Rosellas as companion birds

Hi guys,

I have always loved the rosella species, especially Eastern rosellas, and have heard mixed reviews when it comes to keeping them as pets. I know most people keep them as aviary birds, but I also know that there are some that have tame rosellas as pets.
The general consensus is that rosellas are difficult to tame, or don't tame at all in some circumstances, so I'd like to ask for your opinions.

How to they cope with living in an indoor cage? Do they bond, or stay independent? What kind of temperament do they have? Do they get along with other birds?

I absolutely love black mutation easterns, but have almost no first-hand experience with the species, and don't want to make any assumptions about them.

Thanks in advance!


(So beautiful)

There's a thread about rosella's here http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/39541-rubino-rosella.html
I know because we were looking into one. Maybe you can find your answer there.

Thanks, I'll have a look

In all of your bird experience you've never come across a pet Rosella? jk
I'm in the US where even less people keep Aussie keets as house pets, but my mom has a hand fed Bourkes, hand fed Princess of Wales, I've had in the past a hand fed Hooded Parakeet.... None of these became the kind of 'pet' in the sense that most people think of a pet as. Maybe Rosellas can be a bit more inclined to be good house pets? I don't know, but I suspect from my experience with the Australian grass keets, that at best they will hop onto your hand or shoulder if you intensely work with them from a very young age, but truthfully IMHO I think all these species would be more at home in an aviary setting. My mom's POW is such a funny guy though. He throws balls like a dog, talks a lot, loves toys and is VERY active. Hopefully someone here with a Rosella in the house can tell you what it's like

Haha no not yet! For all their beauty, people don't seem to want them as pets, and they're too 'common' to be found in zoos!

Princess parakeets are actually quite common pets here, I'm not sure why there's such a weird inclination for certain species to be kept over others, but there is.

Mekaisto said:

Princess parakeets are actually quite common pets here, I'm not sure why there's such a weird inclination for certain species to be kept over others, but there is.

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Because princess parrots make better pets than rosellas haha. Rosellas don't tame down that much even when hand raised. I used to breed pale faced rosellas and have also raised wild crimsons. While they were calmer than aviary birds and would sit on you or take food from the hand eagerly, none were really "pet friendly". I am sure there are some that are great pets out there, but I am yet to see one.

I have a male Rosella as a inside companion bird. They can be very nippy and need a lot of one on one time .
I fin that they r skittish around approaching hands but they r very weary in the wild as well.
But with some patience and a bit of loving care they get past this.
True that they don't really get along with other birds even females and have been cases where birds have fought until one bird is seriously hurt or even dead.

Hi there,
In my experience, a few things help if you want to have a pet rosella.
1. Hand-rear it. My Rosella was hand-reared. We got her when she was still on porridge and it helped her bond with us.
2. Know how to train them. I will post a video below on how to train the bird out of biting - very effective technique learned from a bird behaviourist.
3. Rosellas need a lot of one-on-one time. This, however, applies for all birds. Parrots view their owners as their mate so if you're not going to play with them a lot you shouldn't get one. Rosellas become terribly depressed if they can't spend a lot of time with you. This is NB NB. They will turn wild again if you don't hang out with them. If you do hang out with them a lot, they'll stay tame.
4. Rosellas don't in general love to be petted that much (scratching, stroking etc) but they love contact. Mine follows me around and rides around on my head, shoulder etc. She also doesn't like being in a different room to me. They aren't big on you touching them but they will come to you. Mine loves coming up to give kisses, etc. They just prefer to give affection rather than getting it.
Some more info in my videos below. I always say that the success of your relationship with your rosella really depends on you. Rosellas aren't for everyone but if you're prepared to give them what they need and let them be, they are wonderful pets. Hope this helps.

Video 1:




Video 2:

Mekaisto said:

Hi guys,

I have always loved the rosella species, especially Eastern rosellas, and have heard mixed reviews when it comes to keeping them as pets. I know most people keep them as aviary birds, but I also know that there are some that have tame rosellas as pets.
The general consensus is that rosellas are difficult to tame, or don't tame at all in some circumstances, so I'd like to ask for your opinions.

How to they cope with living in an indoor cage? Do they bond, or stay independent? What kind of temperament do they have? Do they get along with other birds?

I absolutely love black mutation easterns, but have almost no first-hand experience with the species, and don't want to make any assumptions about them.

Thanks in advance!

(So beautiful)

Click to expand...