SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO CONSIDER :
(Fact sheet prepared by Deb Ryan, a good friend of Forest Park Aviaries in Ohio, and commenting from recent personal experience!)
General:
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Pacific Parrotlets are the smallest parrots in the world -- intelligent and quite curious about their surroundings.
Pacific Parrotlets are the smallest parrots in the world -- intelligent and quite curious about their surroundings. •They may be tiny, but certainly they have a big personality !
They may be tiny, but certainly they have a big personality !•They may not get along well with other birds, and may be aggressive towards them. They seem to prefer human companions!
They may not get along well with other birds, and may be aggressive towards them. They seem to prefer human companions!•Average size approximately 5 inches and weight about 30 grams
Average size approximately 5 inches and weight about 30 grams•Parrotlets can live for up to 20 years
Parrotlets can live for up to 20 years•Some may learn to talk…limited vocabulary and often with a tiny voice.
Some may learn to talk…limited vocabulary and often with a tiny voice.•Not very loud…ideal for apartments and condos. Their "Chirp, chirp" chatter is very pleasing to the ears!
Not very loud…ideal for apartments and condos. Their "Chirp, chirp" chatter is very pleasing to the ears!When bringing a new young Parrotlet into your home:
•Be patient and give the youngster time to explore their new home and cage.
Be patient and give the youngster time to explore their new home and cage. •If the bird needed to travel to get to you, allow him/her to stay in their cage for a while, since the little guy could well be stressed.
If the bird needed to travel to get to you, allow him/her to stay in their cage for a while, since the little guy could well be stressed.•Provide spray millet at the bottom of the cage to ensure that the bird has something familiar to eat - the youngster will generally eat millet and slowly transition to the seed dish.
Provide spray millet at the bottom of the cage to ensure that the bird has something familiar to eat - the youngster will generally eat millet and slowly transition to the seed dish. •Be attentive to ensure that the bird is drinking and eating.
Be attentive to ensure that the bird is drinking and eating. •After the first day or two, slowly work on taking the bird out of the cage. After the first couple times, the Parrotlet will be more than willing to come out and play.
After the first day or two, slowly work on taking the bird out of the cage. After the first couple times, the Parrotlet will be more than willing to come out and play.•Take it slowly and allow the baby to earn your trust.
Take it slowly and allow the baby to earn your trust. Cage set-up:
•Bar spacing should not be more than ½ inch
Bar spacing should not be more than ½ inch•Provide a cage large enough for the Parrotlet to move around and play with toys and exercise. Rotate toys regularly to prevent boredom.
Provide a cage large enough for the Parrotlet to move around and play with toys and exercise. Rotate toys regularly to prevent boredom. •Keep an open seed and water dish at the bottom of the cage front. Many young birds will not approach a hooded dish, despite the potential of starvation.
Keep an open seed and water dish at the bottom of the cage front. Many young birds will not approach a hooded dish, despite the potential of starvation. •Recommended accessories: swing, "slinky" for tunneling and a "cozy hut" for sleeping. They love rope and bead-toys and bells.
Recommended accessories: swing, "slinky" for tunneling and a "cozy hut" for sleeping. They love rope and bead-toys and bells. •Supply cuttlebone and mineral block
Supply cuttlebone and mineral block•Place cage away from drafts but close to the activity of the home.
Place cage away from drafts but close to the activity of the home.Example of cage set-up for a Parrotlet:
Rest
•Important that the Parrotlet gets 10-12 hours sleep each night.
Important that the Parrotlet gets 10-12 hours sleep each night.•Parrotlets by nature like to cuddle up against something to sleep. A cozy hut is a great addition for your bird.
Parrotlets by nature like to cuddle up against something to sleep. A cozy hut is a great addition for your bird.•Provide a cover over the cage at night to supply security and warmth. A bed sheet works along with a light blanket on winter nights.
Provide a cover over the cage at night to supply security and warmth. A bed sheet works along with a light blanket on winter nights. Feeding:
•Fresh veggies and fruits (can also used thawed mixed vegs)
Fresh veggies and fruits (can also used thawed mixed vegs)•Enjoy birdie bread (fruit and veggie)
Enjoy birdie bread (fruit and veggie)•Eggs with dry oatmeal sprinkled
Eggs with dry oatmeal sprinkled•Pasta, beans, or brown rice mixed with veggies
Pasta, beans, or brown rice mixed with veggies•Cooked chicken, turkey, fish (no canned meat due to salt)
Cooked chicken, turkey, fish (no canned meat due to salt)•Search the internet for many other options
Search the internet for many other optionsCaution:
•Always know where your Parrotlet is when outside of the cage. They are very curious and can get into trouble or worse yet, get stepped on. Very important to keep track.
Always know where your Parrotlet is when outside of the cage. They are very curious and can get into trouble or worse yet, get stepped on. Very important to keep track. Further reading :
Some sites to consider (these are all clickable Links!) :
www.petco.com (animal care sheets)
Recommended Books:
The Parrotlet Handbook, by Matthew M. Vriends, Ph.D.
Bringing up Positive Parrotlets, by Sherry Lucciola
