Average Lifespan for an Indian Ringneck Parrot

Indian Ringnecks are one of the most popular birds as pets worldwide. Naturally, everyone is interested in knowing the average lifespan of an IRN (Indian RingNeck).

But, it’s not so simple. No one can give you a legit, straight, single-numbered answer that will apply to all IRNs.

To answer the questions of what the average lifespan of an IRN is, we’d go through some of the factors that would prolong the IRNs lifespan:

Get a larger cage

The most common mistake people make is usually they get too small of a cage for their fid (feathered kid).

You should get a larger cage so your IRN has room to play, flap its wings, more room for toys etc.

When shopping for a cage for your IRN, these are the stats you need to watch out for:

24″ x 24″ x 36″ minimum cage size with 1/2″ to 5/8″ bar spacing

And have in mind that this is the bare minimum cage size, it’s always recommended to go with a larger cage (but with the appropriate bar spacing)

Get plenty of toys

So after you get a larger cage, get plenty of toys and add them in the cage, around the cage, around your home…You especially need to add toys to the cage so the parrot can play and keep busy.

Don’t let your parrot get bored! Boredom can literally kill it.

There’s plenty of options out there. You don’t even have to buy toys, you can do it yourself. Google it and you’ll find a lot of ideas. Make sure the build and the materials are safe though! Some toys require constant supervision (the parrot may get stuck in the toy or something like that)

Proper Healthy Nutrition

Your parrot’s diet is one of the most important things to keep your parrot healthy and happy. You should focus on fresh fruits and veggies and some nuts and seeds. Avoid processed foods or any kind of “prepared” foods. Sometimes boiled food may be better than fresh food. Google it and you’ll find what your parrot should and should not eat. I basically google everything before I feed my parrot. So if I buy new pineapples, I instantly google “can my parrot eat pineapples” and do some research. Do that for everything, don’t guess.

As for pre-bought food “packs”, I always have a bag laying around. It can always come in handy, for whatever reason. I may go traveling to a place where there’s no access to fresh fruits and veggies. Or maybe I run out and can’t get new ones. So always have a bag of store-bought healthy parrot food, but don’t the main diet should still consist of fresh food.

Play with your Indian Ringneck

You should play with your fid as much as you can. Never let it be bored. Boredom is the number one killer of parrots. No matter how much toys and big of a cage your parrot has, nothing will beat actual human interaction.

Regular vet check-ups

You should regularly take your IRN to your avian vet. Regular checkups are a must. If you notice anything unusual, take it to the vet ASAP.

Safe environment

Don’t place the cage in a windy area. Don’t place it anywhere near other animals and predators like cats. Avoid placing the cage where there’s a draft. Do the “candle test” – if the candle flickers or goes out, it’s not a good safe place.
Don’t let your parrot go near any fumes, including your kitchen, especially when you’re cooking something.

Be careful with materials and woods

Some woods/trees are safe for parrots, others or not. Be careful and do your research. Make sure you know the exact species of the tree you’re planning to use and google it to see if it’s safe. Some materials are also harmful to parrots, so google materials too. Stainless steel is what’s most often recommended.

Ok, so now onto some lifespan statistics.

Average lifespan of an Indian Ringneck

Here are some statistics that would give you an idea of an IRN’s lifespan.

Again, I must point out that the lifespan largely depends on how you treat your parrot, and it’s different for every bird out there. The numbers below are just an average.

Average lifespan: 20-30 years

Maximum lifespan: 50 years. I’ve actually seen (and played with) a 36-year old male IRN. Quite a healthy and happy fid.