Indian Ringneck Parrot

Indian Ringneck Cage & Diet Info

The Indian Ringneck Parakeet loves to fly. Seems like an obvious statement but these birds are particularly good at it and if you can provide them an aviary in addition to or instead of a cage they’ll be extremely happy and well exercised.

If you can’t swing an aviary then the biggest cage you can fit into your home, at least larger than 36"h x 18"d x 24"w, is acceptable. Because Indian Ringnecks are also chewers, it is important to make sure the cage is made out of stainless steel or steel coated with a non-toxic and non-chipping paint. This is extremely important because you don’t want your parakeet chewing on the bars and swallowing paint. In addition to a quality material it is important to make sure that the cage is safe and convenient.

Convenience features include a wire bottom grate with a pull out tray that is easy to clean, casters so you can move the cage about your home easily, and a number of perches so your Indian Ringneck has an opportunity to develop strong and healthy feet and can move about their cage freely.

Safety features include bars that are not spaced too far apart. Less than one inch is preferable, a door that opens like a drawbridge or like a normal door in your home, not like a guillotine which can trap them and cause injury.

Cage location can be extremely important. Look for a location that is free from drafts yet allows your Indian Ringneck to get natural sunlight during the day. Also look for a location that enables your parakeet the ability to be part of the family and still feel safe and protected.

For example, against the wall or in a corner of your family room may be ideal because it places your bird in the room where you and your family generally hang out and against the wall means your Indian Ringneck only needs to protect two or three sides of their cage rather than feeling vulnerable all the way around it.

Inside the cage make sure you provide your Indian Ringneck with a variety of toys. Look for toys that give your parakeet the opportunity to express their chewing tendencies as well as toys that give them a mental challenge and require them to solve puzzles. Of course toys that are just fun to play with and climb are good too.

Look for a variety of colors, shapes, materials, textures and sizes. Your Indian Ringneck won’t like every single toy you give them so pay attention to the toys they do like and remove the ones they don’t.

In addition to giving your Indian Ringneck parakeet a proper caging environment it is important to feed them well. There are a few foods that your parakeet must not eat. They include avocados, caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. Probably not what you were going to feed them anyway but it’s important to make sure they don’t accidentally get into those foods – they’re toxic.

So what do you feed your Indian Ringneck? Start with a good organic pellet based diet and supplement it daily with fresh fruits and vegetables. Our suggested food can be found at FeedYourFlock.com Feed your parakeet as if you were feeding your child and offer them a wide variety of fruits and vegetables not just one or two.

The more variety you offer them when they’re young, the more variety they’ll like when they’re older and the healthier they’ll be. Parakeet doesn’t live on apples and carrots alone. They need green veggies, berries, melon and much much more.

But what about seeds and nuts you ask? Save these fatty and delicious treats for trick training and treats. Too many seeds and nuts and your Indian Ringneck can become overweight and ill.

The last thing to consider is routine cage cleaning, grooming, and making sure your Indian Ringneck gets enough quality sleep each night. Shoot for approximately 11 to 12 hours of sleep each night for a happy and healthy parakeet. Proper care and a little TLC will help make sure your Indian Ringneck lives a great long life free of disease and happily interacting with you and your family.