When the chicks are weaned they are green, just like the adult hens. It is not until their first moult, at approximately 6 months of age, that the males obtain the purple feathers on their chests.

When the chicks were weaned they were all green, just like the adult hens.  It was not until their first moult, at approximately six months of age, that the males obtained the purple feathers on their chest.  It was also observed that the narrow eye-rings surrounding each eye changed in colour from off white to dark grey as the birds matured.  Of the chicks successfully raised, there were three males and two females.  All of these birds have been or will be paired and introduced back into our breeding program.  Two of these young males have been paired with the two single adult females from the breeder trios and another male and female were housed together, forming the first unrelated domestically bred pair.

These two young Purple-bellied Parrots were paired together, forming the first unrelated domestically bred pair.

Since these Purple-bellied Parrot babies were being kept for breeding stock, they were not handled in a way which would make pets of them, never the less they displayed a great affection, curiosity, playfulness, and the ability to speak.  As I feed each day I am greeted through the high pitched squeals of delight, “Hi  guys, what’cha doing.”  There can be no doubt that these birds would make good pets, that is, when there are more of them.


Photography by Susie Christian© 2000
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