Post on 19-Feb-2022
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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.