Newbie Baby Lori Owner

[chelles888]

Gday everyone

Just wanted to introduce myself and say hi

We are the proud owners of a Baby Rainbow Lorikeet. She is absolutely beautiful, my daughter has named her Storm and definately has a companion for life. We bought her at 7 weeks and for the last 2 weeks were giving her wet food, she is now on dry food, water and a range of fruit.

I do have a few questions and thats what prompted me to search the net and thankfully found this wonderful forum.

She seems to sleep alot during the day, thankfully all night too but i was wondering if it was normal for them to sleep alot.

Also she has a habit of playing dead which is rather frightening, she will just lay on her side or back appearing to be asleep sometimes to scratch and th kids think its funny cause she seriosuly is resembling our dog. When i approach her she is fine though and carries on playing around.

She is the biggest cuddler ever and prefers to be snunngled right in to you neck. I hop she doesnt do this forever though, it would be nice to actually get a good look at her rather then her hiding into our shirt or corner of the couch lol

anyway looking forward to shring many more moments and getting great advice.

Cheers

Chelle

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[avinet]

Hi and welcome to the Forum Chelle,

It sounds like your Rainbow is behaving very typically for a baby - that lying on their back sure tricked me the first time I saw it. Must have been 20 years ago but the first Rainbow I hand raised was very indignant when I panicked and woke it up with a poke on it's tummy to see if it was dead.

From your photo it still have some down feathers visible, and while it might be no older than 9 weeks I still think it should be receiving some wet mix , at least in a dish if not by spoon. In fact it should always receive wet mix, all its life. Has it flown yet? Again it looks a little young to have taken it's first flight - usually happens at around 9 weeks.

Being a baby it is natural to need more sleep so I wouldn't worry about that. The snuggles will tend to decrease as it matures and becomes more active - or should I say hyperactive. Rainbows can be like an hyperactive kid high on red cordial

Hope you enjoy the Forum and we are happy to help if you have any questions,

cheers,

Mike

[chelles888]

Thanks Mike

The guy i bought him off said she'd be on dry food shortly so i didnt realise i still had to offer her wet food, ill start tomorrow, she's sleeping now lol

She has started to flap her wings like crazy in her cage so i think she's almost ready to really test them out but when i have her out of her cage she just hides. I've left the top of her cage open when home but she hasnt ventured out yet, im sure it wont be too far away though.

Thanks for the feedback, its greatly appreciated.

Chelle

[avinet]

Hi Chelle,

I suspect your Rainbow is younger than 9 weeks, and that it was weaned earlier than it should have been by the breeder. Fortunately Rainbows are pretty tough birds and no harm should result, but that might account for the shy behaviour. In a natural situation the baby would still be in the nestbox being fed by the parents. It is only when they take their first flight and leave the nestbox that they are able to start learning how to feed themselves.

Wet mix should be provided always for Rainbows - as well as dry mix and fruit etc. Dry mix can be left in the cage at all times, much like seed for a budgie, but wet mix should be mixed up fresh and left in the cage for only a few hours - being taken out before it has a chance to go off, and in summer that might be only 2 or 3 hours..

I suspect your baby will take a first flight in the next few days, provided the breeder didn't commit the cardinal sin of clipping it before it had weaned.

Be warned that the initial flights bear a striking resemblance to a kamikazi pilot They take of and fly in a straight line until something gets in the way. If it is a wall or furniture they will normally bounce off, pick themselves up off the floor and try again. If it is a window or mirror they will be accelorating and can cause themselves serious injury.

Before it does fly draw curtains and cover any mirrors. Once it has mastered flying and importantly landing (has to be learnt, it doesn't come instinctively) then you can show it windows and mirrors and let it learn about them.

cheers,

Mike

[chelles888]

Gosh time is going by far to quick, didnt realise it had been days since i last looked here. Mike would you believe the day after your post i opened Storms cage and she flew, not too bad either, have been letting her have more freedom more and more and she loves it:)