Grass Parakeets?

[juhason]

I have realized that I cannot make time for a more demanding parrot, however I do have an empty cage I want to fill.
I have ALWAYS loved the look of Turquoise, Splendid or Red Rumped parakeets. So from what I have read so far, they can be friendly and tame, but do not need as much attention as something like a cockatiel or conure and the likes. So how true is this? Can I keep it friendly with about 1 hour of daily interaction?

I can definitely spend at LEAST an hour, maybe more with it daily but I do not want to have to worry about them going crazy and plucking and getting depressed if I can't keep them entertained enough. I will provide toys and maybe a companion or two.

I have also read they can be housed with finches and doves in aviaries, but what about in a cage? My cage is 24.75" L X 20.75" W X 32" H with 1/2" Wire Spacing

 

[RavensGryf]

My mom has grass parakeets, and I've had one species in the past.

She has a Bourke's, and I think Turquoisine and Splendid are in the same genus.. Pinky is very sedate. He likes to come out and sit on his playstand, but does not play with toys. He was handfed, but does not like to be handled. He will step up though.

She also has a larger grass parakeet, a Princess of Wales. Patches is extremely active, loves toys of all sorts, he talks, and loves to run on the ground and fly. He also will step up for her but is shy of hands.

Years ago, I had a Hooded parakeet. Same genus as the Red Rumped. He was handfed, but also failed to tame down in the way we are familiar with parrots.

If you have an aviary, that would be ideal for grass parakeets. The psephotus genus (like my Hooded and the Red Rump) are said to be aggressive in an aviary setting towards other birds. I'm not sure if you only keep a single one (not a breeding pair) if it is any different then. The neophema (Bourkes, Scarlet Chested, Turquoisine) are said to be gentle in a mixed aviary. Good luck!

 

[SilverSage]

I would say that cage is much too small for a bird who will only be out of the cage for one hour a day. So I suggest you sell the cage rather than buying a bird but if your mind is made up please get a larger cage, and please consider buying two birds rather than one so that they are not lonely.

 

[juhason]

My mom has grass parakeets, and I've had one species in the past.

She has a Bourke's, and I think Turquoisine and Splendid are in the same genus.. Pinky is very sedate. He likes to come out and sit on his playstand, but does not play with toys. He was handfed, but does not like to be handled. He will step up though.

She also has a larger grass parakeet, a Princess of Wales. Patches is extremely active, loves toys of all sorts, he talks, and loves to run on the ground and fly. He also will step up for her but is shy of hands.

Years ago, I had a Hooded parakeet. Same genus as the Red Rumped. He was handfed, but also failed to tame down in the way we are familiar with parrots.

If you have an aviary, that would be ideal for grass parakeets. The psephotus genus (like my Hooded and the Red Rump) are said to be aggressive in an aviary setting towards other birds. I'm not sure if you only keep a single one (not a breeding pair) if it is any different then. The neophema (Bourkes, Scarlet Chested, Turquoisine) are said to be gentle in a mixed aviary. Good luck!

Ok thanks for the information

I would say that cage is much too small for a bird who will only be out of the cage for one hour a day. So I suggest you sell the cage rather than buying a bird but if your mind is made up please get a larger cage, and please consider buying two birds rather than one so that they are not lonely.

Ahh darn... I keep thinking I found an answer. Is there any bird you would recommend for me to keep in there, if any?

 

[SilverSage]

In a cage that small with only an hour out per day? I don't know, finches? I'm not sure if it is big enough for finches...

 

[juhason]

In a cage that small with only an hour out per day? I don't know, finches? I'm not sure if it is big enough for finches...

So what size cage do you recommend?

 

[SilverSage]

I'm not a grass parakeet expert, but a cage that they are only going to be out of an hour a day should be huge, big enough that they can fly around in it, like not just fly from one end to the other, but fly AROUND in without bumping into dishes, perches, or toys, of which they should have many.

 

[juhason]

I'm not a grass parakeet expert, but a cage that they are only going to be out of an hour a day should be huge, big enough that they can fly around in it, like not just fly from one end to the other, but fly AROUND in without bumping into dishes, perches, or toys, of which they should have many.

Ok, one last question. If I were to keep them in the current cage, how many hours of out of cage time do you think they'll need? I can leave them out of the cage, I just don't have as much time to give them actual interaction, maybe up to 3-4 hours throughout the day. But more like 1 hour at a time.

 

[SilverSage]

Birds are very social and active, just think about a room the relative size of the cage with no internet or TV, and think of how many hours a day you would need outside of it.

 

[veimar]

I just adopted a wonderful red rump baby girl two weeks ago, and she is so adorable!! Very smart and has such a fun character. She has a pretty small cage, but she is out of cage 8-12 hours a day.