Ornate Lorikeet
Characteristics
Length: 25 cm (about 10 inches). Dark green with yellow-edged feathers on lower breast and belly. Dark blue forehead. Red lores, chin and breast; the last with blue edges. Yellow band on the neck behind the ear coverts. Red occiput. Yellow underwing coverts. Eyes dark orange, beak orange-red, legs greenish-gray. Somewhat rare in aviculture, although it was extremely popular in the 1960s and early 1970s. Has a harsh voice and must be carefully acclimatized.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a parakeet or parrot should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
The female lays 2 eggs which hatch in about 26-27 days. After about 80 days the young leave the nest. Nest boxes should be 25x25x45 cm with an entrance diameter of 9 cm.
Health
All parakeets and parrots should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
