The Cost Of A Lorikeet

The lorikeet, likewise known as the lory, will have a wavy-edge beak and a distinct tongue with “brushes” to collect juices, nectar, or pollen.

While there are known distinctions between a lorikeet and lories, the only distinction among the 55 different breeds, are the tail lengths, with the lories having a somewhat smaller tail than the lorikeet.

These active, lively, and incredibly friendly birds, can be found in a range of colors, like the red mollucan, rainbow nape, and the goldies lorikeet among others.

The typical lorikeet costs

The price of a lorikeet will significantly depend upon the breeder, where the breeder lives, the mutation/quality/colors, rarity, and the age of the bird. The majority of hand-raised weaned lorikeets, no matter the breed, will have a price range anywhere from $250 to more than $750+.

At BirdsNow, an online birds-only classifieds site, they had closer to 40 active listings at the time of this publishing, with costs varying from $250 to $650.

You might also like our articles about the cost of an Eclectus parrot, a Quaker parrot, or a Lovebird parrot.

Burke’s Backyard notes that the rates of the bird can significantly differ from just $50 to more than $6,500.

The additional expenses to be prepared for:

Habitat	$115
Habitat Cover	$25
Food	$15/month
Treats	$5/month
Habitat Substrate	$10/month
Food/Water Dishes	$10
Perches	$5 each
Toys	$5 each
Mineral Block Chews	$5
Spray Bottle	$10
Nail Clippers	$10
Vitamins/Supplements	$5
Vet Visits (routine/surprise)	$55 per visit + tests/surgeries, etc

Dieting needs

A healthy diet plan must include a premium nectar and/or specialized pellet diet, supplemented with fruit baby food, fortified seeds, and a percentage of carefully sliced vegetables and fruits. Any unconsumed fresh veggies or fruit ought to be disposed of after 2 hours. Online and at most pet shops, you can find commercial brand names of both wet nectar and dry pollen lorikeet feeds.

Just like with any captive bird, freshwater needs to be readily available at all times and must be changed a minimum of two times a day.

You should always avoid feeding your bird any avocado, chocolate, sweet treats, anything high in fat, caffeinated products, or fruit seeds as these food products can trigger major health issues.

Cage requirements

An environment, the bigger the better, must be, at a minimum, 24″ W x 24″ D x 30″ H, according to Petco. The metal bars will have to be spaced no more than half an inch apart and a flight habitat, while optional, is extremely recommended.

Inside the cage, you should add a few perches, a minimum of 6 inches long, and a good number of toys. The perches can aid the bird to move its feet and even prevent arthritis in the future. The toys can aid to give day-to-day stimulation and prevent the bird from getting bored. When buying any perches or toys, always make certain they are without lead, lead-based paints, zinc, and galvanized parts as these products can lead to some medical issues.

On the bottom of the cage, you should add a metal dog crate, lined with a substrate, to aid catch any bird droppings and keep them away from their food and water to prevent any contamination.

The cage, along with the toys, substrate, and perches, ought to be replaced and cleaned up a minimum of two times a week. If the toys or perches seem damaged in any way, then it will be a great idea to change them.

Their character

Many lorikeets are extremely outbound in nature, however, some species might be more aggressive than the others as they tend to be extremely territorial. As family pets, they can be seen as the best option for a newbie given that they are much easier to manage and will not require as much human attention when compared to other captive birds. Lorikeets are known to be really smart, extremely trainable, and can even speak a couple of words. When in groups, it’s not unusual to hear sharp squeals and chatterings amongst the group.

Lorikeet facts

The typical adult size, when fully grown, measures 5 to 12 inches long from head to the end of the tail, however, this size will considerably differ depending upon the specific lorikeet species.

Its life expectancy, when in captivity, can vary from 13 to 23 years with appropriate care and dieting, depending upon the species. Great health and a tidy surrounding can all increase its life-span.

All lorikeets, no matter the species, are herbivores.

The species will vary in color, from red to green, black, and blue, with many of them having multi-colored plumes.

Indications of a healthy lorikeet

Active, extremely lively, and alert
Drinks and eats continuously throughout the day
Eyes, when analyzed up close, seem dry and vibrant
The body, including the legs, beak, and feet, will look normal
Plumes will look well-groomed and in good condition

Warning signs to watch out for

An unhealthy beak, typically swelling and/or build-ups
Plumes, when analyzed carefully, are plucked, fluffed, and/or stained in appearance
Does not seem too active, typically looking depressed or sitting sadly on the flooring of the cage
The stool isn’t strong; rather, it’s runny and stained
An indication of limping when moving around
Discharge-appearance from the eyes
Inflamed eyes
It isn’t eating and/or drinking as it normally does

The most typical health problems

Chlamydiosis – Signs typically consist of fluffed, plumes, a nasal discharge, and/or hunger loss. You should seek immediate attention if any of these signs will occur.

Psittacine beak and plume illness – Signs consist of an irregular plume color, loss of plumes, and/or an unusual beak. Look for immediate help if any of these signs occur.

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Alec Pow

Alec Pow is a thorough and methodical Financial and Business Analyst with over 15 years of experience in financial statement analysis, Foreign exchange derivative hedging instruments analysis, modeling, and risk management, with a long history of writing for big news publications like Forbes, MSN.com, Washington Post, and many more.