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Raising Loriinae for the Pet Trade

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Raising Loriinae for the Pet Trade Raising Loriinae for the Pet Trade by Leo and Barbara Jones Lynn Haven, FL ur lories are housed in 24 ft. x are adjacent. We believe the sight of cop- with a bang in front of you. O74 ft. houses covered with chick­ ulation encourages others. Here in Their care in the home has been en wire, with a wide aisle down the cen­ our location, the season runs from made easier and less messy with the ter and a narrow aisle on each side. lhe March to September and a lesser sea- addition ofpellets. We use the new Pretty cages are 2 ft. wide x 6 ft. long x 3 ft. son from October to February. Our lories Bird lory pellet with fruits and vegeta­ high, made of 1 in. x 1 in. welded lay two eggs per clutch, three to five bles for the "inside" birds and lory pel­ wire. Cages are placed on pipe stands clutches per year. We allow them to feed lets, fruit and nectar for the aviary running the length of the houses, with their babies for two weeks and then birds. Lories have a real zest for life and cage end and nest boxes facing the cen­ handfeed SOAJ (fat) handfeeding formula exhibit that in their enjoyment of almost ter aisle. lhe birds are fed from the cen­ by Pretty Bird with blended fresh any kind of fruit and most vegetables. ter aisle and watered from the outside papaya, Prime Vitamins and Spirulina. They play with their pellets by floating aisles. Three 6 in. bowls are provided, Of course, there is always the trou- them in their water before consuming two on the nest box end in a bump-out ble pair that doesn't incubate or destroys them. Of course, no seeds for these for food and one on the other end for their eggs. While some people foster babies. water. The bump-out tends to prevent eggs, we place them in a Grumbach After eating, the love to take a bath escape when feeding and helps to incubator, finding that the vibration is and always have a fresh smell and keep food bowls clean. lhe nest boxes slight, so that we are able to incubate clean appearance... are L-shaped, 4 in. diameter by 10 in. from day one. We incubate our other r--------------­ vertically by 10 in. horizontally for the hookbills so any lories hatching out fit smaller lories, with an inspection door right into the program. We produce on the dark end of the box where they an average of eight babies per proven lay their eggs. For the larger lories, the pair of lories per year. nest boxes are 8 in. diameter by 20 in. When considering lories and lorikeets vertically by 20 in. horizontally. there is a dazzling rainbow ofcolors and Breeding lories are given nectar pre­ variety of sizes from which to choose. pared with fruit and a commercial pow­ Our larger lories of preference are the der mix along with dry lory pellets. lhe Black Lory Chalcopsitta atra, the two nectar is' prepared by using peeled Black-capped Lories Lorius lory and papaya, apple, orange, mango, banana, Lorius lory erythrothorax, and the sweet potato, carrot and other fruit in Yellow-backed Chattering Lory Lorius season. Peeled fruit is placed in a garrulusjlavopalliatus. blender along with warm water and The Black Lory is very affectionate, blended to a liquid; add Lories Delight an excellent talker and considered the Dry Diet and a teaspoon of Spirulina by most gentle and loving of all the lories, Earthrise for two gallons. This nectar is never showing any inclination to bite. fed to each pair according to their daily The Black-capped Lory is a breath­ needs. In the second food bowl we keep taking bird. It is loving even to the "Lory Select Pellets" by Pretty Bird at all point of the male wanting attention times. For pet birds, we do not feed nec­ whenever the female has eggs in the exclusively tar, but the Lory Select Pellets and an nest. The female has been known to exit occasional piece of fruit. In weaning the nest for a word or two from her babies and for pet birds we use a soak keeper! These birds make'excellent Caiques and cook mixture made of soy beans, pets and maintain rapport even during mung beans, red wheat, rice and bar­ breeding. They are excellent talkers babies from and will delight you with their antics, ley which is brought to a boil for three many blood lines minutes, rinsed and added to chopped jumping up and down like monkeys to mixed vegetables. To this mixture we get your attention. add Prime Vitamins by Hagen and lhe Yellow-backed Chattering is the Spirulina. most commonly found ofthe Chatterings (818) 703-1112 Our birds generally breed all year and makes a wonderful addition to Ralph Lima around in cages eight inches apart with your home. They are excellent talkers P.O. Box 6496 no visual separation between cages and bold little clowns. They love to hang Woodland Hills, CA 91365 making sure no two of the same species upside down while swinging and land afa WATCH BIRD , 53.
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