Lories

PetSmart

Traits & behavior

Very social & energetic
Lories love to play and want to interact with their Pet Parents as much as possible. They require at least one hour or more of daily interaction.

Intelligent
Smart and easily trained, these birds should be taught basic commands such as "step up" onto your hand and "step down" when putting them back into their cage. This will
ensure easier handling. Lories are also very vocal and may learn to talk.

Colorful
With varied feather patterns of blue, yellow, red and green, lories are among the most colorful of all birds.

Messy
Your lory will drop a lot of food when eating. In addition, her large amount of fruit intake can make her droppings very fluid. Extra care is needed to keep her cage, and your house, clean.

Things to remember

Supervision
Don't forget that children, pets and unfamiliar guests should be supervised when interacting with your lory.

Long-term companions
Before purchasing, be aware that lories require a long-term commitment of approximately 25-30 years.

Safety & cleanliness
Please remember that all pets may bite or scratch, and may transmit disease to humans. Keep your pet's home clean and wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning his home. Infants, young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and the infirm or elderly are at greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with the pet or its habitat. Consult your doctor for more information.
 

Nutrition

Staple diet
Feed her 3-4 teaspoons per day of a lory pellet diet. This is a superior alternative to feeding a commercial lory nectar formula.

Vegetables*
About 10% of a lory's diet should be bite-sized veggies like sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, mustard greens, corn and shredded carrots. Offer daily or every 2-3 days.

Fruits*
Small pieces of fruit such as apple, pineapple, banana, melon, grapes, mango and pear should be 25% of your lory's daily diet.

Supplements
Occasionally supplement your lory's diet with fruit juice, such as natural apple juice.

Water
Lories should always have a large amount of clean, fresh water in a bottle or bowl.

*Remember that fresh food requires its own dish and should be removed from the habitat within four hours to avoid spoilage.

Health

Signs of a healthy lory:

• Clear, bright eyes
• Clean, smooth feathers
• Eats throughout the day
• A curious and active disposition

Things to watch for:

• Decreased appetite; weight loss
• Decreased activity and grooming behavior
• Change in droppings in excess of two days
• Sitting at the bottom of cage
• Discharge from nose or mouth; frequent sneezing
• Feathers fluffed for prolonged periods of time

If you notice any of the signs described above, consult an Avian Veterinarian.

Habitat

Housing
Your lory's cage must be large enough for her to comfortably stretch her wings, climb and play with her toys. The bigger the cage, the better. Minimum cage size is 18"W x 22"L x 24"H. The cage should provide a secure area where she feels safe, but she should also be allowed out of the cage for socialization.

Perches
Place two perches at different heights, so your lory will be unable to soil her food bowls. Provide perches of differing widths, diameters and textures to help keep her feet healthy.

Cage placement
Place your bird's cage at or below eye level, away from drafts, open windows and the kitchen. Be aware that lories are sensitive to smoke and strong odors. Cover the cage at night to prevent drafts.

Toys
Give her at least 2-3 toys to keep her busy. But, not too many--she should be able to move about freely without bumping into any in the cage. Rotate toys often to keep her interested.

Baths
Provide a birdbath 3-4 times per week. You can offer a warm water bath or gently mist her with warm water from a clean spray bottle.

Food & water containers
It is important to clean your bird's containers every day, even if the bowl or bottle looks full.

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