New Rainbow Lorikeet

[Gabriel]

How do I know if the chick's crop is full or empty (or if it needs feeding)? Is there a special tool I should purchase, or is there a way I can tell from looking at the chick?

[Wolf]

It is a matter of looking and feeling, but you must understand both what you are seeing and feeling. I have never done this, so I am no help in this area.

[Pajarita]

And even if you had done it, Wolf, is not something that is easily explained in words or even showing pictures, you need to feel it with your own fingers.

I have to tell you, Gabriel, that I am becoming more and more worried about your getting a baby bird... I really do not think you are prepared for it.

[Gabriel]

Pajarita, a guideline is okay.. perhaps the breeder will show me. But I am not sure if an 80-85 day Rainbow Lorikeet will still need hand-feeding, as I have been told they wean quite quickly compared to other seed-eaters.

[Pajarita]

The problem is not the actual age of weaning, it's that it's a known fact that most juveniles regress when they go to a new home, Gabriel, so new owners need to be prepared.

[Navre]

I was far easier for me to figure out the state of my Grey's crop than it was to figure out the state of my friend's cockatiels' crops. I figured that this was due to the size of the birds.

Having done it, if I had to do it again, I would let the bird stay at the breeder a while longer, to try to ensure that he is fully weaned before you take him. Even if that means that you have to pay more for the bird. Getting the bird two or three weeks older might make a lot of difference.

You'll still have to be prepared to supplement, but you might be less likely to actually have to do it.

[Gabriel]

I just visited the breeder today, but unfortunately the person I met up with last time wasn't there. A staff member told me they'll call me tomorrow to inform me of the status of the chick. While I was there, I checked out some of the hand-raised birds, which were extremely friendly and had no fear of hands! I saw that quite a few of the cages had natural wood perches and sticks from native Australian trees ( grevillea, callistemon, eucalyptus ). I was wondering how large ( in diameter ) should a perch generally be for a lorikeet? Also, what kinds of woods do lorikeets enjoy chewing/perching on? I have a lemon tree in my backyard, which I might use. I have sprinkled inorganic slow-release fertilizer on the base of the tree, will this harm the bird in any way? I was also wondering how I should wash/treat the branches before presenting them to the bird? Sorry for so many questions and the late reply..

[Pajarita]

Babies are ALWAYS tame - all babies are, even lion cubs and caiman grunts.

Perches need to be of different diameters so the toes are not always curved in the same position. Lemon tree wood is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. I couldn't find anything on it on birds lists but I would not use it.

[Gabriel]

This site says that Lemon trees are fine for birds ( under CITRUS ).

http://www.mdvaden.com/bird_page.shtml

Anyways, should I wash/scrub any branches before placing them in the cage? And does putting fertilizer on the plants make it poisonous to the bird, or does it depend on the type of fertilizer?

[liz]

Wash in clear water.
Fertilizer is toxic.
Hand feed your baby to comfort it. Even though you have been visiting you are still taking it from everything it knows including it's siblings. It will be scared and may even cry.
It was not raised by parents so it knows nothing. You even need to teach it what to eat and how to play.
Fluttering wings means it is begging and you have to figure out what it wants.
Have you been reading the other threads?