New Rainbow Lorikeet

[Wolf]

So far the general consensus has been to feed more wet nector than dry and to provide about 20 ml at a time and replace it often, also limit citrus fruits and any other fruits of vegetables that are high in iron or that help with the retention of iron, which is what citrus does. This is because lory's have an iron retention issue and can't process very much iron.
I am still researching and will add more about this as I learn more.

[Gabriel]

20 millimeters - that's 1 1/3 tablespoons, I think.

So, is it fine that I feed him twice a day, around 8 am and 4 pm?

Also, I offer him vegetables ( peas, carrots and corn ) and fruits ( apple, pear, cantaloupe ), but he doesn't eat them and I'm afraid he doesn't get the nutrition he needs. How do I get him to eat his fruits and vegetables?

[Wolf]

I don't feed my birds by the clock, I go by how light it is outside, so on overcast days the end up getting their dinner a bit earlier than on bright sunny days. My birds all get a little time to wake up fully, they are up by sunrise, and then they get breakfast and they get dinner around dusk so that they have plenty of time to eat before going to sleep at dark. So their feeding times can and do vary a lot over the course of the year.
As for getting her to eat her fruits and vegetables, well good luck with that! No I am just kidding, but it can be a very long project, lasting for years, but you have time and it can be fun and enjoyable if you allow it to be.
You need to set up a plate or bowl with fruits and vegetables cut specifically for your bird and some of the same sized for you to nibble on. Now you either bring your bird to where you can sit comfortably and nibble on you fruits and vegetables or you can sit in front of their cage with the door open while you nibble away. Now try to make this entertaining and fun for the bird, so please make a big fuss about how good these foods are and how much you are enjoying them. While the object of this is to get your bird to eat these foods don't get in a rush about sharing them. Let the bird get interested in what you are eating and let it ask for some, but don't share just yet. Wait for the bird to demand its share of this food that you are enjoying so much, but wait and protect your food, you want to "protect the food so that the bird tries to steal some from you and if you have the food divided on the plate just right you can allow it to successfully steal a piece of the food that you prepared for it. If not then when it tries to steal some then you can offer a small piece.
The very best time to do this is shortly after the bird wakes up and before it gets to eat anything else. You can feed your bird when this exercise in sharing food is done. This is the way that I have had the most success with.
The reason that the bird is not eating these foods is that it doesn't know that they are food. The breeder and/ or the pet store are certainly not going to take the time to teach the bird all about food. You are the surrogate mother bird and it is your job to teach your baby bird these things. The parent birds do something similar shortly after the baby bird learn to fly well enough to come with them in search of food. they locate the food and have the young bird sit nearby and watch while they get some food and return to eat it in front of their baby bird, they do this several times before giving their baby any of the food. The act of sharing food, for a parrot is a social activity and it is also a bonding activity.
By the way have you given you bird a name yet?

[Pajarita]

You need to puree the fruits and veggies and offer them like that or mixed in with their special food. Sweet tasting flowers are also recommended as they make a big part of their natural diet. Lories don't eat anything dry, they require even more moisture than other species of parrots, and it needs to be served fresh at least three if not four times a day. They are beautiful birds but they require much more work than other species of parrots because of the special diet and their terrible poop

Here it's a real good piece on their diet to help you understand a bit more about their specific needs which are not common to other parrots: http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/the-lorikeet-diet/

[Wolf]

Great article, Pajarita, it had a lot of information that I didn't know about Lorikeets. I found it to be very informative as well as helpful, and I don't even have Lorikeets. Thanks for sharing this with us.