What do lory birds eat

This means that they have mainly liquid poop, which they love to shoot great distances. Lories are high-energy birds that need a roomy cage as well as plenty of out-of-cage playtime.

This bird is for the more advanced bird keeper, and would do well in a one-bird household. Lories have a very specific fruit and nectar based diet. They will crack some seed, but should not have too much because seed is not natural to their wild diet, which consists mainly of flowers, nectar, pollen and insects. You can feed them mealworms, which are usually available at your local pet shop.

Because of this specific diet, mainly commercial lory nectar and fruit, both of which spoil quickly, it is easy for a lory with an inattentive owner to fall ill from malnutrition or worse. If your lorikeet has been living the good life on simple sugars and saturated fats, obesity is common and a weight loss diet might need to be implemented. Energy needs depend upon various factors:. Feeding your lorikeet Lorikeets are energetic, entertaining and sometimes messy birds.

Diet Ideally lorikeets are fed a combination of a formulated diet specifically designed for lorikeets , as well as supplementing with fresh food.

Vitamin and Energy Requirements If your lorikeet has been living the good life on simple sugars and saturated fats, obesity is common and a weight loss diet might need to be implemented. Energy needs depend upon various factors: Age : older lorikeets have less of a requirement than younger, growing birds.

Behaviour : birds kept in a small aviary will need less energy than those who are free flighted. Environment : those birds kept inside with require less energy than those in outdoor aviaries. Energy requirements can double in cold climates, consider where the bird originates and try to maintain a similar climate.

She graduated from the University of Glasgow in with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 16, times. Lorikeets are beautiful tropical birds that make great pets. The distinguishing feature from other parrots, though, is that they eat primarily soft foods and rely heavily on nectar.

As a result, feeding lorikeets can be a challenge for the novice bird owner. However, by providing the right type of food, timing your feedings properly, and providing safe food, you'll be able to give your lorikeet a complete and satisfying diet. To feed a lorikeet, you can purchase pre-made nectar from a pet store, which is the main source of food for lorikeets. Also, fruit is a major supplement to your lorikeet's nectar diet, so you should feed it things like apples, plums, figs, and grapes.

However, try to cut the fruit into chunks no bigger than a half inch cube. Additionally, aim to feed your bird twice a day, ideally in the morning and late afternoon, to match its natural feeding habits. Also, don't forget to provide fresh drinking water every day. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to maintain health and safety standards for your avian friend, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.

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By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Related Articles. The Rainbow can be hard on its toys, so they should be safe, with no strings to get tangled in and no small spaces to catch a toe or beak. Because of all of these specific care requirements, the first-time bird owner may want to steer clear of lories until he or she has a bit more experience. Most lories do not get along with other bird species, and can even become vicious with birds of their own species.

They are extremely territorial and should never be left unsupervised with other birds. They have been known to kill birds far larger than themselves. Lories require a much different diet than that of other parrots because their gizzard is not as powerful and is unable to crush seeds.

Though some lories will crack a few seeds, their main diet is fruit, such as bananas, oranges, melon, and apples; they also eat flowers, such as hibiscus; but the staple diet in captivity is a nectar made from juice with specially formulated lory-diet powder mixed into it. Lories have a specialized brush-like tongue that is used to pick up nectar and pollen. This liquid diet causes very loose droppings that tend to be sprayed, often outside the cage.

Someone living with a lory will spend a lot of time cleaning. There are dry diets specifically for lories that will make the droppings less soft, but this diet should only be a supplement to the liquid and fresh food and flower diet.