Unlike dogs or humans, Indian ring neck parakeets do not have multiple obvious development cycles that make it easy to estimate the age of the animal. You can get a general idea of whether the bird is young or old via visual cues, but because Indian ring necks have an average lifespan of 15 years it is difficult to nail down an exact number. Still, knowing what to look for can help you make the right decision if you are hoping to purchase a young parrot or one that has reached maturity.
Step 1
Examine the neck of the Indian ring neck. Males and females reach sexual maturity around 2 years of age, marked by a bold ring around the male’s neck and a more subtle green ring around the female’s.
Step 2
Check your Indian ring neck’s feet. Scaly feet are a sign of an older bird, but may not manifest until the bird is reaching its extreme late years.
Step 3
Compare the bird’s plumage to other Indian ring necks. Juvenile Indian ring necks generally have duller plumage than those that have matured.
Step 4
Look closely at your bird’s beak. In some Indian ring necks, the beak color will darken as the bird increases in age.
