ROSELLA  

The Rosella is one of the most popular and most beautiful parakeets. They love to play, climb, fly and chew. Though they are not great talkers they can be quite vocal. They are also very hardy, very resistant to disease, and are not difficult to feed and care for. Rosellas are aggressive toward other rosellas, parakeets and other parrot-like birds, thus it is not recommended to house them together unless as a breeding pair. The Rosellas are a more difficult parakeet to train and will need a lot of patience, as well as a loving but consistently firm handling and close interaction. These birds, which originate from Australia, have an average life span of 15-20 years.

Diet

A main diet of fortified Rosella seed mix or pellets can be supplemented with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables: apple, cooked broccoli, beans, cooked kale, collard, dandelion, orange, peppers, squash, grapes, banana and others. Rosellas need fresh water at all times, a vitamin supplement and a cuttle bone or mineral block to provide calcium and help keep the beak trim.

Housing  

Provide a roomy cage with space to spread their wings, climb, fly and play; a minimum of 20”W 20”L20”H with horizontal bars for climbing. Place in a well traveled draft-free area; do not place in the kitchen as smoke, odors and fumes may be harmful to your bird. Several perches of varied diameters and textures will help keep their feet healthy. Equip the cage with a variety of toys such as seed treats, swings, ladders, bells, mirrors and branches. Do not crowd the cage with toys but rotate toys frequently to keep your bird interested. Cover the cage at night to prevent drafts.

Care

Basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Change paper bottoms daily and litter coverings every 2-3 days. Clean and disinfect the cage weekly. Wash and completely dry the perches and toys whenever they become soiled.

Grooming

Rosellas need a warm water birdbath or misting shower once a week. Clip their wings as needed to keep them from flying away. Long toenails may get caught on fabrics and affect their walking and should be trimmed regularly.

Health

Signs of illness to be aware of are if a bird is sitting at the bottom of the cage, shows a lack of activity, the feathers are ruffled, nasal discharge/sneezing, reduced appetite or if it shows any signs of weight loss (weight loss can be quick and fatal). Consult an avian veterinarian if any of these signs are noticed. Some common illnesses and injuries are: broken wings or legs, cuts and open wounds, overgrown beaks and nails, lameness or sore feet, feather picking, heat stroke, shock, concussions, egg binding, indigestion, eye disease, mites, watery eyes, colds, tumors, Psittacosis, coccidiosis, French molt, goiter, E. coli, Aspergillosis, conjunctivitis, constipation, diarrhea and arthritis.