Kramer’s ringed parrots are found in the wild in forests and drier areas of Asia and Africa. Kramer’s ringed parrots are sometimes referred to simply as Kramer’s parrots, a name given in honour of Austrian naturalist Wilhelm Kramer.
These parrots are very clever and curious, they are usually not attached to a single person, and they are able to find activities on their own (although socialising is also very important).
Looks
Kramer’s ringed parrots in the wild are usually green or blue in colour, but a variety of colour mutations also occur. Males and females are quite similar in appearance, but around the third year of the male’s life, a black ring appears on his neck.
The sex of young parrots is most accurately determined by DNA testing. Kramer’s parrots are normally up to 40 cm long: most of the body is made up of a long tail with 12 large feathers. The top of the bill is red and the underside is black .
Cage
Kramer’s ringed parrots need a lot of space, so it is best to choose a cage that is as large as possible (at least 2 m in length). The cage must be strong enough – the beak of the Kramer’s ringed parrot is very powerful, so a bored parrot may find a way to escape.
During the warmer months, the Kramer’s parrot can also be kept in a spacious outdoor aviary, but it is important to make sure that the parrot does not freeze (the air temperature should be around 15-25 degrees Celsius). A variety of toys should be hung in the cage to keep the parrot occupied. It is also important to let the parrot out regularly to fly in a confined space .
Eating habits
Free-living Kramer’s ringed parrots feed on a wide variety of seeds, buds, nuts, berries, fruits, insect larvae, etc.
Although home-reared Kramer’s parrots are sometimes fed a diet of seed and nut mixtures alone, this is not a complete diet and will surely cause the parrot to become fatigued sooner or later (some of the necessary nutrients in the nut and seed mixtures are present in too much and some are present in too little or none).
It is best to feed the Kramer’s parrot with pellets specially designed for this bird and to supplement the diet with a variety of fruit, vegetables, seeds and nuts (these are best given as treats when the parrot is used to being handled). If you add seeds and nuts to the pellet mix, it is likely that the Kramer’s parrot will pick out its favourite nuts and seeds and keep the pellets .
Can Kramer’s parrot talk?
Definitely yes! Kramer’s Ring-necked Parrots are one of the best speaking medium-sized parrots, and they speak very clearly. Kramer’s parrots can start talking at around one year of age, but it all depends on how much time you give it. Interestingly, parrots that have been hand-fed at an early age are the most likely to speak.
If you want to teach a Kramer’s parrot to talk, be patient and repeat certain short phrases every day that you want to teach it to repeat. Normally, Kramer’s parrots can learn to say up to 50-60 short words, but this is highly dependent on the individual (some parrots are very reluctant to repeat words).
Behaviour
Kramer’s parrots are social birds, but can become aggressive if constantly teased. Almost all Kramer’s ring-necked parrots go through the difficult ‘adolescence’ period, which occurs in parrots under one year old. During this period, the Kramer’s parrot may be nipping, demanding attention in inappropriate ways, etc. During this period, it is necessary to interact with the parrot in the same way as you have been used to (no limiting of attention, etc.). It is useful to know that the period up to 6 months is the most important: this is when you must give the parrot enough attention, not leave it alone for long periods of time, etc. If you give the bird enough attention during this period of its life and get it used to being handled, you are likely to avoid behavioural problems in the future.
How do I choose a Kramer’s parrot?
The first thing to look for is the bird’s general wellbeing and the condition of its feathers. A Kramer’s parrot should be vigorous and beautiful in appearance (thinning feathers are a sign of various diseases). If you decide to adopt an adult parrot, you should choose a social bird, otherwise you may not be able to tame it.
Mating
In the wild, Kramer’s ringed parrots mate between September and December. The birds do not become attached to a single partner, but may choose a new partner for each mating.
From April to June, Kramer’s parrots take care of their chicks, and by early summer the chicks are ready to leave the nest. If you plan to breed Kramer’s parrots, it is best to follow the rules of nature and choose the autumn months for mating.
Kramer’s ringed parrots mature around the second year of life, but you should not rush into breeding these parrots – it is best to wait until they are 3-4 years old. Females lay 4-6 eggs which hatch into chicks after 34 days. The male helps the female to feed and care for the young .
Health
Kramer’s ringed parrots are relatively healthy birds that can survive up to 30 years in captivity. However, these parrots often suffer from bacterial infections, psittacosis or other diseases common to birds.