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Lovingyourlorikeet-aguidetolorikeetcare!

Lorikeetsare loud,demandingand fascinatingbirds that canmake fantasticpets in the rightenvironment.CommonlyseenlorikeetspeciesavailableinPerthincludetherainbowlorikeetandscaly-breastedlorikeet.

Diet:

Lorikeetsarenectarandblossomeaters.Theirtonguesareverydifferenttootherparrotspeciesandhavebristlesonthemthatallowthemtofeedinthisway.

Ingeneralwerecommendthefollowingformostlorikeets:

•30-70%premiumcommerciallorikeetdiet–wet,dryorcombinationofboth.

•20-30%vegetables(recommendedvegetables include:capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn, carrot, zucchini, squash,spinach, pumpkin, sweet potato, beans and peas) andsproutedseed

•20-50%nativevegetation(mostAustralianblossomsareokay to feed – ensure these are free ofwild bird droppings contact) and fruits (i.e.melons,strawberries,banana,blueberries,grapes,peaches,pear,apple).Pleaseensurethatallstonefruitsandapplesarefreeoftheirseeds.

•1-2%snacks for trainingandas treats (unsaltednuts (i.e.macadamia, cashewandwalnut),pasta,eggsandbrownrice.)

*Theserangesareguidelines,eachbirdwillrequireslightlydifferentdietaryrequirements-pleasecontactusformoreinformationonwhattofeedyourbird.

Housing:

Lorikeetsarecolonybirdsandgenerallydowellwithcagematesastheyareoftenveryplayful.Itisimportanttointroduceanynewcagematesslowlyasnotallbirdswillgetalongwell.

Duetotheirnectar-baseddietlorikeetsaregenerallymessybirdssopleaseensurethattheircageisregularlycleaned,particularlyaroundtheirfoodandwaterbowls.

Weadviseagoodqualitypowdercoatedorstainlesssteelcageofanappropriatesize.Somepaintedcagescancontain leadelements,whichcanbetoxic toyourbirdsopleasetakecare

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whenselectingyourcage.Cagesthathavebeengalvanizedwithazinccoatingcanalsocauseproblemssopleaseselectcarefully.

Stainless steel or ceramic bowls should generally be used. Thesematerials are generally notporoussocannotharvestbacteriaaseasilyasmoreporousmaterials.Plasticbowlscanbecomeporousafterawhileandcancauseproblemsifbacteriabuildupintheseareassoifyouchoosetousethemmakesuretheyarereplacedregularly.

Perchesofvarioussizesareimportantforexerciseoftheirtoesandfeethealth.Naturalperchesfromnativetreesare idealastheygenerallyvary insizeanyway.Wegenerallyadviseagainstcalciumperchesastheycandryoutthebottomofthefeetandcaneasilyharvestbacteriaandotherpathogens.Wegenerallyadviseagainstsandpapercoveredperchesastheycanharmtheskinonthefeetduetotheirabrasivesurfaces.Pleasedonotprovidestringorropetoys,theyfrayovertimeandcancauseobstructionifswallowed.Ifyouarefeedingabalanceddietthencuttlefishandothersupplementsarenotneeded.

Environmentalenrichmentishighlyrecommendedandencouraged.Simplethingslikeutilizingcardboardtoiletrollstohidefoodcanprovidehoursofentertainmentformanybirds.

Itisimportantthatyourbirdgetsenoughsleepaslong-daylightexposurecanstimulateexcessivemoultingandincreasedreproductiveactivity.Werecommendyoukeeptothenaturaldaylength.Ifyourbirdiskeptinsideinawell-litarea,thenyoucancoverthecagewhenthesungoesdownandplacetheminadarkroomtoensurethattheirdaylengthisnottoolong.

Commondiseases:

Oneofthemostcommondiseasesthatweseeinlorikeetsisanupsetgastrointestinaltract.Theywilloftenpresentforregurgitation,vomitingordiarrhoea.Ifyouseeanyofthesesignswerecommendaconsultationastherearemanydifferentcausesandifleftuntreatedyoumaybeputtingyourbird’slifeatrisk.

Upperrespiratorytractinfectionischaracterizedbysneezingoroculardischargeandiscommoninyoungbirds.Onceagainitishighlyadvisedtobringtheminforanappointmentastherearearangeofdifferentcausesofupperrespiratorytractdisease.Chlamydiainfectioniscommoninyoungbirds,thisisaseriousdiseasethatcanbetransferredtootherbirdsANDhumans.

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Lorikeetsaregenerallyverycuriousandsometimesgetthemselvesintotroublewithforeignobjects. It isquitecommonforthemtoeatorchewonitemsthat

theyshouldn’t(jewelry,plastictoys,ropetoys,electricalcordsetc.).Ifyouareconcernedthatyourbirdmayhaveeatenorchewedonsomethingthattheyshouldn’thave,thenpleasegetintouchwithus.

Reproductivediseasesandbehaviouralproblemsarealsoquitecommoninlorikeets.

Ifyouareatallconcernedaboutyourbirdpleasegetintouchwithus.

Veterinarycare:

Regularcheck-upsevery6-12monthsareimportant,asbirdsareverygoodathidinganyillnessesthattheyhave.Thesecheck-upsallowproblemstobedetectedearlybeforetheyworsen.

Microchipping is also highly recommended as we seemanybirdsthatescapeeachyear.Microchippingallowsyour contact details to be easily found if your bird ishandedintoanyveterinaryclinicorgoodrescuefacility.Weuseaspecializedsmallmicrochipthatisinsertedintoyour bird’s pectoral muscle; this is a quick, simpleprocedurethatcanbeperformedinaconsultationtimeslot.

If you have any further questions about your lorikeetpleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.