How to look after
a lorikeet
Learn more about one of the most beautiful coloured native birds.
A little about jean
Jean is a beautiful black-capped lory who lives here with us at Kellyville Pets in our amazing bird department. You can often find Jean tumbling in the hands of her human friends in the bird department (as that is one of her favourite things to do). Jean is an extremely smart and social bird, and is often caught acting very silly. She is recall-trained and can say 'What ya doing?' and 'I love you'. She is also a great whistler and is continuously learning new words and noises.
Don't be fooled by her stunning colouring, Jean is not a rainbow lorikeet!
Although she may look similar to, and have similar care requirements as the native Australian rainbow lorikeet, the black-capped lory actually comes from New Guinea.
We love having Jean as part of the family at Kellyville Pets, and are extremely grateful to have such an awesome bird right here with us in-store.
Although our beatiful Jean is a black-capped lory, she requires the same care as the native Australian rainbow lorikeet, which you can learn more about below!
fast facts
about the rainbow lorikeet
| Lifespan | 15 - 20 years |
|---|---|
| Size | 25 - 30cm including tail |
| Enclosure | A wire enclosure of 35" x 20" x 35" |
| Diet | Golden lori rice formula |
setting up your lorikeet
Housing
A small-medium gauge wire cage with dimensions of at least 35”(W) x 20”(D) x 35”(H) will give your Lorikeet enough room to spread out and exercise without risk of injury from hitting the wire sides.
Open top cages with perching areas are ideal for hand raised birds as they provide more freedom and interaction with their family. At night the cage should be covered with a sheet or cage cover to prevent drafts and reduce visual stress.
Care
Vitamin supplements such as Soluvite D or Multivet can be added to your Lorikeets water two or three times a week. Calcium and Iodine can be provided through cuttlebone and iodine bells. Fresh water should always be available and should be changed on a daily basis.
Worming should be repeated every three months with a broad-spectrum bird wormer.
Play
Lorikeets are high energy, hilarious pets making them suitable for high energy, hilarious owners! Lorikeets are arguably the most playful member of the bird family and are one of the best talkers of birds their size.
enrichment
Enrichment is all about enhancing the quality of life for your Lorikeet and generally relates back to activities they would usually perform in the wild.
Foraging plays a big part in enrichment for birds. To search for food is a natural instinct all birds possess, so it is the perfect way to exercise both their body and mind. There is a vast range of foraging toys to suit all species of birds and keep them mentally stimulated for when you are not at home. It is a good idea to have several different types of foraging toys available, and to rotate them in the cage every couple of weeks.
Natural branches of varying lengths, shapes and thicknesses should also be provided. There are many native branches that you could offer your Lorikeet such as eucalyptus, gum, grevillea, bottle brush and lilly pilly, many of which have natural nuts and flowers that providing a foraging opportunity for your Lorikeet. This also allows Lorikeets to properly exercise their feet and beak as they can chew and strip the bark perches.
food
Lorikeets are predominantly a pollen and nectar eating species. In the past Lorikeets were avoided as pets because their dietary requirements were not fully understood or commercially available. Today, however we are lucky to have a variety of commercially produced foods available for Lorikeets, such as Vetafarms Golden Lori Rice Formula.
Lorikeet formulas can still lack important vitamins and minerals, so their daily diet should be supplemented with small portions of fresh fruit and vegetables such as apple, carrot, beans, peas, corn, broccoli and spinach.
Never feed Lorikeets lettuce or avocado, and always remove the seeds from apples. Fruit and vegetables should not be left for prolonged periods of time as they will easily spoil and this can lead to illness from the bacteria and yeasts that grow on spoilt produce.
Health
Common health issues in Lorikeets
Psittacosis: A type of bacterial lung infection commonly carried by wild and domesticated birds, and able to be passed onto humans.
Respiratory Infections: Usually caused by bacteria infecting the respiratory system of birds due to vitamin A deficiency, however can be caused by many other factors such as fungi, parasites and environmental toxins.
Bacterial Infections: There are many common bacterial diseases birds are susceptible to and is usually caused by lack of hygiene or stress, especially when there is another factor compromising the birds immune system.
Red flags
Is your Lorikeet showing any of the signs of disease or illness? If yes, please contact your vet.
Fluffed up feathers
Nasal discharge
Lethargy
Out of character behaviour
Discoloured poo or diarrhoea
