Bourke's Parakeet Care Guide: Housing, Diet and Colour Mutations

Bourke's parakeets are some of the gentlest, quietest little parrots you can keep. They're calm, softly spoken birds that come alive at dawn and dusk, and they're happiest kept in pairs or small groups with plenty of room to fly. If you want something peaceful rather than a chatterbox, a pair of Bourke's (or "borks", as we tend to call them in the shop) is hard to beat.

Bourke's parakeet quick facts

• Size: around 19cm from head to tail tip, weighing roughly 40-50g.
• Lifespan: usually 10-15 years, and some live longer with good care. Sources vary quite a bit, with some quoting up to 20.
• Temperament: gentle and calm. They're not big chewers and rarely bother other birds.
• Noise: very quiet. You'll hear a soft, musical "chirrup", mostly around sunrise and sunset.
• Social needs: they're flock birds, so keep at least a pair.
• Origin: the dry inland scrub of Australia, where they feed on the ground on grass seeds.

What are Bourke's parakeets like as pets?

Bourke's are crepuscular, meaning they're most active in the early morning and around dusk. Sitting quietly through the middle of the day is completely normal for them.

They won't talk or do tricks, and parent-reared birds can be shy at first, but with patience many become steady, trusting birds. They suit a mixed aviary with peaceful species such as finches, but not bossy or larger parakeets.

As they're active at dusk, sudden darkness can startle them, and a low night light helps some birds settle.

How big a cage does a Bourke's parakeet need?

Bourke's need space to fly, so length matters more than height. As a guide, a pair kept indoors needs a cage of at least 120cm long x 100cm high x 60cm deep, and bigger is always better. They also need time out of the cage each day for a proper fly, as they can put on weight easily.

• Choose a cage that's longer than it is tall, with one or two solid sides so they feel secure.
• Fit natural wood perches of different thicknesses at each end so they have room to fly between them. A Happy Pet Branch Perch gives their feet more variety than plain dowels.
• They feed on the ground, so keep the floor clean and dry. A layer of Cage Proud Aviary Sand works well and contains oyster shell.
• Keep the cage away from radiators, draughts, direct sun and the kitchen.

Can Bourke's parakeets live outside in the UK?

Yes. A well-built outdoor aviary is ideal for Bourke's, and plenty of UK keepers house them outdoors all year once they've had time to acclimatise. Damp and draughts are much more of a danger than cold.

• Give them a dry, draught-free shelter or birdroom they can go into, ideally frost-free in the coldest weather. Sources vary on whether extra heat is needed, so if in doubt, ask us.
• Make sure the roof is watertight and keep the aviary floor well drained. Damp, mouldy floors can make ground-feeding birds poorly.
• In winter, a light on a timer (with a dimmer) gives them longer to feed. Check water every day, because it freezes.

What do Bourke's parakeets eat?

In the wild they live mostly on small grass seeds, and their diet at home should be along the same lines. Make a good small-seed mix based on millets and canary seed the staple. A quality budgie mix such as Bestpets Budgie Special - Complete Budgie Seed Mix suits them well. Keep fatty seeds like sunflower to a minimum, as Bourke's gain weight easily.

• Fresh foods: offer leafy greens (kale, spinach, chickweed), seeding grasses, broccoli, grated carrot, apple (no pips), pear and sprouted seed. Remove any that's left over at the end of the day.
• Minerals: always have a cuttlefish bone or mineral block available. Johnson's Small Iodised Condition Peks add iodine and help keep the beak in trim.
• Treats: millet spray or the occasional Johnson's Budgie Seed Bells, but only in small amounts.
• Water: fresh and clean every day, plus a shallow dish for bathing.

Never feed: avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, garlic, fruit stones or apple pips, mouldy food, or salty, sugary or fatty human food.

Daily, weekly and monthly care

• Daily: fresh water and food, take away old fresh food, check droppings and that everyone's eating, and give indoor birds flying time.
• Weekly: change the sand or liners, wash dishes and baths, and spot-clean perches.
• Monthly: give the cage or aviary a proper scrub with a bird-safe cleaner, check nails and beaks, and replace worn perches.

Keeping your Bourke's safe at home

Birds have very sensitive lungs. Fumes from overheated non-stick (Teflon/PTFE) pans can kill a bird quickly, so keep them out of the kitchen, and away from smoke, scented candles, plug-in fresheners, aerosols and strong cleaning sprays.

When should I take my Bourke's parakeet to the vet?

Birds hide illness, so ring an avian (bird) vet if you notice:

• fluffed-up feathers and sleeping a lot during the day
• tail bobbing, clicking or open-mouth breathing
• changes in droppings, or a dirty vent
• eating or drinking less, or losing weight
• runny eyes or nostrils, or sneezing
• sitting on the floor, or not being able to perch properly

Bourke's parakeet colours and mutations

Bourke's come in a lovely range of soft colours.

• Normal: the wild colour, with a brown-grey back, a pink breast and belly, blue on the wings and rump, and white around the eyes.
• Rosy (also called rosa or opaline): a very popular mutation with much more salmon-pink through the body and less brown. How much pink you get varies from bird to bird.
• Pink: a combination of rosy and a red-eyed pale mutation. It gives a bright pink bird with red eyes and a pale face.
• Lutino: a soft yellow bird with pink and white tones and red eyes.
• Others: breeders also keep cinnamon, fallow, pale fallow (cream) and pied birds. Pieds have patches of clear feathers, and how many varies a lot between birds.

Spangled is one of the newer and more striking Bourke's mutations. The body is a deep rosy pink, while the wing feathers are a soft olive-green, each one edged with a paler rim, so the wings look scalloped or "spangled". Many also show pale or white patches on the back and face. Because it's still fairly new, you won't find it in many older mutation guides.

Can you tell male and female Bourke's apart?

Yes, in adults. Mature males have a blue band across the forehead, which hens lack or show only a trace of. Youngsters look the same until they're around nine months old, and some colour mutations make it harder to tell. A DNA test is the surest way.

Breeding Bourke's parakeets

Bourke's breed readily in a quiet aviary, using a nest box (around 25 x 25 x 40cm) placed high up. Give hens extra calcium, and only breed if you have homes lined up.

Bourke's parakeet FAQs

Are Bourke's parakeets noisy?

No. They're one of the quietest parrots you can keep, with soft calls mostly at dawn and dusk, so they're a good choice if you have close neighbours.

Can I keep one Bourke's on its own?

We wouldn't recommend it. They're sociable birds and are much happier with at least one companion of their own kind.

Can Bourke's live with budgies?

Budgies are usually too lively and pushy, and they're on a different daily rhythm. Bourke's do better with finches or other quiet grass parakeets.

Pop in and see us

We sometimes have Bourke's parakeets in the shop at 125-127 Corporation Road, Grimsby. Pop in or give us a ring on 01472 267480 to see who's in. We're always happy to chat seed mixes and aviary set-ups too.

This guide is general advice and isn't a substitute for advice from an avian vet. If you're worried about your bird, please speak to your vet.