Turquoisine info please? (Grass Parakeet)

[RainbowRose]

I brought home my 2 new birds today, but I really don't know much about 1 of them. It is a Turquoisine. He's so tiny and just sits there (he did that even at the breeder's house.) I've always wanted one, and now I have him, but don't know too much about how they are as PETS.

All I know is that they are quiet and FAST if you try to handle them. Which he is, but then again I just got him home. Can he be tamed? People have said birds like Kakarikis could never be cuddly and tame birds but mine was eventually, so who's to say my Turq won't be eventually?

Anyone own one?? Could you tell me about your experiences?

 

[RavensGryf]

I do have some grass parakeet experience . I have had another Aussie grass parakeet species before (hooded parakeet), he was hand fed. My mom also currently has 2 hand fed Aussie grass keet species, a Bourkes and Princess. I believe the Turquoisine and Bourkes are both Neophema genus?

They are cute quiet little things, but in general, even the handfed ones are going to be typically untouchable. THIS IS WHY they are USUALLY aviary birds instead of "pet" birds. The Turq I believe, like the Bourkes, are 'almost finch-like' more so than most parrots. They will chirp and hop rather than squawk and climb lol. Pinky also isn't real big on toys. They may enjoy a bit of shredding natural fibers though.

You might at best get him used to being on you or your shoulder, but if one is any more tame than that, it is a pretty special one. I'm sure you're little guy is special no matter what though . Kakariki's are still a little more pet quality. That's not saying anything bad about your little cutie, just that they have a "naturally" wilder nature. I even have a tame Budgie who only is comfortable being around me but not touched. If you have any more questions just ask!

 

[kalypso123]

Im just curious but what is the other bird and do they seem to get along?

 

[RainbowRose]

Thank you!! He was so pretty and I know they can be housed with Kaks so that's why I figured id get not only a new kak but a little friend too. I wanted another Kak but I really wanted to purchase a new type of bird I've never had before so far they are good. The kak runs around mostly up top and falls on my turq and he just moves over hahaha he just sits there!! He has been staying on the bottom in the same spot for hours though It is odd to me but as stated I guess it's just cause he just came home today

Other bird is Kakariki and yes they are okay together since they are both non aggressive birds esp the parakeet who doesn't move O_O haha but yea the Kak is a girl and the Turq is a boy so it's a good mix cause a male Kak might have been too territorial over a quiet girl parakeet

 

[RainbowRose]

So I just put them to bed; covered the cage and turned out the lights. The turquoisine is making little tiny peeps! Just a few here and there. The kakariki is up top eating millet (I hear her), plus she likes the top he's stayed at the bottom and when she is at the bottom she hasn't bugged him.

Why is he peeping?? Is he scared?? I know at the breeder he was never covered and delt with natural lighting as opposed to lights brightly on to lights off pitch black. He just keeps making occasional peeps this is the first I've heard all day of him. Why is he peeping do you think??

 

[RavensGryf]

He'll get used to it. Don't worry, he's just in a different environment . My mom's Bourkes peeps when he wants to be covered and go to bed.

 

[RainbowRose]

Thanks! He actually moved up to the highest perch last night cause when I uncovered the cage I found them sitting next to each other. I guess he feels a little better now hehe. thanks for the info

 

[RavensGryf]

Good. They'll probably become good friends My mom's Bourkes and Princess of Wales are about the same size difference, and they're the best of friends. They are naturally ground birds, so they play on the floor and run around. They run very fast compared to parrots.

 

[EdwardH]

Your turk can be tamed however they are not known for being cuddly birds. They will usually be quite happy to sit on your shoulder. Patience and more patience is required to tame her. She will spend most of her time on the ground but is a very fast and agile flyer so keep those windows and mirrors covered.
Turks are part of the Neophema family and are not related to the Bourke's.

 

[RavensGryf]

Your turk can be tamed however they are not known for being cuddly birds. They will usually be quite happy to sit on your shoulder. Patience and more patience is required to tame her. She will spend most of her time on the ground but is a very fast and agile flyer so keep those windows and mirrors covered.
Turks are part of the Neophema family and are not related to the Bourke's.

I agree with the described nature. I've had experience with several Aussie grass keets besides Bourke's, including Psephotus and Polytelis, and although completely different genus, my feeling is they all have similar basic traits and behaviors.

The below copy/pasted from Wikipedia:
The Bourke's parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii, formerly known as Neophema bourkii), also known as the Bourke's parakeet, Bourke or "Bourkie", is a small parrot originating in Australia and the only species in its genus Neopsephotus. This species is sometimes placed in the genus Neophema and there is an ongoing discussion about the proper taxonomic placement of this species. It is a grass parrot approximately 19 cm long and weighing around 45 grams.[3] It is named after General Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Wales from 1831 to 1837.

So Edward, reading that you raise Red Rumps, do you think that those are the exception, and tend to be a little more trusting and get a little more "tame" than most of the other species we lump together and call "Australian grass parakeets"?

 

[EdwardH]

In Australia, the grass parrots (Neophema species) are very popular aviary birds but are not usually hand raised as they generally don't make great pets. They are more "bird like" and do not usually bond that closely with people. There are of course exceptions.
I am currently hand raising two scarlet chested parakeets (Neophema splendida) which are closely related to Turks. They are 32 days old and already show signs of not being all that keen to be with me except feeding time THEN I'm Mr Popularity! They will step up and sit on my shoulder however they aren't cuddly like a budgie or cockatiel.
The red rumps (Psephotus haematonotus) tend to be more people orientated, especially if hand raised so in that sense they make better pets. Having said this, they are not as people orientated as budgies and cockatiels. I suppose it comes down to %'s, 100% of budgies and cockatiels will make great pets if hand raised properly whilst with the red rumps it's probably 50% and with the neophemas probably only 20% will make good pets. In the past I have bought aviary bred red rumps to see if I could tame them. Within one week they were eating from my hand so I was pretty happy with the progress. After a couple of months I let them go as my kids would frighten them and refused to tone down the noise. It was all good because they would come into my front yard to eat the seed that I would feed them for breakfast! They live in the wild in Sydney so this was safe for the birds. Below is a pic of cosmo, the aviary bred red rump that I tamed to the point of eating out of my hand within one week.

 

[RavensGryf]

My mother has a rosy mutation Bourke's and a Princess of Wales parakeet. They're both handfeds, but as we know... Yes, they're definitely more "bird-like" and makes sense to keep them more ideally as aviary birds than as pets. although the POW can talk as well as mimic sounds. He actually says more than my Red Bellied parrot! My mom has had them for more or less 7 years now, and it took at least 5 for the POW to finally be comfortable to step up to her hand and only to be put away. The Bourke's will step up tentatively too, and to other people as well, but also took years.

About 10 years ago, I had a Hooded parakeet (Psephotus), and although he was handfed also, as you can guess, he was pretty wild. Unfortunately he passed away before he was fully in his beautiful adult male color.

I don't recommend grass parakeets for indoor cages in general as tame "pets" although my mom's birds are sure entertaining as they play and run around! I long to have another Hooded one day if I could even find one again, but unless I ever come to have an aviary, I just can't do it.

 

[EdwardH]

I'm surprised to hear of your mum's experience with the princess parrot as they are very popular here as hand raised pets. As a species they are usually very trusting even to the point that aviary birds will fly onto your hand and shoulder in the aviary. They are not a cuddly bird but will sit on your hand or shoulder all day. If you need an email typed or the channel changed using a remote then just point your princess parrot to the spot and watch them go!

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm surprised to hear of your mum's experience with the princess parrot as they are very popular here as hand raised pets. As a species they are usually very trusting even to the point that aviary birds will fly onto your hand and shoulder in the aviary. They are not a cuddly bird but will sit on your hand or shoulder all day. If you need an email typed or the channel changed using a remote then just point your princess parrot to the spot and watch them go!

Patches was handfed and handled by a breeder and shipped to her shortly after weaning. He's certainly tame, he just makes it clear he doesn't like hands! He has tons of energy and is a real little clown. POW aren't very popular here in the U.S., and mostly people who have them here have them as aviary birds. Although I've seen some (and yellow and blue mutations) at the bird store.