Moustache Parakeet Mutations, Breeding, Housing
Moustache Parakeet Mutations – (Psittacula alexandri)
Moustache Parakeet Description:
There are eight recognized sub-species of the Moustache Parakeet, which can be divided into two groups, namely:
1. The nominated Psittacula a. alexandri as well as P.a. kangeanensis and P.a. dammermani. In this group the upper and lower mandibles of both males and females are red, although the females’ beaks are not as bright red as the males’, neither is the pink on the breast of the female is as bright as that of the male. The females can also be distinguished from the males by the pink stripe that runs from the chest to under the ear. This stripe is not seen in the male at all.
2. In the other five sub-species, the upper mandible of the male is red while the lower mandible is blackish. The female’s entire beak is black. The pink stripe on the face is also only present in the females. These five sub-species are P.a. perionca, P.a. major, P.a. cala, P.a. abbotti, and P.a. fasciata.
Distribution:
These birds occur in a large natural range in South-East Asia from Vietnam through Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, northern India, the Hainan Island and into the south of China. They also occur in Java and the surrounding islands like Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa.
In nature, these parakeets occur mostly in low-lying areas, seldom higher than 2000 metres, and are relatively abundant through most of their distribution area. In the wild, they eat seeds, nuts, berries, nectar, flowers, and also cultivated rice, which makes these birds unpopular among farmers, with the result that they are being eradicated in areas where grain is farmed.
The Moustache has a shorter tail than Ringnecks, with the result that they are just 33 cm long as opposed to the Ringneck’s 40 cm, although they weigh more, coming in at 155 grams to 128 grams for a Ringneck. The measurements here are taken from P.a. fasciata since that is the most common sub-species available in South Africa.
Housing:
Because the Moustache Parakeet’s natural habitat consists largely of dense forests, they are not very good flyers and can therefore be kept in smaller aviaries than the Australasian parakeets. Cages of 2 metres long will work well and hanging cages and conventional cages work equally well. Always bear in mind that a cage can never really be too large.
Always take heating into account when planning your cages. Don’t place your nests too close to metal roofs because overheated eggs never hatch, and overheated chicks die.
Breeding:
In the wild, these birds normally breed in hollows of tree trunks or in branches of large trees.
Nest boxes of 20 cm x 20 cm x 50 cm deep with an entrance hole of 7.5 cm work well. Place a layer of nesting material approximately 7.5 cm deep at the bottom of the nest. The nesting material should not be too light, as the eggs can sink into it and be lost. This happens often with pine shavings. Wood chips work best in my experience.
The female normally lays 4-5 eggs in September and October, and she will incubate them 21 days before they hatch. The babies stay in the nest for 6 weeks and can remain with the parents for a long time as these birds seldom breed twice in a season. If you are breeding with a rare mutation, if the female will not sit on the eggs, or if she breaks the eggs, they can be removed and hatched and raised by foster parents.
Provided that such eggs are kept in a cool place and turned twice a day, they can be kept for up to 14 days before they need to be placed under another hen. Ringnecks make excellent foster parents for Moustache chicks.
Hand-rearing is also an option, but I don’t recommend it.
Ring size is PVSA code F (7 mm inner diameter).
Feeding:
Moustache Parakeets do well on the same mixture as Ringnecks. Micronized Grain mixed only with chopped vegetables works extremely well. I do not add anything else – the manufacturer has already added a High Protein / Mineral complex to the formulation. Adding more minerals or protein would make the mixture toxic.
No fruit is added since this makes the mixture to moist, leading to fermentation and mould. The sugar in the fruit also encourages fermentation and could entice bees. This mixture is given early in the morning. Two hours after midday a sprouted seed mix consisting of sunflower and oats is given.
Moustache Parakeet Mutations:
As far as I am aware, only the following mutations are available in South Africa:
- Blue (Recessive)
- Turquoise (Recessive but dominant over blue)
- Clearhead Fallow (Recessive)
- Bronze Fallow (Recessive)
I have reservations over the naming of the “Bronze Fallow”. The eye is a clear red in the chicks in the nest, but it changes to very close to normal as the bird matures, which indicates rather a recessive Pallid mutation. Now there are recessive Lutinos. If we breed these “Bronze Fallow” to them, we will soon find out the true nature of this mutation.
As this article only covers recessive mutations (and the Turquoise which is dominant over Blue), I will only deal with the inheritance of the relevant mutations.
Moustache Parakeet Mutations: Blue
Because the inheritance is recessive, 50% of the offspring will be male and 50% female.
| Pairing | Result |
| Blue X Normal | 100% Normal/Blue |
| Normal/Blue X Normal | 50% Normal 50% Normal/Blue |
| Normal/Blue X Normal/Blue | 25% Normal 50% Normal/Blue 25% Blue |
| Blue X Normal/Blue | 50% Normal/Blue 50% Blue |
| Blue X Blue | 100% Blue |
Moustache Parakeet Mutations: Fallow
This characteristic is also inherited recessively, and the result would be the same as with Blue above.
Moustache Parakeet Mutations: Turquoise
Please note that Turquoise must here be seen as what is sometimes known as Double Factor (DF). Blue turquoise is occasionally known as single factor. However, both of these looks like TURQUOISE. Below it can be seen how, even though Turquoise on its own is recessively inherited, it is dominant over Blue.
| Pairing | Result |
| Turquoise X Normal | 100% Normal/Turq |
| Turquoise X Normal/Rurq | 50% Normal/Turg 50% Turquoise |
| Blue X Turq | 100% Blue Turq |
| Blue Turg X Blue Turg | 25% Blue 50% Blue Turq 25% Turquoise |
| Blue Turq X Blue | 50% Blue 50% Blue Turq |
| Blue Turg X Turquoise | 50% Blue Turq 50% Turquoise |
| Turq X Turq | 100% Turquoise |
Psittacula alexandri – also know as Red-breasted parakeet.
