FEATURE W
NOTES Dry Seed Mix: “Australian Grass
Parakeet and Lovebird Mix”.
Soft food Mix: 1 part grated carrot 1 part finely chopped spinach 1 part finely chopped chicory 1/3 wheatgerm 1 – 2 parts EMP 1 hardboiled egg
All mixed to a crumbly consistency with a sprinkling of Birdcare Company Daily Essentials 3.
Sprouted Seed Mix: “Germination/Soak Seed” Soaked 24 hours in water with Aviciens, Rinsed thoroughly (do not drain). 12 hours in propagator. Rinse again. Stir into softfood mix and serve
Grit Mix 1 part fine mineral grit 1 part fine oystershell 1 part (or what is available) crushed baked eggshells.
Cuttlefish bone available separately
These mixes from Albert E James & Son Ltd “Country Wide” range of bird mixtures (Tel: 01275 463496)
S -
Cage Litter: “Easibed” stable litter. Available from equine and pet supplies stockists.
EXPERIENCE FOR
hen I returned to bird keeping some fourteen years ago my first acquisition was a pair of normal Lineolated Parakeets. They were new to me – I had seen some in a pet shop and been struck by their appearance and the fact that “I felt I could see them thinking”. They proved to be a delight and were featured in the June 2003 issue of the Parrot Society magazine.
My disappointment was that, although they were visual normals, none of their offspring was a wild- type bird. That led me to investigate related species and I “discovered” Sierra and Mountain Parakeets. At that time all three species were in the genus Bolborhynchus - along with the Andean Parakeet and the Rufous -fronted Parrot, which are not to my knowledge known in captivity, certainly not in Europe. Sierras and Mountains have since been re-classified in their own genus, Psilopsiagon.
.
Each species is immediately distinct but with overlapping features. Mountains and Sierras have similar shape but Sierras are “fliers” whereas Mountains and Lineolated are “scramblers”. Sierras are by far the most aggressive of the three. Each species can be kept on a colony basis but Sierras require space. I have kept Sierras with small finches without a problem. To attempt to keep more than one pair of Sierras in a restricted space would be asking for trouble. Even a so-called compatible pair may draw blood during a domestic. The over-riding common factor is that
BIRD SCENE 07
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
