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Lorikeets as Pets
 There are a number of lorikeets varieties that appeal as pet birds. These varieties can be divided into two main groups – the Small Australian Lorikeets, and the larger tropical lorikeets. The lorikeet is a playful and energetic bird and in its natural environment eats nectar and fruits rather than seeds. It requires a specialised diet of a nectar mix, fruit and vegetables. Lorikeets are very untidy eaters and spoil the cage and its surrounds with their large, wet droppings. These messy eating habits require a diligent owner who is willing to clean the cage every day to prevent bacterial and yeast (thrush) infections. The smaller lorikeet varieties (varied and musk) make better pets because of their soft bite, but well-trained rainbow or red-collared lorikeets are good talkers and a lot of fun.
Lorikeets are extremely playful and love to listen to music and dance. They form strong bonds with their owner and make excellent pets for those willing to provide the specialised care required by the lorikeet. This includes providing wet mix or nectar as a food source and ensuring the cage is kept clean despite a very messy bird. As with any parrot species, it is best to obtain a hand reared male bird from aviary bred parents.
Small Australian Lorikeets
Varied – Psitteiteles versicolor
Purple crowned – Glossopsitta poryphyrocephala
Little lorikeet – Glossipsitta pusilla
| | Size: 19cm in length
| | Pet Status: Excellent
| | Talking Ability: Low
| | Noise Level: Low
| | Lifespan: up to 10 years
| | Breeding Ability: Good
| | Courtship display: Male stands in upright position with neck bent and head bobbing whilst hopping along the perch.
| | Number of Eggs: 3-5 eggs
| | Incubation: 21 days
| | Compatibility with other species: Not recommended with other parrot species due to special feeding requirements.
| | Feeding: Nectar/Wet mix/Dry mix
| | Health Programmes: Follow the Lorikeet Health Programme
| | Sexing: Surgical or DNA sexing required for some species.
| Larger Tropical Lorikeets
Red Collared – Trichoglossus haematodus rubritorquis
Rainbow – Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus
Scalie Breasted – Trichoglossus haematodus chlorolepidotus
| | Size: 30cm in length
| | Pet Status: Excellent
| | Talking Ability: Excellent
| | Noise Level: High
| | Lifespan: 20-25 years
| | Breeding Ability: Good
| | Courtship display: Hen bobs and jumps sideways on perch, stretching neck almost parallel with perch.
| | Number of Eggs: 2 eggs
| | Incubation: 23 days
| | Compatibility with other species: Not recommended with other parrot species due to special feeding requirements.
| | Feeding: Nectar/Wet mix/Dry mix
| | Health Programmes: Follow the Lorikeet Health Programme
| | Sexing: Surgical or DNA sexing required for some species.
| Black Capped Lory
Lorius lory
| | Size: 31cm in length
| | Pet Status: Excellent
| | Talking Ability: Excellent
| | Noise Level: Extremely high
| | Lifespan: 20-25 years
| | Breeding Ability: Good
| | Courtship display: Male perches in very upright position with wings spread and head turned to one side, whilst bobbing his whole body up and down.
| | Number of Eggs: 1-2 eggs
| | Incubation: 24 days
| | Compatibility with other species: Very good
| | Feeding: Nectar/Wet mix/Dry mix
| | Health Programmes: Follow the Lorikeet Health Programme
| | Sexing: Surgical or DNA sexing required.
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Lorikeet Species
Small Australian Lorikeets
 The Small Australian Lorikeets are playful and have a delightful personality. These endearing birds do not share the talking abilities of the larger tropical lorikeets but remain remarkable pets for those seeking a colourful and charming small pet bird. The quiet nature of the Small Australian Lorikeets varieties, make them particularly suitable for people who live in units or places where noise must be kept to a minimum. Male hand reared lorikeets, particularly the Varied Lorikeet (Psitteiteles versicolor), make the best pets.
Aviary Notes
Small Australian lorikeets are successfully bred in both large communal aviaries and in suspended single pair cages. These birds can also be housed in a planted aviary in a mixed finch/dove collection.
Larger Tropical Lorikeets
The larger lorikeets are highly intelligent and make excellent pets for those seeking a playful and energetic bird. All species are strikingly beautiful with their varied colours and stunning glossy plumage. As with any lorikeet species, they have special dietary requirements, and must be provided with nectar and wet/dry mix. The larger lorikeets make excellent talkers but can become extremely noisy and require a committed owner who is willing to provide continuing obedience training. With a very curious nature, the larger lorikeets have a tremendous mimicking ability and will often be heard imitating household appliances such as the telephone or microwave.
Aviary Notes
The boisterous nature of the larger lorikeet species demands an aviary no less then four to six metres long and one to two metres high. The best breeding results are achieved when the correct housing and nutritional care are provided. Lorikeets particularly like eucalypt branches in the aviary.
Black Capped Lory
The Black Capped Lory is a medium sized stocky bird with a short, slightly rounded tail. In the wild they are seen in small groups of up to ten but most frequently live as single pairs. In their native habitat, the have an excellent food supply from dense rainforest. These birds typically form very strong bonds with there owners, a characteristic consistent with their wild habits of bonding only to one or two other birds. The Black Capped Lory is playful and animated and makes an excellent pet for those willing to provide significant and meaningful attention. The Black Capped Lory can be very noisy and requires ongoing obedience training to prevent this from becoming an issue.
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Lorikeet Health Programme
The Ongoing Health Programme provides your pet bird with all of the vitamins and minerals necessary for top health. Within three weeks of starting the programme you will notice increased shine and feather vitality in your bird. These changes reflect a bird in top health.
The effects of Dr. Marshall's products on Sammy Shiels is truly amazing. This is an example of a Lorikeet in perfect health. These products do not contain dye or colour enhancers, instead, the products affect the health and vitality of the bird, making him happy and in perfect condition. Turbobooster produces the glossy shine to Sammy's feathers. Dufoplus brings out the orange and yellow colors. Ioford produces the bright eyes, and the richness and contrasts of the colours.
| Day of Week
| Water Supplements
| Food Supplements
| Cage Instructions
| Additional Advice
| | Friday
| Water Cleanser1
| Turbobooster2, Dufoplus, Ioford
| Lorikeets are susceptible to bacterial and yeast contamination from their food and cage. Water Cleanser at water cleanser dose should be used daily to clean their food containers and weekly to clean the cage. This treatment will prevent most bacterial and fungal problems.
| Fruit juice (apricot, orange or peach) offers the best method to medicate or supplement the diet of Lorikeets. Antibiotic medicines should be added to a teaspoon of your Lorikeet's favorite juice to ensure the correct dosage is received during medication treatment.
| | Saturday
| Fresh water
| Turbobooster2, Dufoplus, Ioford
| | Sunday
| Fresh water
| Turbobooster2, Dufoplus, Ioford
| | Monday
| Fresh water
| Nectar/Dry mix
| | Tuesday
| Fresh water
| Nectar/Dry mix
| | Wednesday
| Fresh water
| Nectar/Dry mix
| | Thursday
| Fresh water
| Nectar/Dry mix
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1 Water Cleanser is prepared by adding 1gm (level white spoon) into a litre of water. The drinking vessel is filled from this litre and the rest is used to clean the cage and utensils. It cleanses the bowel of harmful food- and water -related germs, promoting a stronger natural health.
2 Turbobooster, Dufoplus and Ioford are added to fruit juice daily for three consecutive days. Turbobooster provides protein and essential fatty acids that are a neglected part of Lorikeet nutrition. Dufoplus and Ioford provide the extra vitamin A and trace elements needed for perfect health.
Into 4 milliliters of juice using a teaspoon measure, add 6 drops of Turbobooster, 5 drops of Ioford and 5 drops of Dufoplus. Energy supplement should be made available in a finger drawer or small dish fresh daily. This is a potent source of vitamin B used during recovery from illness. It is highly palatable to lorikeets and can be used on a daily basis as part of its routine diet.
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Copyright © 2004 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.
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