Help a new ringneck lover, please?

crystal · Post by **crystal** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:04 pm

Help please? I have recently fallen for these birds in a big way and have purchased 2 young greens (this seasons) an albino hen and a blue cock, and a pair of lutino adult birds. Whilst our/their new avaiary is being modified we have them housed in large enclosures on our porch. It is likely they will be here for the remainder of the winter. My concern is, that we live in Taupo, New Zealand, and we have sometimes, quite severe, frosts and low over-night temperatures. Although the birds are sheltered from the rain and wind, I wonder if they will cope with such cold temperatures? Thank-you for your time and help....I do not know of other ringneck owners in this district. Kind regards Crystal.

Post by **kyria** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:24 pm

I don't know much about this, about the extremes an IRN can handle, I am not a breeder and I could never stand to have my babies in an outside aviary. I can't even stand it if the house is cold overnight for them, but then mine are pet birds that I mody coddle. A breeder or more expert owner will be along soon to advise.

Dani03 · Post by **Dani03** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:42 pm

Oh Jeremy...where are you? hehehe this is his speciality...he'll be around soon I'm sure!

Dani and Prinny

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:42 am

I can just tell you my experence, I locate my IRN in a cooler place in the winter they all take it verry well.

If you can, just for sure, you can put in a heater a fan or something like that. Just to keep the temerature above zero, 5-10 degrees celcius is just fine. And of course feed them more fatty things like sunflower seed and so.

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:31 am

Please keep in mind these are tropical birds.

See this link for all considerations... including temp.

http://www.answers.com/topic/rose-ringed-parakeet

In the wild, the Indian Ringneck Parakeet is a bird of tropical rainforests but now it is found almost everywhere in captivity. They should be kept in a place with stable temperature and can be vulnerable to extreme temperature changes, though a healthy bird can tolerate temperature changes of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Too cold temperatures are not good for Indian Ringneck Parakeets, but not very hot either

Let your main concern be focused on one thing... does the temp fall more than 15 degrees over night, where you live? If so, that is too much for a ringneck... they need stable temp environments.

Ed Loschi · Post by **Ed Loschi** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:24 am

Irn's can adapt to a very wide range of physical conditions.

There is a BIG (~2000 individuals and ~700+ mated pairs last I heard) and growing population of Irn's in London, England that came to exist because of escapes many years ago. There are pictures of wild type Irn's in the snow foraging for food and on backyard feeders there.
Here in Florida there are two wild colonies of Irns one in Miami, and one on the west coast in Crystal River.
The Corolina Parakeet, a small now extinct hook bill that once lived in the Carolina's (two US east coast mid Atlantic states prone to extreme temperature changes in the winter) that has an uncanny resemblance to Irn's.

How do you think the NZ weather and climate compares to those places?

These birds adapt very quickly to their conditions which is why they'll take over the world someday.

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:17 pm

The actual temperature isnt the real problem because they do adapt.

It becomes a very serious problem though when the temperature may fall by more than 10 degrees in a short period of time.

I live in Florida so I could leave my birds outside all year but I dont... too hot for their comfort.

Theres alot of difference between what a bird can live through and tolerance. We want our birds to be both alive and comfortable. :lol:

bonjoram · Post by **bonjoram** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:32 pm

Hello Crystal,

What are the temperature extremes in your area? Doing an internet research, looks like your coldest month is July which has an average temp of 7 degC (45 degF), with about 5 degC swings. If that's truly the case, the temperature should be fine for acclimatized IRNs. Where did you get your IRNs from? Were they hatched and raised in your area? If so then they sould be fine outside as long as they are kept out of the rain and wind.

I visited a friend's aviary last winter and I saw his IRNs playing in the snow in the ground and I even saw frost on their water dish. But those were acclimatized birds so yours may be a different situation.

If you know any breeders in your area, I would be asking them about your temperature issues. Whoever sold you your IRNs may also be a good source...

Hope that helps......

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:26 am

As I am a very cold natured person, I know I hate the cold and if its below 65 my babies tremble. Inside or outside.

Again, these are tropical birds that can adapt but lets put this into perspective:

That would be like taking me, a cold natured Florida girl , putting me in Anchorage Alaska and expecting me to 'adapt'. I might live but I wouldnt be very happy.

To me... 45 degrees is totally and completely unacceptable. Adaptation or not.

One the other extreme, it will be well over 90 degrees all summer. Some would say 'perfect for a ringneck'. WRONG. Too hot and he pants. My babies are outside from Feb til May (70-85 degrees day or night). No less, no more. Of course they would adapt... but they wouldnt be comfortable and healthy as they should be. So, they come in.

I can see a little ringneck perched just shaking his little bones off. :cry:

They shake when they are cold and pant like a dog when they are hot.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:16 am

I do agree that you should not let the temerature drop big time and then go back to normal warm temperature again the next day.

But as I sayed, keeping them at low temperature like 45 Farenheit or 5-10 celcius is not a problem. But it should be in a sheltred area and a dry place. On stabil temperature level. And they have to adapt slowly to a lower temerature. (And if you have to take someone inside to a warmer temperature you can not just put it back outside again.)

My ringnecks don´t show and signs of not beeing comfortable out there in the wintertime. I have never seen them shake, no way. They are happy birds, playing, talking, eating and they always start the typical beeding behavior round december. (But breeding is not to recomend. Cause low temperature will higher the risk of eggbinding.)

mkmagu · Post by **mkmagu** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:20 pm

To me... 45 degrees is totally and completely unacceptable. Adaptation or not.

Well to this Northern person (New Hampshire) 45 is not all that cold, it's almost t-shirt weather.

I've had the heat off in the house now for 3 weeks and my birds are doing fine. Today was the first day in many weeks it got above 60 most nights it's been in the 40's.