Goat parakeet profile | Original distribution and lifestyle

Goat parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) are parrots native to New Zealand, belonging to the genus of corsair parakeets. Their unique German name stems from the sound they make, which resembles a goat‘s bleat. Thanks to their curious, playful, and entertaining nature, they are becoming increasingly popular as pets. It is important to note that in Germany, goat parakeets fall under the Species Protection Act. However, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae is exempt from the reporting obligation. That said, proof of origin is still required.

I wait

The nominal form of the goat parakeet is deep green with a red forehead and a red stripe extending from the bill above the eyes and ear. The female has less red and the stripe is shorter than the male. A reliable determination of gender is only possible with DNA evidence. The beak is strong and greyish. The tail and rectrices are blue. Goat parakeets grow to about 30 cm in height and reach a weight of 60 grams. Breeding has produced numerous other color variations, some of which differ markedly from the wild form. There are yellow, blue and white goat parakeets, as well as several piebalds.

Original distribution and lifestyle

The main distribution area of ​​goat parakeets is New Zealand, where they inhabit a variety of habitats, but prefer protected places such as treetops and undergrowth. Their green color makes them particularly well camouflaged there. There are several subspecies, some of which are already extinct or threatened with extinction.

Goat parakeets have a close relationship with their partners and live in pairs or small groups. They often search for food on the ground, using their feet to scratch the ground. Goat parakeets usually breed from October to December, laying their clutch, consisting of about 5 eggs, in tree cavities, rock crevices or other cavities. After an incubation period of approximately 3 weeks, the young animals are born and remain with their parents for several weeks and are cared for by them. Goat parakeets live about 15 years.

Animal-friendly breeding

Goat parakeets should not be kept alone. You need at least one companion. When keeping a flock, care must be taken to ensure that the numbers are even and that the sex ratio is balanced so that each bird can find a mate.

Important: It is a misconception that goat parakeets kept in pairs or groups do not become domesticated. Docility does not depend on the number of animals, but on the respective characters and on the patience and empathy of human beings.

There are several options for breeding goat parakeets:

• When it comes to keeping things indoors, there is one Vogelzimmer with the possibility of flying for free throughout the day. There should be a cage as a sleeping and retreat place that parakeets can retreat to at any time.
• Al Aviary case It is important to ensure that there is sufficient space so that animals do not waste away and develop behavioral problems. According to the information sheet according to § 21 TierSchG, if it is not possible to keep birds in a bird house, the bird shelter should have at least the dimensions 120 x 60 x 100 (L x W x H).. This should not be reduced under any circumstances. If kept in cages or aviaries, animals must be able to fly free for several hours each day.
• The attitude in one Outdoor aviary it is possible if the animals are equipped with an anti-frost shelter.

Aviary case

Aviaries or cages should have cross bars to allow birds to climb. To avoid health risks, grates must not be galvanized or covered with plastic. The place must be bright, dry and free from drafts and temperature changes. Little sun lovers are happy with a “sun machine”, but of course the entire aviary should never be exposed to the sun. When flying freely, care must be taken so that the animals cannot injure themselves.

Make sure the aviary is equipped with at least the following items:

• Containers for food, water and sand
• Bed linen made from hemp or beech shavings
• Ropes, ladders, swings
• Perches with different diameters. Natural branches are ideal because they can be easily replaced if they get dirty. They should only be attached on one side so that they bounce slightly
• Sandbad
• Bathhouse

Important: Goat parakeets run like parakeets. They like to spend a lot of time on the floor, which is why it should be designed attractively. In particular, a larger sand tub for scratching, in which you can «hide food», as well as hiding places on the floor, should not be missing.

Vicinity

Goat parakeets need a temperature between 18 and 25 degrees with a humidity of at least 60%. High humidity is essential to prevent dehydration of the mucous membranes and associated diseases (especially aspergillosis). UV light is important for all birds to see (colors). They also need it for some metabolic processes. Since window glass blocks UV light, you should provide your pets with a UV lamp with UVA and UVB components. In the case of fluorescent tubes, it should generally be borne in mind that birds can perceive the flickering, which is extremely irritating for them. Therefore flickering should be avoided by using a power supply.

On purpose: Animals also perceive the flickering of computers and televisions, which, as you can imagine, is very unpleasant.

Goat parakeets are active during the day and therefore require light for approximately 12 hours. Adequate darkness must be guaranteed in the evening so that the animals can rest. In very dark environments, a weak orientation light may remain.

employment

Goat parakeets are intelligent, active and very curious birds that need to be kept occupied to avoid wasting away and developing behavioral problems. For example, offer them willow, hazel or fruit tree branches, preferably with leaves and flowers that they can gnaw at will. Food plants such as Callisia in a sturdy ceramic pot are also popular. You can distribute and hide treats such as millet or food bits in the aviary or bird room so that your parakeets are busy looking for them. Running parakeets are especially happy when they can search for food on the ground, as they do in the wild. The ideal is a large tub of sand in which to hide the treats. Your animals should also have several places to sit, land and keep busy in both the aviary and free-flight room, such as a bird tree, various perches, ladders, swings and thick cotton ropes. Since they are extremely intelligent, they also appreciate different (smart) toys that you can make too. Various natural materials such as hay, straw, cork and wood should always be available.

Important: Be sure to avoid accessories that violate animal welfare, such as mirrors, plastic birds, flying harnesses, toys with small plastic particles, etc. These utensils can cause injuries and/or behavioral problems.

Nutrition

To ensure that your pets stay healthy and fit for a long time, you should pay attention to a balanced diet from the start. This is made up of several parts:

• Cereal mix for large parakeets
• Fresh foods (green parts of plants, vegetables, fruit, fodder plants, aromatic herbs, etc.)
• Grit for digestion of grains in the gizzard
• Bowl of cuttlefish and lime stone for supplying minerals
• Fresh drinking water

You can occasionally offer your pets an «experimental food» such as Darikobs or millet, as well as sprouted food. During the moult it is possible to cover the increase in protein needs with egg food.

Health

You can lay the foundation for health and a long life through healthy eating, free daily flights, sufficient exercise, living in society (no lonely houses!) and animal-friendly work. A daily health check is recommended to quickly identify diseases. You can find out more about bird health here. Postural errors such as lack of exercise or poor nutrition can lead to numerous problems such as obesity and metabolic disorders. Keeping animals alone leads to behavioral problems such as screaming, self-injurious behavior (feather plucking), aggression or stereotypies. Big toe ulcers on the feet are usually due to inadequate perches (uniform diameter, sandpaper coating, plastic). Unfortunately, goat parakeets are relatively often affected by PBFD, a disease caused by the centovirus that causes damage mainly to the feathers.

Questions and answers about the goat parakeet

People who have a lot of time and space and are looking for bright and adorable roommates will have a lot of fun with goat parakeets. The cute parrots become domesticated relatively quickly if you treat them with patience and empathy. You are extremely curious and unlikely to refuse a job offer. But their curiosity means that everything standing, hanging or lying in the room is carefully inspected and munched on.

You should be aware that they impose some maintenance demands and, in particular, require a lot of activity and free flight. Therefore, you should inform yourself exactly about your needs before purchasing. If all requirements are met, goat parakeets will bring joy to their owners’ lives for many years to come.

Are goat parakeets noisy?

Goat parakeets are generally much quieter than other members of their genus. Their calls, which resemble the bleating of a goat, are not very intrusive.

How much care do goat parakeets need?

You should plan about half an hour per day for feeding and cleaning the aviary – of course, depending on the size, it can take much longer. Basic cleaning should be carried out once a week, including disinfection of the aviary and all furnishings. Plus there is daily activity with the parakeets. They are very curious and in most cases interested in contact with «their» people.

Do you need documents for goat parakeets?

In Germany, goat parakeets are subject to the Species Protection Act. However, for Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae an exemption from the reporting obligation. However, proof of origin is required.