The Golden mantled Rosella or Cecilias Rosella is an active bird and a very skilful flyers. They love to play, climb, and chew. Though they are not great talkers they can be quite vocal. They are also very hardy, very resistant to disease, and are not difficult to feed and care for. Once they are established with an acceptable mate, they are easy to breed.
. All the Rosellas, including the Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilias Rosella are very energetic. They are a more difficult bird to tame, requiring a lot of consistent firm training and close interaction. For this reason, they are not really considered to be a beginners bird.
The nature of Rosellas is one of aggression toward other rosellas and other parakeets, as well as other parrot-like birds. It is not recommended to house them together unless as a breeding pair or to house them in adjoining aviaries or cages. They are so bickery they will even bite at the sides of the cage if next to each other.
The Golden-mantled Rosella and the other two Eastern Rosellas belong in the Platycercus genuswhich contains six species. They are members of the parakeet family, usually grouped with Australian Parakeets. The word parakeet means long tail and Rosellas have long tails! Rosellas are fairly easy to recognize by their pronounced cheek patches, strong mottling on their backs, unique and bright colors, and feathers that are scalloped.
. The Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilias Rosella can be distinguished by a bluish-green rump rather than pale green, and the red on their head and breast is a darker red
Golden-mantled Rosellas are very energetic birds! Besides flying, which is important for all parakeets, these birds love to chew! Be sure you provide them with lots of assorted toys and wood chews, perches and swings
All the rosellas are easily bred, and the Golden-mantled Rosella will usually breed twice a year. Each pair will need two nesting boxes to choose from.
Once the nest box is selected the female will lay four to nine eggs, though usually five. The female broods the eggs. The young hatch in 18 - 20 days and will leave the nest in about 5 weeks. In the wild they will stay with their parents for several months unless there is another mating, but in captivity it is recommended that you remove the young about a month after they are on their own.
As imports of these beautiful birds is prohibited by the Australian government, many believe that it is important that the species are kept from cross-breeding to insure their continuation. Even though the rosellas will easily cross-breed, and it has been noted that there are possibly hybrids in the wild, there will be no more pure species brought into this country
Golden-mantled Rosellas or Cecilias Rosellas are available from time to time at pet stores or from breeders