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I've recently acquired two beautiful Bourkes (5 months of age, one is a gorgeous yellow pastel, the other is a rosey with a ton of yellow in its back feathers). As they are siblings, I will never set them up to be bred - I just wanted two lovely birds to enjoy.

Question - do they need supplemental calcium given the fact that they will not be bred? Another question - do they need air-sac mite preventative like my finches receive on a monthly basis?

Thanks for any info you can give me about these really great little birds!

supplemental calcium doesn't cause any harm, as they birds will pick on it
based on need. i find that all of my birds thrive on a eggshell and salt formula
put out by ABBA. regarding air-sac mite prevention, why do you need to treat
the birds monthly ? is the aviary infected?

Hi and thanks for the reply!

No, I have no problem with airsac mites, the finches are simply treated once per month on a preventative basis (Lady Gouldians are particularly susceptible to these mites). I just didn't know if bourkes or grass parakeets were also susceptible. My birds are all housed indoors - no outdoor aviary (even though I live in Florida), so I can' imagine how they could get the mites, but I do dose my finches as I have been advised.

Thanks again for your reply!

As long as you do not have problems with fertility and hatchability,
your treatment schedule is ok. I've heard of air-sac mite problems with
gouldians.

Bourkes generally do not need mite protection in an indoor aviary. We also provide all our birds with access to mineral blocks and cuttle bones. Although their diets usually provide them with enough calcium. Ours love leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, corn, etc.