The Beautiful Indian Ringneck Parrot
Popular as pets, the beautiful Indian Ringneck Parrot is very social, easy to tame and hardy. It is a member of the parakeet family of parrot. Known for the decorative ring of color around its neck, this bird needs attention and affection. While all varieties of the Ringneck Parrot are popular, the Indian variety is the most popular and the easiest to find.
Ring Around the Collar
All of the Ringneck varieties are easy to tame and teach. If the Indian Ringneck Parrot does not receive daily attention from its owners, it can become unfriendly and nip. It is a very social breed. In the wild, it lives in flocks. It gets along with other birds and is happy to share its cage.
It is also very intelligent and needs stimulation. The Indian Ringneck Parrot will appreciate toys and ropes to chew. An Indian Ringneck Parrot will grow to about 14 inches in length. Like many parrot species, the male and female have different coloring. The pink neck ring is only found on the mature male. The Indian Ringneck Parrot is usually mostly green but some color mutations include that of blue and turquoise, for instance. It is estimated that there could be at least 50 mutations and as many as 100.
Members of the Indian Ringneck Parrot family tend to be individualists. Some of these parrots like to bathe while others dislike it intensely. Those who like bathing should be given a chance to splash. Those who dislike it can be misted weekly for cleanliness. The Indian Ringneck Parrot is not one of the great talkers of the parrot kingdom but some individuals do manage to learn. It does enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables and should have some every day.
Like most parrots, a varied diet heavy in grains and seeds is the best. The most important aspect of their care is the attention and affection. The Indian Ringneck Parrot needs to socialize every day to maintain its good nature. Breeding is relatively easy. If there are several birds in the home, the breeding pair should be separated from the others during the breeding season. Like many parrot types, these usually sociable birds become aggressive at breeding time.
Since early breeding can result in egg binding, don't place a breeding box in with the breeding pair before April. Unlike other human-loving parrots, the fledglings don't need to be hand fed to become tame. The Indian Ringneck Parrot is a wonderful pet for those who have the time and the love that they need.
