1st time Rainbow owner

[missjanellez]

Hi everyone,

I was just after some friendly advice. I've just recently become a Rainbow owner to 9 week old Poopy.
He was hand raised and has seemed to settle in quite nicely.
He is eating wet and dry mix, apple and gets fresh bottlebrush and grevilia every day.
He is making what seems like a squawking or begging sound, it's quite high pitched and almost distressing (to me). Poopy is willing to come out of the cage and seems to love the human interaction, but continues with this noise a lot of the time.
Can anyone shed some light on this for me please.

Also, Poopy hasn't seemed interested in mucking around in water and isn't really playful, more just seeking attention or food.
Is this all just a settling in thing for young birds?

[Damo]

Hi and welcome he still is very young that noise is normal for a young bird and it will last for probably another 4-6 weeks. lorikeets are a very active bird and that loves attention. He still has alot to learn about bathing at that age he would not start.

[chris]

hi ,try him on pear 2 ,make sure is fresh and soft,try some apple sauce 2 ,about one teaspoon twice daily for digestion and to make his wetmix taste nice,as for the squeking noise,that is him begging for food even when he is not hungry he will do it,so welcome to the lorrikeet that now owns you life,and boy dont they ,you will have lots of good times with him or her now,best regards chris

[chris]

hi ,just one more thing never give him avarcardo as it will kill him very fast,no bread 2 ok good luck ,regards chris

[vankarhi]

Don't worry about your little baby not wanting to play in water or anything yet. He is just a little baby at 9 weeks and needs to learn what things are etc. I have a 10 week old cockatiel that I have handraised since he was 4 weeks old. He has had 3 showers so far and hated the first 2 and only just got a little excited with the 3rd shower. lol I am sure tomorrow he will be a little better. They just need to get used to their surroundings and learn what things are. In time he will be a playful little fellow and you will get such enjoyment from him.

I owned one for a short time. He was a stray that was given to me and I gave him to a young couple a few months later. He really was a lovely playful little fellow.

As for that noise you can hear, it is him begging to be fed. I would be a bit concerned he might be hungry.....so I would make sure he has PLENTY of soft food, fruit and veges available at all times. Finely chopped apples and pears and strawberries etc and he should also have a wet/dry mix available all the time too. Make sure he is eating and if he isn't eating properly you might need to make him a wet mix and just put some on a spoon for him until he is used to you and his surroundings and you can see he is eating. I always feel their crops too to get an indication of how much they are eating until I know they are properly weaned. I might just be a worrying birdie mum though. lol

Welcome here and keep us updated on his progress......you will get heaps of information and help from here.

[Laraine]

Rainbows are real little characters. I had 4 but 2 of them let themselves out of the aviary. I sometimes mix a little apple sauce into their wet mix for a change of taste. Mine love rockmelon, grapes, apple, orange, carrots, celery, grevillea and bottlebrush flowers also the nobblies on bottlebrush branches. Mine love to take a dip in their waterbowl. Your little fellow is a bit young and still learning. I agree it sounds like the "I want to be fed" noises he is making. Just make sure it is eating. Some birds I find still want to be fed by a parent at 9 weeks.

Mine used to sleep in a breeding box together for ages, now one sleeps outside and one sleeps inside with a Ringneck. Go figure. LOL.

[missjanellez]

Thanks everyone for your sharing. Things are going quite well, your replies have helped me understand him a bit better.

He did find his bath yesterday, it was hysterical...can't wait for more of that!!
Hope the pic is ok.

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[birdmagnet]

Hi Janelle
Had a laugh when you mentioned the begging/swarking noise, I thought, welcome to lorikeet ownership, no more quiet times .
Mine also carry on alot when I first come home from work. It's the 'hello,hello,hello, we are here, don't forget us, where have you been all day' noise. And when my other half comes home, and just walkins into the room without saying anything to them, he pays the price with skwarking non stop until he talks to them.
Oh the joys!. Also on the note about no Avacado, also NO CHOCOLATE, this is also toxic.
You will learn alot over time. I remember when I first went to pick up Ralph from my sisters house (it was a tame bird that she rescued in her garden) I went outside to the cage with my cup of tea. Ralph went crazy, wanting some. He kept sticking his tongue out and bobbing his head up and down. I then noticed his tongue, it had a hole in it and this flowery looking thing on the end,'poor thing, how bizarre, he must be injured'. Little did I know that was a typical nectar seeking Lorrie Tongue!!!!!!
Needless to say, even today, both my Lorries love a bit of my cup of tea.