Parrotlets are one of the smallest hookbills and in my opinion, one of the cutest birds around. From Northern South America, parrotlets are green in color in the wild, but you can find yellow and blue ones in a pet store. A healthy diet is crucial to raising and keeping a happy and fit parrotlet. While a well balanced seed diet is very important, fresh foods are equally critical. This combination ensures that your parrotlet is getting essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Parrotlets are one of the smallest hook bills and in my opinion, one of the cutest birds around. From Northern South America, parrotlets are green in color in the wild, but you can find yellow and blue ones in a pet store.
A healthy diet is crucial to raising and keeping a happy and fit parrotlet. While a well balanced seed diet is very important, fresh foods are equally critical. This combination ensures that your parrotlet is getting essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Busy Parrotlet's have a huge appetite for their size. Many breeders feed parrotlets a mixture of parrotlet seed, egg food, and premium pellets such as Roudybush or Harrison ’s Bird Food. Volkman Avian Science Parrotlet Seed is popular parrotlet food. Parrotlets are thought to do best on a seed diet.
When Caring for Parrotlets, consider fresh, raw, plant-based foods or healthy human food.
|
Cooked pasta(regular and whole wheat), cooked rice (white, brown, and wild), and pita bread. |
|
Fruit:tomato, apple, crab apple, plum, dinosaur plum, nectarine, peach, pear, cantaloupe, watermelon, dragon fruit, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, kiwi (regular and gold), orange, tangerine, grapefruit. Goldenfeast Tropical Fruit Bits is a dried fruit mix of 15 nutritious fruits. |
|
Vegetables: carrots, peas, pea pods, lettuce, baby bok choy, peppers (green, red, yellow, orange, white, and purple), potato, cucumber, celery, zucchini, cooked corn, cabbage, beans, cauliflower |
|
Other Foods: sprouted seeds, chickweed, dandelion leaves (make sure that these have not been treated with herbicides, pesticides, or chemicals) Goldenfeast Gardenflora Blend provides vitamin rich greens to your parrotlet's diet. |
Dried Foods: dried fruits and vegetables, raisins, dried blueberries.
Treats: millet (a stick once a week) and the occasional honey stick.
Supplements: Cuttlebone, mineral block, and grit are a must. Most people believe that since these birds shell their own seeds that they do not need grit to properly digest their food. This is false. Vitamin and mineral powder may be added to fresh foods in limited quantities if you are not giving fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.
Weigh your parrotlet weekly to make sure that its healthy and eating well.
Clean, fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Some parrotlet's tend to dirty the water quickly so you may need to change it several times a day.
Water in a bathing dish may be provided daily. An alternative to this is a bird mister. With such tiny bodies, different parrotlets have different bathing preferences. Bathing cleans dust and debris off of feathers and moisturizes the skin. Proper skin and feather care is essential when caring for parrotlets.
The minimum recommended cage size for a pet parrotlet or parakeet is 19 inches wide x 19 inches long x 26 inches high. It should have horizontal bars spaced half an inch apart. Our pets are in cages this size and our breeders are in cages either 4' x 2' x 2' or 3' x 18" x 18". The breeder cages are made from 1/2 inch x 1 inch galvanized wire. All cages have wire bottoms or grates with paper several inches underneath.
Supervised play time outside of the cage is recommended for parrotlets. They are rambunctious and playful little birds who need room to exercise but we’ve found that dogs and cats are fascinated with them. They are also so small that it is easy to step on them or sit on them.
PARROTLET PERSONALITY
So, with these tips, you'll get a head start in caring for your parrotlet.
Parrotlets are small and feisty. In other words, they don't realize their vulnerability. It is not uncommon for other household pets to think of your parrotlet as a toy. Caring for parrotlets will require you to essentially "parrot-proof" for safety both inside and outside of the cage.
In conclusion, with proper care, you and your little friend can enjoy many wonderful years together.
African Grey Care
Macaw Parrot Care
Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.
Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.
TAGS: #ParrotletCare #BirdCare
SHARING IS CARING! PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA NOW!