need help with a new bird!!

[leigh01]

I recently purchased a lovely bird that was advertised in a newspaper for £40,
they advertised it as a parakeet which I guess it is in the english sence.
it's full name is a Golden Mantled Rosella.

anyway it's 1 1/2 years old and the previous owner said they never got it to sit on their finger, so I thought ah they are probably impatient with it, but im having a similar problem.

right first question how can I tell if it's male or female?
his cere is yellow,

also there wasn't much in it's cage except for a swing, feeder for water and seed, and a nicotine stained toy, so I took the swing out because it flapping about could harm it'self on it, then I put in a mirror, was this a bad desicion?

well anyway there are also two budgies in the same room as it that are very very tame and love to play with me and fly about, is this perhaps a bit too much of a distraction for it?

also I brought it some nice new seed, best quaility I could find, I brought it two hunnybars to help it settle in, and I also try to feed it dried coconut and banana from my hand which it does eat but only when it's clinging onto the side of it's bars.

Ive had it 7 days and it doesn't seem to be taming up.

thanks for your patience in reading this, leigh.

[leigh01]

Thanks for moving this thread for me mods,

[terryl]

I've had my Golden mantled Rosella (Ollie) for about 2 months now, and he's about 6-7 months old. I'm saying he, but as he is still in juvenile plumage I really have no way of knowing which sex he is. Apparently they are difficult to sex by sight but the male is a lot brighter plumage. He is not anywhere near tame, but is a real joy to have around. I feed him on a good cockatiel mix, with an occassional millet spray, apple slices, cooked sweet corn on the cob, raw cabbage, raw broccoli, salad cress are all eaten with relish, white grapes cut through the middle are a treat (doesn't like red grapes) As you did- the honey cockatiel treats are wonderful, leave the plastic inner in the cage Ollie has more fun with them than any other toy around. Wooden toys are good- loves chewing on them. I've been told that they are very slow to teach and tame- but Ollie is such a character that I'm hoping eventually he will respond.
He whistles and chatters all day long but it's not annoying. Good luck and enjoy you new fid.
Take out the nicotine stained toy right away- its lethal if he chews it. Plenty of colourful hanging toys are the name of the game. A cuttlefish bone will keep the beak in trim. I tried a mirror but took it out as I found Ollie started to really attack it- took it to be a rival I presume. As long as it's not in the same cage as the budgies then there shouldn't be a problem. As you can see below I have two cockatiels in another cage and the two cages are side by side- no problems at all with this

[leigh01]

Thanks for the informative post my friend,
I shall just take it easy and slow as you said they are slow learners.

also is there anyway to clean the nicotine of the toy?
thanks.

[Monica]

Vinegar and soap/water, then drying in the oven at 250* (F) for 15-30 minutes maybe... otherwise though your best bet is to just get rid of it and get new toys...

I have taken a pic of two rosellas... can't say I know much about them, but if the pic shows anything of a pair of rosellas, I'd wager the one on left is male, the one on right female.

[leigh01]

I think ill just get rid of the old and bring in the new then,
Thanks Monica.

It's quite difficult to sex them ins't it, im thinking male again now but not too sure.

[Eliza]

Leigh,

Do you have a photo that you can share?

I've never cared for a rosella but I've done some reading about them after seeing a beautiful golden mantled rosella for sale at a nearby pet shop. They are more commonly kept as aviary birds and have a reputation of not being the most human-interactive companions. I believe that a hand-raised and socialized rosella has the best chance of being what folks would "tame." That's not to say that your rosella WON'T come around with time, consistency and patience.

Best wishes,

-e-

[leigh01]

It seems to already be showing a bit of a liking to me now, so im feeling pretty happy with it's progress, so far iv'e managed to get him/her to stay on a perch and take the food from my hand, and have even been able to stroke it slightly, and with no peck, so I think since I have started to be patient it's improving, heres a pic under my post.
thanks.

also theres a couple of pics in my "hi everyone" thread.

[Tiki]

Leigh, congrats on getting such a beautiful bird! I must admit to being tempted by the many Rosellas we can get here and not expensive either! I hope you can tame him, sounds like he likes you!!

[leigh01]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Leigh, congrats on getting such a beautiful bird! I must admit to being tempted by the many Rosellas we can get here and not expensive either! I hope you can tame him, sounds like he likes you!!

Aw, thanks,
I've changed my method of training/taming him now, and he seems to be really freindly towards me now.
I did spend about two weeks solid with him, and when I had to go of to work 8.00am til 6:30pm, long day, then when I had come home to see him he was letting me stroke his tummy, (although keeping his beak close to me) he can now do a trick, when I say "up" he'll lift up his claw, and when I say "on" he'll put the one claw on my finger, but he still wont walk entirely onto my finger though.

but yeah he's got really frieindly, and I also think the people that had him before me, were mean to him like flick his beak when he bites them and stuff like that, I've had him four weeks now and he's getting really friendly, so I think he's worth a bundle.