Nesting Boxes

I purchased two nest boxes from the Nowra bird sale. They include inspection holes and climbing structures. The more upright one was specifically a Ringneck box and I have chosen to use the L shaped box for my Princess Parrots.

I have filled each with one third of saw dust.

The Ringnecks boxs dimensions are 45cm high x 25cm length x 25cm width.

The Princess Parrots boxs dimensions are 40cm high x 40cm length x 20cm width.


I introduced both boxes on the 24th July. My female Indian Ringneck has already started working the box.

Bourke / Scarlet Chested Parrots

I added four boxes mid August, three standard budgies size and one much larger box I have used for my Ringnecked parrots in the past. My reliable Bourke female chose the larger box and she is now sitting on at least one egg.

I filled each box with saw dust (I got a bail for $13 from pet food supplier) just under the entry and the bigger box I filled a third full. Some of the saw dust is now on the floor of the aviary as the birds have adjusted the boxes to there liking.

New Aviary

I have added a second aviary to my backyard. I was lucky enough to pick it up for free and apart from a little rust and few minor repairs it was very good pick up.

I use the new aviary to house my Scarlet Chested Parrots and my Bourke Parrots. I have added another pair Bourke parrots after yet another unhatched clutch of eggs by the Bourke hen. The new pair includes a normal coloured male and Rosa coloured female. Unfortunately the recent colder weather claimed my male Scarlet Chested Parrot, I'm not sure how old he was but I believe they should live roughly 12 years. I'm trying to get another male soon before we get too far into breeding season.

Ringnecked Parrots

Both my Ringnecked Parrots have gone through a malt. Firstly my pastel blue female went through one with she seems to have completely recovered from but now my albino male seems to be going through quite a heavy malt. Usually he is a very beautiful bird but at the moment he is just scruffy with the loss of a lot of his tail feathers.

I have never attempted to house my Indian Ringnecks with any other parrots but I have seen them housed with Alexandrine Parrots, Cockatiel's, Galah's, Crimson Rosellas, Sulfur Crested Cockatoo's and Corella's.

Bourke / Scarlet Chested Parrots

I removed the larger breeding box from the Ringnecks cage and introduced it into Princess Parrots cage to try and get them to breed. However to my surprise both a Bourke and a Scarlet are in the box sharing the duties of sitting on four eggs.

My three species of parrot in the larger centre area of my cage seem to be getting along well. I have witnessed some minor fighting been my Scarlet male and one of the Princess Parrots but with no real intent by either party.

Green Cheeked Conures

The conures continue to sleep in there breeding box but still have not laid any eggs.

They are very aggressive to other parrots of a similar size. When I first introduced the Princes Parrots next to them they would attempt to attack them through the wire. Now they seem to have gotten used to them but I have notice that when the Ringnecks are in a similar position during cleaning they will attempt to retaliate on the aggression.

I have seen them housed with cockatiels in a pet shop. I would like to know how they would go with other conure species

Bourke Parrots progress

I have a problem with breeding my Bourke Parrots and its not for the females lack of trying. She sat on eggs again in October / November but they were infertile again. She seems a very dedicated mother in being both protective of the eggs and not leaving them until it obvious that they are not going to hatch. I may try another male.

Parrot diet / Feeding

I feed all the birds fruit & vegetables daily. I use carrot, apple, lettuce, beans, pear, broccoli, cauliflower, stone fruit and melon mostly. I also commonly use frozen mixed vegetables as well. The things I have tried that they have not been interested in are potato and orange.

Every few days I put grass in for the grass parrots (Bourke's, Scarlett Chested). The Princes parrots also seem to like the grass but it doesn't interest the Conures or the Ringnecks. They really like when the grass is in seed and milk thistle.

Things I know are not good for bird are avocado (toxic) and soft breads can cause suffocation due to the bread getting stuck in there beaks.

I always keep seed in feeders to supplement there fresh fruit and vegetable diet. I will occasionally use plain dry biscuits as a treat.

Scarlett Chested Parrots

I have had another single female baby at the end of last year but thing have been a little quite since I lost my older female a few months ago. I have also separated my other breeding female at the moment as she has lost a lot of feathers which always seems to occurs at least a little around breeding season. I will introduce her back into the cage in a few weeks when she has grow back some feathers and the weather is a little warmer.

Green Cheeked Conures

The Green Cheeked Conures reside in their breeding box of a night. Inside the box there is some down feathers but no eggs to date. I will have to invest in getting them DNA tested.