THE ROSELLA IS OUR BIRD OF THE MONTH:

Of the two different species of Rosellas pictured here (Eastern on the left and Crimson on the right) the Crimson is said to make the best family member.  There are several species of Rosella in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand and many color mutations have been developed by Avian Husbandry folks; but we will concentrate on these two because they are said to be the easiest to obtain in the U.S. and other countries and other Rosellas are not specifically differing from these two, by and large.  The Rosella grows to about 12-14 inches, weighs about 115 grams and has a life span of 20-30 years.  They are considered to be of the Parakeet family.  Their diet should consist of a good pellet, but; they do relish a few seeds such as millet, canary grass seed, saffron, shelled oats, buckwheat, hemp and flax.  Minerals and vitamins must be included in their diet as well as fresh fruit, from the safe fruit list and vegetables.  They particularly relish carrots and greens.  Before purchasing a Rosella to share your life with, you must consider that they can have rather loud, raspy voices as well as sweet, melodious songs.  The do not mimic human speech very well, but; do readily learn whistled tunes and entire songs and jingles.  Rosella’s need to have human contact constantly reinforced, even bred away from the wild and you must insure that any Rosella you purchase is hand fed, hand weaned and in constant contact with humans, otherwise they will withdraw from being a well socialized bird and return to being human shy and territorial (Not unlike the Quaker Parakeet).  They are not serious biters, even though every bird does bite – they will just avoid human contact, if left to their own devices for too long.  They need plenty of interaction and out of cage time.  This isn’t much different than the rules of thumb for most parrots, but; recidivism can occur much more quickly with the wonderful Rosella.  Like Quakers, they are aggressive toward other species and interaction should be avoided or strictly supervised.  If you want your Rosella to have a playmate, make that playmate another Rosella.  One Rosella will live nicely and a medium sized 30x30 square cage or similar.  Two Rosella’s should have more elongated, flight cage type accommodations.  Contact Korey or Kim at www.birdcagesgalore.com  to discuss the appropriate cage for your Rosella fid.

LEGISLATIVE WATCH:

Legislative sessions across the country are now in session.  I have checked all 50 State proposed bills and petitions and find nothing alarming for not, thank goodness.  There is, however, a rumor circulating amongst the various Parrot Chat Groups and E-Mail Lists which claims that a certain town and county in Wisconsin has passed an ordnance banning any pet for which the town has not issued a permit.  I have investigated this thoroughly, to include calling the Ordnances Board of that town and this is a HOAX/RUMOR/ILL CONCEIVED PRANK!!!  The only Ordnance that has been passed requiring an ownership permit; pertains to Pit Bull dogs.  If you see or hear of this rumor, please help to squash it – PLEASE!  We can’t have parrot owners in that local or those moving there to get in a panic.  I will keep my eye on all 50 states as their governing bodies write bills or start petitions that might impinge on our right to have feathered family members. (jan)

UNDERSTANDING AND SURVIVING YOUR BIRD’S HORMONAL PERIOD:

It seems that hormone/nesting season is happening much earlier this year than the normal spring time urge presents itself.  SCENARIO:  You give your fid good night lovin’s and he or she goes to sleep for the night.  In the morning you awake to greet your loving, docile fid or fildren and everybirdie is beak-open ready to launch an attack on you.  You wonder if somebody slipped in during the night and replaced your baby with a wild terroristic feathered dragon.  There’ll be no stepping up from inside the cage today and any attempt to get beaker kisses could result in blood shed.  OH MY!!!  WHY?!?!?  Well, when parrots become hormonal, they are preparing to breed and nest and raise babies.  Many parrots, like Quakers, are territorial to begin with, but; even your most mellow of birds will become defensive of their territory and themselves as well.  They don’t want to comply, they don’t want to be touched and the best thing to do is to keep yourself cool, calm and collected in the face of danger. (:>)   This is the one period of time (whether it be spring or fall breeding season) when your really should toss out the basic commands training book and let the chips fall where they may, behaviorally.  Allow the fid to exit the cage before asking for “step-ups”, don’t take the fid on your shoulder because you might get beakered but good in the face or eyes.

Talk softly and move slowly at this time of emotional display.  If you get bitten, don’t yell at your fid or overly reprimand him/her.  Take it in stride and put your fid back on the cage or play stand.  They don’t want to be this way.  They don’t understand it anymore than you do; so discipline is only going to make it worse.  Feel free to drop me a line at jjsvt@myfairpoint.net if you have specific questions about this very difficult time of year for you and your bird. (jan)

MOLLY’S MUNCHIES:  (A NEW SECTION WRITTEN BY MOLLY B. QUAKER TO TEMPT THE TASTE BUDS OF BIRDIES EVERYWHERE)

“Hello Everybirdie!!!   Dis be Molly B. Quaker beakin to all my birbie friends ta bring u birbies some yummies for your tummies ebery month.  I wuv Poppy Corn nite-nite snacks so Im’s gonna beak out how I tells my da mamma to fixes it jus rite.”

JUICEY POPCORN FOR DA BIRDS

Use an Air Popper to pop a little corn.

Put it in a dish and sprinkle it with a little bit of your bird’s favorite juice and toss the corn with a fork to mix it up.  You can even sprinkle a little cinnamon on it after, if your fids like it.  When it gets cool enough for birdies to eat, pass out the corn and make sure they all mind the “tails outside the bowl” rule.

Dis be Molly B. Quaker agin.  I letted my mommy beaker out da recipee cause I dunt no hows to spell berry gud.  So, until nest mont, dis be Molly B. sayin HAPPY EETING, EBERYBIRBIE!!!!!!!!