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Greetings all,

I have an aviary that is 13.5' x 14.5' x 6-9' high (sloping) that is slated to get a pair of Olive pigeons and some other smaller doves and buffalo weavers in the fall. Just to add a little variety and keep my wife happy, we're considering adding a single pair of one of the following:
- plumheads
- moustached parakeets
- indian ringnecks
- longtailed parakeets (Psittacula longicauda)
- kakarikis

I have two questions regarding this:

1) How destructive are these species of parrots on plants? I've had turquoisines and elegants in large flights with gingers, Ficus benjamina, etc. and they've not damaged the plants, but they are a lot smaller. We had a pair of Rock pebblars in the same flight about 10 yr ago, and they may have done a little damage, but i just can't remember for certain. Are there certain species of plants that any of the above won't damage? Right now there are thornless blackberries, elephant ears, begonia, vining begonia, other hanging vines, gingers, ficus, and many other ornamentals, small shrubs, etc.

2) Do I need to be concerned about levels of aggression? Can any of these parrots get nasty?

I know the standard answer will be 'don't mix your birds in aviaries', but as we live on a suburban lot downtown, we only have 3 aviaries, so tend to make them community aviaries.

kind thanks for input!

Sounds like a dangerous plan in multiple directions, I'm afraid. Psittacula LIVE to chew! Here's a site on which you can check the safety of your plants, but I know elephant's ear and ficus aren't safe: http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/

Indian ringnecks are great chewers. You have to be really careful, some plants are very toxic to parrot types. There are places online to get lists. I would never mix ringnecks with anything thing smaller, but also anything that can't defend itself. I have 1 cockatiel in it's own cage, 2 quakers in their own cage, and a moustache parakeet in her own cage. Don't try quakers either,they can be very aggressive if anything runs. Cockatiels are very sweet and amiable birds, they might work. They even get bullied byparakeets.