The breeding and management of peony parrots
The peony parrots currently raised in China are domesticated species that have been artificially bred for several generations and have completely adapted to the artificial breeding environment. When a person approaches, although the peony parrot will also avoid it, it will not slam into the birdcage in shock and fear like a newly captured wild bird. Peony parrots are very popular because of their small size, gorgeous plumage, and easy raising. Peony parrots can be kept in groups in aviaries, which can not only increase reproduction but also play a good ornamental role. In families, they are usually kept in pairs in rectangular metal birdcages. Because the peony parrot has strong reproductive capacity, in order to provide sufficient breeding space, the birdcage can be made larger, with the length, width, and height being 70 to 80 cm, 50 to 60 cm, and 40 to 50 cm respectively. The volume of a commercially available metal birdcage is generally 60 cm x 40 cm x 35 cm. Although it can be reproduced, its breeding effect is not ideal.
Peony parrots feed on grass seeds as their staple food, and also like to eat greasy seeds, such as sunflower seeds, pockmarked seeds, etc. In addition, a variety of vegetables and fruits need to be supplied. When feeding, food should be placed in different food containers according to size and nature, and vegetables and fruits should also be placed in separate containers. If you put larger sunflower seeds and millet in the same container, after several pecking, the millet will sink to the lower part of the container, making it difficult for the birds to eat the feed below. When peony parrots eat, they peel off the seed husks before eating the seeds. The peeled off seed husks will cover the surface, making first-time feeders mistakenly believe that there is too much food in the food container, causing the bird to starve or even die. Therefore, it must be eaten every day. To remove the outer shell of food, pour the food out and blow off the outer shell, then pour it back into the food container and add some food at the same time.
Because peony parrots like to eat fatty foods such as sunflower seeds and hemp seeds, they often leave grains such as millet and broomcorn millet. Breeders cannot add certain foods when they see that they have finished eating. They should allow them to eat millet, millet and other foods as much as possible. That is, they should add various foods in the diet in proportion to their daily intake, so as to maintain their nutritional balance. , to keep it healthy.
Peony parrots also like water baths. You can put water in a small dish with a diameter of about 15 cm and a height of about 4 cm and place it directly in the breeding cage, but it should be kept away from the food bowl to prevent the bird from splashing water into the food bowl during the water bath. Water baths do not have to be done every day, but can be done once a week.
Birds with this type of feeding habit are also prone to splashing the peeled seed husks around the cage. In order not to pollute the environment, kraft paper can be used to line the cage. The bottom and the surrounding areas above the food utensils should be replaced in a timely manner. The bottom of the cage is best equipped with a removable plastic drawer or iron drawer and filled with sand. The entire birdcage, perches, food containers, etc. should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once a week. Before cleaning the bird cage, move the bird to another spare cage.
