Care of a Red Rump Parakeet

The red rump parakeet, a native to Australia, lives for up to 20 years and grows to around 11 inches. A suitable bird for a beginner, this parakeet is fairly easy to care for. They can be aggressive, so they are best kept singly or in pairs.

  1. Housing

    • Red rumps need plenty of wing exercise, so they enjoy a fairly large, oblong aviary. The parakeets should have nontoxic leafy branches for perching and chewing, and outdoor aviaries should contain a dry, frost-proof shelter. To maintain the bird's feathers in good condition, caretakers should provide clean bathing water daily.

    Feeding

    • Red rump parakeets like to forage off the ground. They require plenty of fresh fruit -- including apples, pears and oranges -- and green leafy vegetables. A good seed mixture is small parrot mix, combined with canary seed and a little sunflower seed. You must also provide cuttlefish bone and grit.

    Health

    • This species is hardy, but is prone to worm infestations. Take your birds to the veterinarian regularly for deworming.

    Breeding

    • Producing between four and seven eggs per clutch, red rump parakeets breed well in captivity. They need a nesting box lined with nontoxic sawdust or wood shavings. Remove juveniles as soon as they are independent, thus preventing attack by the cock bird.