Pairing Pairing birds that are genetically compatible is something all breeders should strive for. However, it's especially important in species that exhibit many color mutations, such as the Pacific parrotlet.
At New Eden all of our Pacific parrotlet pairs consist of at least one normal green bird such as the ones in the picture to the left. They are a brother and sister produced here from a green x green pair. Normals are generally healthier, larger, longer-lived, and less prone to health problems in comparison to Pacific parrotlet color mutations.
Banding Every effort is made to band birds with closed bands. Banding is an extremely important part of record keeping for the breeder and a means of identification for those who may come into contact with or ownership of the bird at various points in its life. When the proper size and material is used, bands DO NOT pose a safety issue for birds and you should never attempt to remove them.
New Eden's bands are made of aluminum and manufactured by Avian ID of Redruth, UK. Information stamped onto the bands include the year of hatching (stamped vertically), the band size (a letter), a serial number, and the aviary identifier "EDEN." Serial numbers are restarted from 1 every year; each band is still unique because the year changes.
Aluminum leg bands for kakariki, made by Avian ID of Redruth, UK.
Housing, Feeding, and Health Birds are not like dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents when it comes to breeding. Unlike the aforementioned, most birds will not mate and nest unless environmental conditions are optimal. This translates to proper lighting, clean surroundings, correct temperature, consistent shelter from the elements, mental stimulation, physical activity, the state of being free of disease, and a suitable place to lay eggs. In order to cater to these needs, we provide our breeding birds with spacious cages made of steel or painted wrought iron. Birds have sufficient room to fly, climb, and run. Full-spectrum lighting systems are affixed to the tops of cages, and a wooden nest box of size specific to the species is affixed to the outside of the cages. Toys, particularly organic ones such as pinecones, pine boughs, juniper branches, large curly kale leaves, wood and jute toys, pumice, and coconut shells are provided to keep the birds entertained. Temperature in the aviary is kept in the 70's. At New Eden we take nutrition seriously and feed not only a high-quality seed mix, but also offer a large variety of finely-chopped fresh vegetables, fruits, and sprouts daily. Our staple "chop" consists of: kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, green peas, carrots, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, blueberries, raspberries, oranges, apples, bananas, oats, bell pepper, chile pepper, and sprouted seeds and legumes. A varied, high-quality diet is a cornerstone of avian health. Another is ensuring that birds are free of disease that might be transmitted to other birds in the aviary or offspring. We test our breeding pairs for psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), avian bornavirus, psittacosis (chlamydiosis), avian polyomavirus, Pacheo's disease, and bordetella avium. Paperwork showing proof of testing will be provided upon deposit/purchase or upon request after expression of serious interest. As additional safeguards against disease and injury, we clean cages every 5-7 days, change water daily, change dry food daily, change fresh food daily, provide calcium supplements for egg-laying mothers, trim nails when necessary, and offer bathing opportunities daily via bath pan.
Nutrition: Quality you can see
The following images show examples of fresh foods offered to our adult and newly-weaned birds on a daily basis.