lores Yellowish-white. Red Wing feathers absent. Ear-coverts, Throat and upper Breast Green. Pale under Wing stripe.
     
  
Female (0.1) and a Male (1.0)
                                                                              







             

Size: Lenght circa 21 cm

Weight: Male: 36-45 g ;   Female: circa 38 g

Life length: Between 8 - 15 years
                 






























How to take care:


It is a quit Parakeet with Melodic Song and not susceptible and easy to care for. it is not shy and can be housed with Finches and other small Birds, but not with other Neophema species as Male can be aggressive during breeding.
Turqouise Parakeets must have an outside Aviary at 3 × 2 × 1 m with adjoining shelter. Roosting and Nest Box 15 × 15 × 30 cm with entrance 5 cm in diameter.In Winter there must not be under 0° in the outside Avairy.
Regular Worming  is required.
The Food must consists Finch Seed, various Millets, Sunflower Seed. Oats, Wheat a Millet spray, various Fruit and Vegetables, especially Carrot and Apple. Turqouise Parakeet only needs to drink Water once a Day.






Millet
Female (0.1)





Wheat


Oats

Sunflower Seed

Finch Seed






























Breeding:


It is regurlarly achieved and not difficult. Isolate Pair if possible for breeding since they are aggressive towards other Parakeets. Several Pairs can only breed together in very large Aviary. Then remove young after leaving the Nest.
Turquoise Parakeets do not build a Nest for their Eggs; instead, they lay their Eggs in the lining of Dust in Logs and Trees.In an Aviary they must have a hollowed out piece of a Tree or a Nest Boxe to breed in.
The Female lays 4 to 7 Eggs. Incubation takes 18 to 19 days. Female only leaves  The Nest Box to defecate. Fledging period 4 to 5 weeks. The Chicks are independent after 3 weeks. Then separate from Parents as often two or three breedings per Year, Young Birds are  usually shy and flighty after leaving The Nest. They often fly against Mesh and injure themselves. Covering Mesh with cloth or Leafy Branches.


Nest Boxe
Female ( 0.1) and a Male (1.0)
About 17 days

8 weeks old