FEATURE
they are not regarded as hardy against our winters, so should be considered as highly at risk in outside flights during autumn/winter spells of strong northerly/easterly winds, hard frosts, snow, thick fog and periods of sub zero temperatures. So as to avoid frost-bite and pneumonia, it is wise to shut them into a large frost-free enclosed shelter during these times, but it must be large enough to house the birds comfortably so that they are not forced to remain too closely together or fighting may result in some cases.
These active birds need a flight of a minimum of 15ft long, 3ft wide and 6ft high; they are not destructive but may be capable of nipping through thin mesh, so – for safety sake – 16 gauge welded mesh should be used. Electric light should be provided during the darkest months of the year so as to extend hours of daylight a little and allow for longer periods of feeding during mid-winter. It is noticed that colder weather causes a greatly increased amount of solid food to be consumed by aviary birds. Their diet can be made up of all kinds of large and small seeds and grains (some being soaked and germinated in the warmer months), nuts, berries, a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, buds and shoots of non toxic tree
species (willow is safest), green-food, seeding wild plants, bread and Soya milk or canary/parrot rearing food – and sometimes live food such as mealworms. Presumably, as found with Island Kings,
sexual maturity cannot be expected until the birds are at least three years old, but complete breeding success may not be achieved until they are even older and have made some false starts and gained experience by them. They have been known to attempt breeding as early as March, but should be dissuaded until better weather is likely in late spring which will help success become more probable; as with Island Kings, they are just as likely to go to nest in summer as in spring. These parrots – and other Kings – generally prefer a ‘grand-father clock’ nest, a tall hollow log or a floor standing box of 3ft to 4ft high, and the hen nests at ground level; internal measurements of the nest should be eight to nine inches square. The usual number of eggs is two or three and incubation runs to twenty-one days. Parents of the Indonesian King species seem to suffer from the hard work required in rearing a full nest, and so, two to three fledglings can be considered an excellent and fair outcome.
Breeding condition can be noticed
These parrots – and other Kings – generally prefer a ‘grand-father clock’ nest, a tall hollow log or a floor standing box of 3ft to 4ft high, and the hen nests at ground level; internal measurements of the nest should be eight to nine inches square. The usual number of eggs is two or three and incubation runs to twenty-one days.
BIRD SCENE 45
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