LORIES & LORIKEETS

The birds in this category are commonly known as "Brush-tongued parrots" and are the softbills of the parrotlike species.

HOUSING

Small Lories can be housed in six foot flight, with larger Lories preferably housed in longer flights, eg: 8 to 12 feet.   Only one pair of birds to each flight and each flight double wired. Lories are very quarrelsome to birds in adjoining flights and without these wire partitions injury and death can occur.   If inside flights are not provided, some form of shelter should be provided at one end, to be used as a feeding and roosting area, although if possible it is recommended that the full roof is covered to avoid contamination from wildbirds.  Lories almost invariably roost in their nest-box at night so if this is placed in the shelter or inside flight,  the birds will have adequate protection during bad weather.  Most medium sized lories need no heat in winter, however some of the smaller, more delicate birds do require heat. Lighting  provided to extend the daylight hours is also important especially during the winter months.  Make sure you provide water for bathing as daily baths are a must.

FEEDING

Nectar and pollen are the natural foods for all lories and lorikeets and there are many ready made products on the market for lories which guarantee the correct vitamins being fed,. Avies Product and Necton Lory are two examples.  However in an emergency nectar can be homemade, consisting of Milupa, Brown sugar with Molasses and either Complan or Boots Recovery.  ie:  2  Tablespoons Milupa 1 Tablespoon Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Complan/Recovery.  Mix the above with 1 pint of hot water and blend with a hand blender.

Lories will survive on Nectar only but it is beneficial to feed fruit and eggfood mixed in with the fruit so that the fruit juices are absorbed into the egg food.  In the autumn berries from hawthorn and elder can be given.

BREEDING

The size of the nest box will vary depending on the species of lories being kept from between 6 inches to 8 inches square to 10 to 24 inches high and lined with wood chippings or rotted wood to a depth of 2 to 4 inches.   Lories mainly lay 2 eggs only in each clutch.  Incubation is between 22 & 28 days and young leave the nest between 56 and 87 days depending on the species.