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Ruppell’s Parrot
The Rüppell's parrot or Poicephalus ruppellii are a recent collection as pets. They have a small range in coastal south-western Africa, in Namibia and the nearby south-western part of Angola. It is peregrine to a degree, and can be seen quite regularly in some specific areas. Some of these parrots are legally imported birds, which are captive and bred in South Africa. But most of them are illegally exported and wild caught birds. Therefore, there is a growing awareness about the conservation of Rüppell's parrot.
Rüppell's parrot is similar in shape and size to the Meyers parrot. However, they are distinct to Meyer’s in color as their body is more of a brown wash and not green or blue. The female Rüppell's parrot has a blue lower back and rump and a dull blue abdomen. They are sexually dimorphic.
The researchers believe that there are no subspecies of Rüppell's parrot. Originally they belong to South West Africa, stretching from Angola to Namibia. These birds live either on the open savannah or in dry woodland.
The sexing of Rüppell's adult parrots is quite easy as the female has a blue lower back and rump and a dull blue abdomen, which is unlikely in the male. The young parrots resemble the female. Their forehead is orange colored. But if you pull out the rump feathers of the 12 weeks old parrots, you can determine their sex with the color of new feathers. After about ten months, the male Rüppell's parrot loses its color. The new feathers are of blue color in the female.
You have to be very careful while keeping Rüppell's parrot as a pet, because they do not have not enjoyed a long time being pet birds. Take a rooms cage for them with enough space to fly too. The nest box size recommended is 18 inches high by 10 inches square. There may be some sloping platform from the entrance hole. It will help the bird to not to drop in straight away to the nest chamber. Make the nest chamber full of wood shaving and peat mixture.
The Rüppell's parrot lays normally three to five eggs in captivity. They can lay with a two days interval between eggs incubation by the hen. The parrot begins incubation generally after it lays 2nd or 3rd egg and goes on for about 30 to 31 days. It is interesting to note that breeding of Rüppell's parrot only seems to happen in outside aviaries and possibly where Black Fly is available, as it seems to be the key of success. Rearing of the young of Rüppell's parrot happens in early days.
The young Rüppell's parrot leaves the nest at 9 weeks. Whether parent-reared or hand-reared, they become independent at about 12 to 13 weeks. This period differs as per the circumstances in which the bird is living, such as its diet and temperature. It is possible that in a secluded environment they become ready to fly early. The bigger species of Rüppell's parrot spend ten or even 11 weeks in the nest. At the age of about 80 or 90 days, the male Rüppell's parrot generally weighs a little more than the females.