E rn .c: C rn C5 :I a: reeding >­ .0 (/)o .c:o CL mall Lorikeets

by Rosemary Low New Barnet, England

The smaillorikeets are especially rewarding avicultural subjects. They are beautiful and fascinating. Lories and lorikeets are brush-tongued, nectar- and pollen-feeding A tiny Tahiti blue lory being hand-f~d.

Note the immatureplumage on this Tahiti blue lory. Hand-fed lorikeets.

A beautiful captive-reared Tahiti blue lory.

This small heated house offthe author's kitchen contains Tahiti blue lories that are a delight to watch. 8 from Australia, New Guinea and Indo­ food of one very successful breeding nesia. About 20 of the 50 are pair ofGoldie's lorikeets known to me. available, regularly or occasionally, to MEYER'S LORIKEET ( aviculturists. In this paper I shall flavoviridis meyer;). This species, describe the four species of small from Celelses (Sularveri), Indonesia, is lorikeets being bred by my husband occasionally available. Less strikingly and me. marked thanGoldie's, it is nevertheless TIRED OF BEING BITTEN? I strongly recommend the small lori­ a very pleasing little . It was first then you need . .. keets. They have several important exported commercially in 1973. We ~ advantages over the larger ones: they have bred it consistently since 1976. Taming have pleasant voices, most are not SEXING. Sexual dimorphism is not Made Easy® destructive and all will breed in quite pronounced but, on close examina­ LISTEN & LEARN a ~I professional, humane, small enclosures. They are not aggres­ tion, there are sufficient differences to /" -C\' sive towards their owner when be able to sex them with a degree of and easy method for elimi- .- nating stress, biting, -q' breeding - and anyone who has been accuracy. Generally speaking the male squawking, and other attacked by one ofthe larger lories will differs from the female in the follow­ problem parrot behavior. consider this point to be quite ing respects: his yellow cheek patches STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS for train- ing your parrot to be a true pet; includes: important! are a denser, more solid yellow; the Grooming, The Reward Method of The only one of the four species to forehead is yellow or yellowish (not Training (applies to bOth taming & trick be discussed which is readily available green or brownish as in somefemales); training). The 5 Steps to Parrot Taming, is Goldie's lorikeet (Trichoglossus his upper mandible is broader. The Problem Solving, and much more. AVAILABLE on 2-one hour ~ goldie;) from New Guinea. It was female has a narrower upper mandible audio cassettes from leading ; almost unknown in aviculture until and the head looks finer with less rise pet stores or send $9.95 + ~ , ; over the eye. Both sexes display and $1.50 (postage & handling) to: ~- 1977 and has since proved so free TIl breeding that it will almost certainly be dilate the pupil when excited, though CINCINNATI ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS the first lorikeet to become totally males warble more. P.O. Box 404, Cincinnati, OH 45201 domesticated. It adapts well to cap­ The plumage of young in nest­ tivity and is not easily stressed. feather can be misleading; coloration SEXING. The only disadvantage of varies considerably. Young males show this species is that it is difficult to sex. A varying degrees of yellow on the number of theories have been put for­ forehead, and some have none at all. ward regarding sexing by plumage Recently a young bird fledged in full coloration - but none has proved to adult male plumage. Usually immature be consistently correct. In none of the are much duller and have yellow species described here is the display as flecks on the mantle. The beak is 1~,-OG ritualized as in the larger lories; it is brownish, not orange as in the adult. ~ C~ only marginally more pronounced in DIET. The diet and preferences of' Send $1.00 E discount available the male. this lorikeet are similar to those of tl Many lorkieets are easier to sex at Goldie's, i.e., some birds will eat your source for... about the time they leave the nest, soaked sunflower, sweet corn and LAFEBER'S PRODUCTS especially if the siblings are male and millet spray, while others exist prin­ • PELLETED FOODS female. It is then evident in Goldie's cipally on nectar. • EMERAlD I & II lorikeet that the young male has the IRIS LORIKEET (Trichoglossus iris) facial area more brightly coloured. from Timor, Indonesia, is not common • NUTRISTART, etc. Immature birds are much duller than in aviculture. Of all the Trichoglossus raise healthier birds... adults: the crown is dark bluish, the species, this is my favourite. In per­ more nutrition for your money... scarlet on the forehead is replaced by a sonality it is much more boisterous AVI-CUlTUR-l BILLIONTM dull plum colour, also on the cheeks, than Goldie's and Meyer's, which are which are indistinctly streaked with quiet and gentle. Unlike the former concentrated Lactobacillus acidophilus black. The streaking in all areas of the two, it is destructive towoodworkand • combat diarrhea & "pasted-up" plumage is less distinct than in the to growing vegetation. Its beak is vents adult. Another difference is the colour larger and stronger. Twigs for gnawing • combat the effects of stress of the cere, which is lighter. should be provided or overgrown from crowding, molting, drugs, DIET: In captivity many Goldie's beaks could result. I believe that the etc. will take a variety offoods, but indivi­ diet ofthis species in the wild is varied • fight E. coli, Salmonella, etc! duals differ. Ofmy two breeding pairs, and includes more seed than that of • Just sprinkle on food. one exists on a nectar mixture, with a most lorikeets. small amount offruit (apple, pear) and SEXING. The difference in the sexes spray millet. The second pair, con­ is not evident to the casual observer ~:~;~::~:~L;I sisting of a hand-reared female but close examination reveals two (daughter of the first pair) and a wild­ features which are significant. The ;.;::::.:; :::~t:{::?·} caught male, have a liking for soaked male's violet ear coverts are more sunflower seed; the quantity offered is extensive, extending downwards; his Wm. V. Reichert & Son. Dept W limited to about 30g. daily. Sweet corn breast barring is more pronounced. 1523 Potter Rd. is offered to pairs with young. Soaked Immature birds are very muchduller Park Ridge, IL 60068 312-825-BIRD sunflower seed is the principal rearing throughout, most noticeably on the

9 head, The ear coverts are bluish-green, those of the rump, which appear at not violet, The breast barring is almost about nineweeks. Thewhitishfeathers absent, The beak is brown instead of on the cheeks are apparent at about orange, eight weeks. DIET. This consists ofnectar, sponge 1984-1985 COMMITI'EES DIET. The Iris accepts a wider range offoods than any lory with which I am cake and nectar, fruit and a little sweet

ALLIED GROUPS LIAISON familiar; it could not be maintained on cornandgreenfood suchas lettuceand RonJohnson (305)232-3391 nectar alone. Perhaps it is best to con­ spinach. Seed is ignored, as are AVY AWARDS sider it as a parakeet which drinks mealworms. A wide variety of fruit is DaleThompson (805)252-3441 nectar, rather than as a lorikeet which eaten; favourites arepomegranates and AVIAN RESEARCH eats seed. The brushes of its tongue cherries. Grapes, pear and apple are Dr. Susan Clubb (305)226-6778 appear to be less well developed than given regularly. Tiny insects are eaten AVIAN TRANSPORTATION Ron Brown (714)879-2473 in other lories. by birds in planted enclosures.

BREEDING REGISTRY This species eats a wide variety of ACCOMMODATION. Theenclosures Larry Shelton (215) 243-11001732-6490 seeds, plus vegetables such as carrot used for the four species described CALIFORNIA LIAISON and celery, which most lories refuse. It here are small - not from choice but Hal Koontz (805)872-1063 is very fond of spray millet, also figs, due to limited space available. They CLUB PROMOTION the seeds ofwhich are not unlike those range from 3 ft. (91 cm.) square and Linda Rubin (617)469-0557 of panicum millet. Dried figs are 6 ft. (1.8 m.) high to 5 ft. CI.5 m.) x 3 ft. CONSERVATION Bob Berry (713) 520-3205 relished. The usual fruits, especially (91 cm.) x 6 ft. (1.8 m.) high. These are

CONVENTION COORDINATOR apple in abundance, and nectar, must outdoor enclosures in which the birds Phyllis Manin (813)839-4751 also be available. are kept all year round. They are hardy CONVENTION 1985 The TAHITI BLUE LORY (Vini and tolerate low temperatures well. JimCoffman (415)322-6857/692-2234 australis) is extremely rare in The blue lories are an exception. They CONVENTION 1986 aviculture. The only breeding groups are kept permanently in indoor flights are in San Diego Zoo and in my own measuring 6 ft. x 2 ft. x 6 ft. high or, in EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES Dr. Val Clear (317)642-0795 collection. In character, appearance the case of one pair, a small planted

ETHICS and voice, this species is quite unlike house measuring 4 ft. (1.2 m.) square William Maynard (305)968-4214 all other lories which are available. In and6 ft. (1.8 m.) high. The latteris ther­ FINANCE my experience it is nervous and easily mostatically controlled at 65 ° F HubenMorris (702) 565-7274 stressed; this even applies to tame, CI8°C). A sprinkler system is installed HOME OFFICE hand-reared birds. Its voice is reimini­ for the benefit of plants and birds. Marge Sharp (213)372-2988 scent of some tits ( Parus); in­ Lories housed in this way are a tremen­ INJURIOUS SPECIES Clifton Witt (301)774-0303 deed, it moves about with the ease ofa dous source of enjoyment as they

LEGAL COUNSEL softbill rather than with the more climb and bathe in the plants and slide Gary Lilienthal (617)542-7070 leisurely or jerky movements ofa lory. down the vertical stems. This is the LEGISLATION I suspect that in the wild small insects ideal way of keeping them. Clifton Witt (301)774-0303 form a significant part of the diet. Tahiti blue lories are fairly destruc­ MEMBERSHIP PROMOTION JoeMcLaughlin (503) 538-6323 SEXING. The plumage is identical in tive to vegetation, Goldie's not at all destructive and Iris too destructive for NOMINATING male and female; however, males have Hal Koon(z (805)872-1063 the headandbill slightly larger, also the a planted environment. PARLIAMENTARIAN feet, which may be deeper orange than Perching should consist of twigs the female's. from deciduous trees such as apple. In PUBLIC RELATIONS Birds in nest-feather are very dull addition to horizontal perches, lori­ Tom Mashall (703)759-9431 coloured. The feet and bill are black, keets greatly appreciate vertical PUBLICATIONS Don Cavender (619)745-8697 the upper parts are dull bluish and the perches suspended loosely from the

RAFFLE underparts are dark grey. There are a aviary roof to form a swing. few grey or greyish white feathers at Food and water is provided in white SPEAKERS the sides of the beak. By about four plastic containers whichhookontothe DardCavender (619)741-3421 months old (i.e., before the first moult wire. Alliories are enthusiastic bathers SPECIAL ADViSOR at six months) the white feathers are and must have fresh water daily. Tahiti Dr. RichardE. Baer (614)836-5832 more extensive and are found on the blue lories housed indoors where the STATE COORDINATOR Ray H. Rudisill (314)645-6757 upper breast in some immature birds, light is left onuntil 11 p.m. will batheat

VETERINARY AFFAIRS as well as on the face. all hours up to that time, but especially GeoffreyR. Smith, D.V.M. (619)726-8918 CHICKS. Newly hatched chicks late at night. Some lories canbe seento WAYS AND MEANS weigh 2 g. They are covered in longish drink water as well as nectar. Tim Dahle (301)551-6%7 white down - but not dense, as in CANDIDA ALBICANS. Anot uncom­ some lories. At. ten days the feather mon problem with small lories is the tracts appearas rows oftinyblackdots. fungus Candida albicans which is The eyes start to slit at about two usually seen in the mouth but can also WATCHBIRD STAFF weeks but may not be fully open until infect the crop. After treating infected Sheldon DingielEdltor (714)734-7448 18 to 21 days. At five weeks the wing birds with Nystatin or with Fungillin M.Jean Hessler/ArtDirector (714)548-3133 Susan Dingie/AsslstanttoEditor (714)734-7448 feathers are erupting and, a few days suspension with varying degrees of later, the feathers on the top of the success, I have recently found what head. By eight weeks the chick is fully appears to be the perfect treatment. It covered with contour feathers, except is no longer necessary to handle in- Continued on page 12 10 WHOLESALE BIRDS For the Finest Quality of Exotic Birds At Low - Low Quarantine - Wholesale Prices Importers of Exotic Birds Air Shipments to All Parts of the United States and Overseas Never a Box or Service Charge BABY AMAZONS MORE BABY BmDS EXOTICS INCLUDE 3-6 Months Old Africcm Grey Panola Trouplals Blue-Front Amazon Timneh Gray Parrot. Tanagers Yellow-Nape Amazon Blue god Gold Macaw Siskin. Red-Lored Amazon Green Wing Macaw Goldfinches Blue Crown Amazon Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Nightingales Spectacled Amazon - And Many Othen- Toucans Parrotlets Always Canaries and Cockatiels Lorikeets ,,\, -Others- \\ .' ..... Monthly Sale Specials! -Inquire SUPREME EXOTIC BIRDS, INC. 39 North Bond S1. • M1. Vernon, New York 10550, USA (914) 699·4608 Write or Call for Current Price List - Issued Bi-Weekly

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11 fected birds. About 1/10 of a 50 mg. tablet of Kitoconozole (Crown Chemicals) is crushed and placed in the nectar daily until the bird is cured. BREEDING. Courtship feeding occurs just prior to egg-laying. InTahiti blue lories it has not been observed at any other time and is accompanied by a high-pitched "Ee-eee" sound. It would seem that this species is not sexually mature until two years old. The other species may breed earlier than this. Potential breeding span is unknown. Our oldest pair are 14 year old Iris lorikeets which produced young last year. It is my belief that males retain their fertility longer than females and that fertility in a female of a small species of this age is probably exceptional. The breeding habits of the 'four species are basically similar, except that in the Tahiti blue lory incubationis shared by both sexes. (This habit is found only within the genera Vini and .) The clutch consists of two eggs or, more rarely, one. The usual incubation period is 23 or 24 days, or 25 in the Tahiti blue lory. I know of two cases in Goldie's lorikeet (one in the U.S.A., one in the U.K.) where this period was extended to 28 days during cold weather. Incubation may start with the laying of the first or the second egg, but usu­ ally the chicks hatch two days apart. A year-old Iris lorikeet male. On a single occasion Tahiti blue lory eggs hatched four days apart. I know of Nesting material consists ofpet litter moved for hand-feeding. Lories are more than one instance in the Swain­ obtained in compressed packs. It is probably the easiest of all parrots to son's lorikeet (Trichoglossus necessary to change this weekly while hand-feed. The diet used throughout haematodus moluccanus) in which young are in the nest. the rearing period is an extremely incubation commenced several days­ Nest-boxes should be left in position simple one. It consists of two types of and up to ten days - after the laying of throughout the year as they are essen­ Heinz tinned baby foods, in equal the second egg, but have never known tial for roosting purposes. This results parts: pure fruit, and bone and beef this to Occur in the four species re­ in lories hatching young during every broth with vegetables. A little bone viewed here. The incubating bird sits month ofthe year. Most smalliories are flour is added, also occasionally a drop very tightly and is joinedby its matefor very long periods. continuous breeders, i.e., they lay of Collo-Cal D (calcium and Vitamin D several clutches annually. Some, in liquid form from Vet Ltd., Minster Nesting receptacles consist of especially larger species, are seasonal House, Western Way, Bury St. Budgerigar nest-boxes measuring 8 in. breeders, and lay only between April Edmunds, Suffolk) to ensure that there (20 m.) x 5 in. (13 cm.) x 5 in. high, or and October. is adequate calcium in the diet. This is upright boxes. Givena choice between As these birds cease to brood their not strictly necessary with small a bark-covered nest-box and a small chicks during the day when they are species and some are reared without it. natural log, a pair ofhand-reared Tahiti about three weeks old, young being For Tahiti blue lories only, Brand's blue lories chose the latter. reared during cold weather are re- essence ofbeefis added to the food for chicks up to the age of about three weeks. This additional protein is to replace the small insects which I believe these birds would feed to their young, were they available. A spoon - no other implement - is Tahiti Blue used for feeding chicks of all ages, including newly hatched ones. ATahiti Lory blue lory of a few hours old, weighing only 2 g., will feed readily from a 12 spoon. I have never had a young parrot blue lory). The main hazard of parent­ chick of any species which did not reared chicks in a temperate climate is immediately accept spoon-feeding and that the female ceases to brood them at I would attribute non-acceptance of an early age, and they become chilled the spoon to the food or both not being and die. hot enough. An interesting observation was Chicks are fed at periods varying made on a pair of hand-reared Tahiti from every 1-112 hours (for the first blue lories who were rearing a single two to three days), every two hours(up chick in a nest log. When it was about to about two weeks), then every two six weeks old they ceased to brood it at and a half hours. Feeding is carried out night and roosted elsewhere, in a nest­ between 6: 15 a.m. and 11: 15 p.m. box. The enclosure was the heated one Chicks up to about eight days receive a previously mentioned. 3 a.m. feed; this is extended to 4 a.m., 5 The period which the young spend a.m., and 6 a.m. by the time they are in the nest is about 52 to 54 days for ten or eleven days old. Meyer's, Goldie's and Iris lorikeets and Crops are neverfilled grossly and the about 62 days for Tahiti blue lories. crop is usually empty for a period of The young quickly learn to feed about half an hour between each feed. themselves and can, if necessary, be It is then quickly apparent if a chick's removed from their parents as soon as crop is not emptying normally - the they are independent, two to three first indication that something is weeks after leaving the nest. The main wrong. danger in leaving them is that the male ewly hatched chicks are kept at a may attack his male offspring. A young temperature of92 to 95 degrees F. This male Meyer's was found dead after is gradually reduced until by the time leaving the nest in circumstances LE REGENERATEUR chicks are fully feathered at about which suggested that the male parent ET SUPPLEMENT seven weeks no heat is necessary. might have been responsible. In a pair VITAMINIQUE Chicks will start to sample nectar of Goldie's lorikeets known to me the POUR OISEAUX • U,," SVPPl£lVI{NT CO~POSE Of and soft fruit, such as pear and grapes, male kills the young males as soon as ""',U,4IN(5 ESSENTI(U£S • (NAle ... , DE fER at about seven weeks (eight and a half they leave the nest; they therefore have • UN (MPlOt qEGUll(R ~OURNIRA 4Ull OISt.o.UA lES VIT.t.lVllf1;ES Et l£ ~ER N(CESSAIRf weeks in blue lories), or earlier in some to be removed just before they are due A UI\j( CAQISSa"-lC£ SAINE cases. The number of feeds is reduced to fledge...... ' CO"lf'''~ 30 ... gradually until they are independent at InconclusionI would urge more avi­ CO"t~"" Nil' " 01 nine and a half to ten weeks. culturists to concentrate on breeding A' high poten~y multivitamin The three principal reasons for the smalliories which can prove quite ,." diet supplement for all cage hand-rearing are: 1) winter hatching; prolific despite their small clutch size. , J birds. Regular use will ensure ~ 2) inadequate feeding by parents nlike the larger lories, finding space that all essential nutritional .,~~ I requirements puring a bird's (sometimes one chick is favoured and for several pairs of one species is not· .I.\:. lifespanare fully met. Hagen the other fed much less often); difficult. One is therefore in the posi­ 'J' Vitamin Supplement Condi­ 3) feather plucking. tion to sell unrelated pairs to breeders, tioner contains among other The chicks of pairs which have not thus ensuring that these delightful ingredients VITAMIN A to pro­ mote health of plumage and bred previously should be checked birds will be firmly established in skin. Also to aid resistance to twice daily to ensure that they are aviculture. disease. VITAMIN Dpromotes being fed adequately. Offering fresh, strong bone formation in Appendix I warm nectar several times daily acts as young and nesting birds. Nectar mixture used: VITAMIN D & A promotes a stimulus to feed the young. ectar is One heaped dessertspoonful of malt quick moult and restoration changed three times daily (or more of plumage. VITAMIN B is re­ extract dissolved in boiling water; add quired for health and growth often) for birds which have chicks in two dessertspoonfuls of honey; add a the nest; this is not a necessity, of the nervous systems. little cold water, then three dessert­ VITAMIN C is vitally required however. spoonfuls of a fruit-flavoured Milupa for resistance to infections Feather plucking can often be and disease. VITAMIN E for baby cereal, or similar cereal, then mating birds and the preven­ averted or cured by nailing pieces of about half a dessertspoonful of bark or wood inside the nest-box to tion of infertility IRON to pre· Fussell's condensed milk. Add water to vent anemia and increase the give the parents something to gnaw. make 35 fluid oz. (1 litre) of mixture. synthesis of hemaglobin. This not only diverts attention from The consistency is runny, not thick. the chicks but allows the birds to man­ The condensed milk can be omitted in ufacture their own nesting material to hot weather as nectar containing it help to counteract the dampness separates more quickly. which is inevitable when the nest con­ tains chicks. Most smalliories tolerate Appendix II AVAILABLE FROM YOUR nest inspection well and this should be Egg sizes, approximate averages: LOCAL PET SHOP carried out at least once daily. Goldie's lorikeet: 21 x 19 ffiffi. Both parents feed the young. The Meyer's lorikeet: 22 x 19 ffiffi. female broods them during the day Iris lorikeet: 23 x 20 ffiffi. (also the male, in the case of the Tahiti Tahiti blue lory: 17 x 15 ffiffi.• 13