Question on a bird

[Drmmkr62]

My wife would like to know if anyone has a red rumped parakeet. If so could you please tell her what they are like to handle?

[Samm]

I have a pair of red-rumps. They aren't any different than a budgie to handle, they are calm, and laid back. (Mine are anyway)

[Monica]

I don't have any experience with red rumps, but I have had experience with bourkes (have two), and a turquoisine... they are all grass keets, and from what I have learned from my own birds, they are more like finches in the fact that they need a large cage to fly around in (more aviary type birds), they make a lovely sound and are not terribly noisy (bout as noisy as a finch), if handraised can be excellent pets however they are not known for being cuddly or talkative.

This topic can actually go in the 'Budgie and Parakeets' section.

[sleeprsteve]

Originally Posted by Samm

I have a pair of red-rumps. They aren't any different than a budgie to handle, they are calm, and laid back. (Mine are anyway)

Is that one of your red rumps on your thumbnail, Its a beautiful bird, how big is it?

[Monica]

That's actually a patagonian conure, which is the size of some of the smaller macaws. Grass parakeets are slightly larger than the average budgie, normally weighing in around 40 or so grams.

Here is a pair of splendid or scarlet chested keets


Here is a male bourke


Here is a male turquoisine


Here is, I believe, a male elegant


And a female elegant


There's also a blue winged parakeet out there that look similar to the elegants...

[Tiki]

Actually, the Budgies (aka) Parakeets are so popular, they really need their own forum, this belongs in the generic Parrot forum.

Red Rumps are native Aussies and very rarely kept as pets, they are considered aviary birds. They don't seem to bond with their owners and my AV advised me not to put them in with my Tiels (large indoor aviary) as they are agressive during breeding season to other birds.

[Monica]

I don't really see much point though in having separate forums for parakeets and budgies, when not everyone knows that a "parakeet" is actually a budgie (ugh) so therefore the 'Parakeet Forum' (donated to all other parakeets other than budgies that are not already in the forum list i.e. grass keets, rosellas, etc) would get 'over crowded' with budgie stuff.