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elizabeth
Have any parrotlet breeders out there had problems with fledging parrotlets, with the youngest getting picked on by the parents?
I know I have. Anyone else?
Both parents have a tendency to stop seeing the young as their babies, and start seeing them as interlopes after anything from about 5 to 7 weeks.
Reply by: Iain |
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Lady Kakata
I have a female cockatiel whos quiet, gentle and loves a headrub. Would it be okay for her to co-live with a parrotlet hen? She's used to living with a rather bullying lutino 'tiel hen at the moment
I wouldn't recommend it.
Parrotlets are very territorial, and a there is likely to be aggression. You will either find that your cockaiel ends up being bullied by the tiny little P'let, or the P'let pushes it's luck to far and ends up being attacked by the cockatiel. Either way, it could easily end it tears, and maybe even blood.
I don't recommend invloving Parrotlets in cross-species co-habitation, they have enough trouble with their own kind!
Reply by: Iain |
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Roberta
Why are Lixit bird bottles not recommended for parrotlets? My parrotlet keeps contaminating his water by dunking his food in it.
Drinker bottles in general are not recommended for a few reasons.
Firstly, it is not a natural way for birds to drink, and consequently there are birds who simply will not drink from such a device. Rather than take the risk that your bird dehydrates itself to death, it is far safer simply to provide the certainty of a water bowl instead.
There is also a hygiene issue with the tube/ball-bearing assembly as it is impossible to access the internal part of this for proper cleaning.
Finally, many Parrotlets enjoy bathing in their water as part of their own preening activities, and as such a water bowl should be provided anyway. This will of course require the water to be refreshed, as will any soiling from food items; but since water should be changed frequently anyway (I would suggest at least once in the morning and once in the early evening) this shouldn't be of concern.
Food dunking may be caused by a desire to soften certain foods before consumption, or may be one of the ways the bird cleans its beak, either way you don't want to deprive the Parrotlet of this facility.
In summary, drink bottles can be used, but great care must be taken with cleanliness; and you will still have to provide an open water dish for bathing a fewt imes a week.
Reply by: Iain |
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Anonymous
Are Parrotlets the smallest parrot species in the world?
Actually, contrary to poular belief, they are NOT!
That honour goes to the Pygmy Parrot of New Guinea (micropsittini - see for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropsittini).
Parrotlets are, however, the smallest species of Parrot in aviculture, as Pygmy Parrots have not been bred in captivity.
Reply by: Iain |
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