PACIFIC PARROTLETS

Kiwi's Korner…

Breeders: Geoff & Dixie Gammon

Forest Park Aviaries, Columbia Station, OH

Date of hatch: December 24, 2006

"Hi – I'm Kiwi, a four-month old visual normal green Pacific Parrotlet who joined my new Ohio family on February 19th at 7 weeks of age. I was bred, handfed and nurtured at Forest Park Aviaries and was so lucky to go from their loving set of hands into my new family who pampers me beyond reason!

I transitioned quickly into the household, except for the three parakeets which I just need to tolerate. I'm more of a "people bird" and prefer to have my own cage, toys, etc. The humans accommodate this so I settled in immediately. I have guided my new family to help them identify the following areas for attention, to benefit both them as we work things out together, and perhaps also to provide some helpful hints to Pacific Parrotlet owners, both new and experienced ones alike! I'll hand it over from here: "..........

Basic Tips/Guidelines:

•They definitely love their human flock! They love attention and give it as well.

•Should spend time out of cage daily to keep them socialized.

•Owner needs to be willing to spend time preparing meals. Loves variety.

•Love their toys and will need plenty to keep them entertained – very curious little birds!

•Popular cage items include: swing, slinky, cozy hut, hanging wood toys with bells, rope toys, wheel.

•Cage size is important – if the Parrotlet needs to spend considerable time in their cage, please make it large enough for activity. Recommended size is no smaller than 18x18x24. Wider is better.

•Ensure to secure a cuttlebone and a mineral block in the cage.

•Ensure that you have a Avian certified vet who can provide medical attention for your Parrotlet if required.

•Take time to research these wonderful birds on the internet as well as various books available. They are very active and need to be supervised since they will get into trouble if left unattended. Must always know where the little guy/girl is to avoid anyone stepping on the bird – very important!

•Parrotlets are tiny birds with an enormous personality. They definitely settle into the family routine and will call for you with their little chirp when they hear you nearby.

•Love to nap on your shoulder and particularly enjoy hiding/napping under long hair.

•Watch the personality grow each and every day!

With Kiwi's arrival, I found myself searching websites for every piece of information I could gather along with ordering books specific to Parrotlets which I found very resourceful. Geoff and Dixie from Forest Park Aviaries were very helpful in preparing us on how to care for Kiwi and offer some of that information below.

Cage set-up: Very important to purchase the right size. If extended periods of time will be spent in the cage, ensure to purchase a larger cage to allow for activity and plenty of toys. Height should be approximately 24 inches and the wider the better. Parrotlets are like two year olds with feathers! Very curious and love their toys.

Also, place millet in the cage for the first few days to help your Parrotlet get adjusted since it's a treat they enjoy. If they are stressed with the adjustment, the millet is a treat they normally will eat and it will provide nutrition until they start to eat other items. Give the little baby plenty of time to adjust to the cage and be very patient with bringing him/her out for short periods. Be attentive to their body language on how long to keep out of the cage during the first week. Speak softly and rub the cheek feathers or top of head…they will look for this head scratch daily. Remember they are a baby and need to learn that they can trust you for their daily care.

Kiwi's set-up…she is out of her cage more than in it. Her cage has a wheel that she can run on as well as a swing and slinky that she can run through (or sleep in). The cozy hut in the front is her bed and she settles there each evening. Their nature is to cuddle up along side something for security and warmth.

There is an open seed dish as well as water dish. These are positioned at the bottom of the cage and have no hoods. In researching about water, I found that open dishes are better since some birds may not approach a hooded dish and ultimately could starve or become dehydrated. In the middle crock, her breakfast, snack and dinner are offered. There is a grid at the bottom of the cage so any droppings or old food is not laying for Kiwi to be in contact with and is very easy to clean with this set up. The cage is at the end of our kitchen on the desk so she sees us all the time.

Toys are also on top of the cage and a rope is attached to the cabinet above for climbing…

The wheel provides a lot of entertainment…

Feeding:

Important to note right up front the items that should never be offered to Parrotlets:

ChocolateAlcohol

Avocado Caffeine

Asparagus fruit pits

Potatoes (white) Salt

Also – other toxins include – scented candles, sprays, Teflon pans and other fumes. Remember – their respiratory systems are tiny and the items listed can be fatal.

Now, the fun part – the things that your little bird will enjoy and the variety is endless!

A typical day for Kiwi might look like…

Morning – fresh seed (Cockatiel blend) mixed with egg meal, pellets and dry oats or granola. Fresh water given through day. A separate crock offers breakfast which can include part of a poached egg with a little black pepper, birdie fruit bread (recipe below) and chopped fruit. Sometimes will sprinkle with oats.

Mid-day, I will offer Kiwi a snack mix that can be a combination of:

Cheerios, fruit loops, oats, rice krispies, raisins, cranraisins, shredded wheat, granola. The metabolism of these tiny birds is high so they burn a lot of energy and need to replenish their reserve throughout the day.

There is also a treat crumble (recipe below) that Kiwi will squeak when she sees it in the bag! It's so much fun to watch her get all excited about a meal offering. When she likes something, she savors the food and blocks all of us out. If she is distracted, I need to think of something else to offer; however, the veggie bread is always enjoyed.

Dinner – she eats with the family. A crock is set on her own setting in which she has been trained to stay and not beg. Dinner can include veggie bread which she loves (recipe shared below) along with fresh broccoli (big favorite) along with an offering of fresh fruit, rice or pasta.

Basic food groups:

Meats: Baked chicken, turkey, eggs – provide essential amino acids & minerals.

Fruits & Veggies: provide vitamins, minerals & carbohydrates – partial list:

Apricotssprouted seedssweet potatoes

Strawberries oranges apples

Kiwi fruit papaya cantaloupe

Spinachendive peas

Beans carrot & tops bananas

Squash beets & tops pears

Coconuts baby food

Pasta

Cereal, grains, and nuts: provide B complex vitamins, starches and proteins

Dry cerealcooked cereal & rice peanuts

Whole grain breadslow salt crackerstrail mix

Macaroni productsalmonds

Dairy products: provide calcium and essential amino acids

Milk is not recommended, may cause diarrhea. Most types of hard cheese, yogurts and ice cream can be offered (ensure no chocolate is in offerings).

Calcium sources: cuttlebone, oyster shell, D-Cal-Phos powder.

Vitamin E sources: Wheat germ oil, Nekton E Supplement

A few recipes to try with your feathered friend.

Veggie bread

1 cup flour ½ cup milk

1 cup cornmeal 2 eggs

Tsp baking soda ¾ cup mix frozen veggies (thaw & chop)

1 tsp baking powder ¾ cup fresh brocoli

Optional – can add ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan.

Mix ingredients and pour into pan. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. Keep a couple squares out for meals and freeze the remainder and take out a square at a time.

Fruit bread

1 cup flour 2 eggs

1 cup cornmeal Granola mix with cranraisins

Tsp baking soda Chopped almonds

1 tsp baking powder 1 small banana, mashed

½ cup milk 2 jars baby food fruit – be creative

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan.

We have shared banana bread with Kiwi as long as the recipe is low in sugar.

Treat Crumble

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup chopped pecans, almonds (mix it up with anything other than salted peanuts)

¼ cup unsweetened coconut (nature store or from bird shop)

Dash of cinnamon

¼ cut honey

½ cup raisins, cranraisins and other dried fruit chopped in small pieces

¼ cup peanut butter

Adjust amounts to ensure a nice consistency – spread mixture on a cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for approximately 15 minutes – should be golden brown. Cool and store in an airtight container.