Red Rump

[Soarin]

Wasn't sure if I should post this under "parakeets" or "parrots", however, since Red Rumps are officially "parrots" I put it here. Feel free to redirect me if there is a different place I should talk about this breed in.

I just bought a 2 yr old Red Rump male from a neighbor. He was pretty much left to himself in a heated shop, with a cockatiel for company, so hasn't really had much contact with people.

What are some suggestions to help him settle in and feel more at home?
How should I begin gentling him?
How long will it take before he will let me get my hand near him?
Should we try to be especially quiet around him or is it good for him to get used to the household sounds?
What about "drafts"? Is it alright for him to be in the same room that a window or door is open, or should he be isolated in a closed room from it?

I appreciate all comments and suggestions!!

[Monica]

They are also parakeets... so the correct forum would be 'budgies & parakeets' but it's not that big of a deal.

Red rumps are more known to be aviary type birds, not the type of bird as a pet. You may be able to tame him down, however it is easier when they are younger. Not impossible though.

Just letting him settle down, get used to things, talking to him, offering him treats from your hand.... no guarantee how long it may take him to tame down, but just continually working with him and having patience ought to go a long ways! It would be good to let him get used to household sounds.


As far as drafts, you don't really need to worry about it unless it's a constant cold or hot draft. Birds in the wild are able to withstand winds, so really as long as there is no constant breeze blowing over him he should be fine.

[Tiki]

Actually, Red Rumps are indeed known as parrots, not parakeets in their native land, Australia. Probably the same in other Commonwealth countries as well. I think a discussion about birds other than Budgies in that forum would probably get lost in there since Budgies are so popular.

So please feel free to continue discussing your Red Rump here!

[Soarin]

Thanks Tiki! If anyone has more suggestions about gentling him, or more information about the breed please comment!

Thanks Monica! It was really warm today, so we even brought his cage out on the patio while we ate lunch. He seemed to really enjoy it.

[Monica]

Tiki, you ought to go to the Phillipines and ask to see a Harlequin Lovebird, or just a lovebird! I can ALMOST guarantee you that you WONT see a lovebird!

It all depends on where in the world you are from! Scientifically speaking, YES they are parakeets! It really depends on the country, language, and whether or not you are talking scientifically...


Soarin, most birds really do love it outside! I only have experience with bourkes, which is a type of grass parakeet (technically speaking... it is, but it isn't). The red rump is also sometimes considered a grass parakeet, but is not in the family neophema ('regular' grass keets) or neopsephotus (the bourke... it goes under two different families as scientists haven't been able to fully seperate them from the neophemas just yet)... Can't really say I have any more advice to give...

But as how I have noticed with bourkes, they are much like finches, very flighty birds with cute little noises... and if handled from when they are young, are much easier to tame than when they are older, but not necessarily impossible. The two bourkes I have now are sisters, and they are several years apart... The older one was parent raised, while the younger one was parent raised with some human handling... I don't really handle her much but she remains pretty much as tame as she was as a chick!