An injured lorikeet fell into our garden

[bickitrainer]

About two days ago, we found a lorikeet in one of our small trees out the front of the house.

We slowly approached it and it tried to run away, but it could not, it's wing was in very bad condition.

With it's unstable condition, we knew that it wouldn't survive out on its own so we took it in into our care.

It's responded greatly to the safety and looks like it's doing a good recovery.

Lorikeets are nectre eating birds?? I haven't had the chance to go to the shops lately so I've just been feeding it fruits, seeds and nuts. And a bowl of honey and water. Is this ok so far, it's always eating..? What should I get when I go to the shops?

Also, I'm not sure if this lorikeet was previously owned? A wild one would surely be not as friendly as this one. This one is a little timid and shy and does try to bite when you go too close to the cage, but when you have food to give, it greets you warmly.

I think it might be a baby that had just been weaned and fell out of its nest maybe? How big would a weaned baby be?

I think our house is a bird magnet... 0_0

[summit]

Kudos for doing what you can for an injured bird and asking questions to help.

I am no vet and in no way have exact answers for you. However I have done exactly what you are attempting to do many times.

First off, keep the bird warm and out of a direct light (if possible) but not completely dark.

Make sure it has water. Offer plenty of fruits (apple, pear, grapes etc). Lorikeets preffer softer fruits. Personally I'd drop the seeds and nuts off the menu.

Once you get a chance to go to the shops I'd get a "Lorikeet Wet Mix", any brand will work when supplimented with plenty of fruit. (everyone has their own preffered brands) Wet mix at this stage should suffice untill you either release the bird or decide to keep or rehome it. It is a good way to rehydrate the bird.

I used to offer honey water to orphaned birds but found sugar water to be much more beneficial to boost the energy levels.

As for the age of the bird, if its beak has a dark tinge to it then it is a young bird. Mature lorikeets have a bright red beak.

(I will post a pic of very young lorikeets shortly)

I hope this helps.

[summit]

Just to show the beak colour difference.

6 week old rainbow chicks, note the very dark beak.


Mature birds, 2 different coloured beaks.

[bickitrainer]

Thanks for the information and the pictures summit! They really helped!

Hmm... this lorikeet must be a mature lorikeet then! It has no tinge of black on it's beak. This is very strange. There are plenty of wild lorikeets that live near us so I'm sure this one is wild. A day before we found it, it was firework night.

[silvercloud]

You're doing a great job. I'd concur with Summit about the feeding. Some birds that come into care seem to know you're trying to help and will be easier to handle Shock can make them more easily handled as well. I'd take it to the vet about the wing. If you tell them it's a wild one they might treat it for free or at least have a good look at it.

[summit]

How is the lorikeet doing now ?

[bickitrainer]

I've just been away for a week and it seems to be going fine. I met a scientist who's wife is a vet and she's agreed to come around to check on it for free.

I bought some stuff for it: wombaroo nectar shake n make.

I'm getting really attatched to this little guy lol. But I might have to release it soon.

[summit]

That's great news on the lorikeet. You are lucky to have a vet check on it for free too.

lorikeets are an addictive bird, be warned ! lol

[bickitrainer]

Lol. Thanks for the help! I had no idea what to do.

So is it quite common for wild animals to be friendly? Maybe this lorikeet has had no human contact whatsoever and doesn't know how to react? It sees me handling my tame parrots so I guess it just copies them?

[Jane]

He/she might have been in a group that fed in someone's backyard regularily so is not totally afraid

[summit]

I have ring tail possums that will take apple from my hand, not that I do this often. There is also a resident pair of magpies that I can literally touch with my hands that are totally wild. .......... So I can't see why a wild lorikeet would appear quite tame. Just be carefull though, when they bite they mean it. (I always have fresh bite wounds, and mine are aviary bred)