Potty and Parrotlet?

[bokaholic]

Hello folks. I hope you've all have a glorious Christmas.

The hubby and I are trying to decide a type of conure, or a parrotlet. I've had a bird before, and I just lost my rodent companion on Christmas Eve. It's time to finally make the choice of which birdy we want. It's hard!

Anyway, I've searched all over Google, and on here for the past 2 days. I was wondering this:

Is a parrotlet potty trainable? I have read nothing about parrotlets and potty training. I've read that LOVEBIRDS are not really good at learning this, but are parrotlets 'smarter' than lovies?

I know conures can learn, all the books, sites, and youtube videos I have come across mention nearly everything except parrotlets. If anyone can give me a solid answer, that would be awesome.

Thanks. :>

 

[Dharmawaits]

Parrotlets can definitely be potty trained. There are very few who won't learn whatever you want for a little bit of millet. That being said, I think most of us owned by parrotlets don't bother. I've always had medium size birds until Peapod. Her poops are just down right adorable. Parrotlets don't drink a lot of water and even with veggies in her diet she very rarely has super wet poops. Typically its like flicking a snot off you (Sorry to be ummm kinda gross ) This is from someone who dearly loves her clothes. They just don't stain. One of the many many mannnnny reasons I love having a parrotlet. In so many ways they are extremely low maintenance over other birds. But you get little miss or mister bossy pants which a lot of parrotlets sway that way. Then you get cuddly personality "Oh! oh! watcha eatin?? Can I chew on your Ipad??! parrot. With tiny poops!

 

[Dharmawaits]

PS there isn't a ton of inclusion for parrotlets in most conversations about parrots because they are relatively new to the scene. They where not introduced into America until 1992. But if you read about a parrot being able to do something then a parrotlet can surely do it. If you want a talker stick with the boys. Not that my little stinker doesn't talk until my ear wants to fall off it just happens to be birdie talk. Did you see the study on Parrotlets giving each other distinct names? Do a search for it. Really interesting. My husband picked up my name right off. It sounds like a frog ribbit. So my name is Ribbit nice to meet ya! Sorry about the diatribe I dearly love my little parrotlet.

 

[bokaholic]

Ahhhh~ I'm sold, I think. I've been trying to find a GOOD breeder in the area who could allow me to meet some parrotlets and maybe a baby or two. I already really wanted a boy. I have the name Ned picked out for him already. Though that could always change as sometimes a prepicked name turns into something else quickly.

Is there any parrotlets are are nicer than the other? I often hear people say the Green-Rumped Parrotlet is nicer than the Blue-Winged Parrotlet, etc. Etc. But it makes me wonder how much bull it is! Hehe.

I've been heavily into reef tanks for some times and the fish hobby is the same! Everyone is always right and never wrong and you can't sway them in another direction. (Fish people are a bit more elitist then bird people, I've come to find.. Yay!)

I digress. I'm loving talking to parrotlet owners and finding out first hand. Do you know of any parrotlet chatrooms/IRC channels fellow parrotlets owners go to chat?

 

[OOwl]

I'm on a waiting list for a parrotlet in the spring, but I have lived with pet lovebirds for the past ten years. They are definitely potty trainable. Just like dogs (and some people), some are just naturally "neat freaks" and refuse to potty on their person. I bird-sit an adorable little lovebird named Rainbow, and his mom says he NEVER potties on her, and flies back to his cage when he has to go, then comes right back to her. She never had to train him to do that; it was his choice. While my lovebirds aren't THAT fastidious, they are pretty good about going when I give them their cue word. It's my responsibility to hold them over the trashcan every 10-15 mins. Once you get to know your particular bird's signals for about to go, you can pretty much catch them every time, UNLESS you have a particular bird that thinks pooping on you is actually pretty funny, and that would be my Grey. He uses poop as a weapon. LOL

 

[JerseyWendy]

I've been heavily into reef tanks for some times and the fish hobby is the same! Everyone is always right and never wrong and you can't sway them in another direction. (Fish people are a bit more elitist then bird people, I've come to find.. Yay!)
?

I never considered myself an elitist when I was running my 180 Reef tank. ....and I certainly LOVED getting advice and hearing different opinions, especially when I first got started

....sorry...WAY off topic. :54:

 

[bokaholic]

I never considered myself an elitist when I was running my 180 Reef tank. ....and I certainly LOVED getting advice and hearing different opinions, especially when I first got started

....sorry...WAY off topic. :54:

It's OK! I've met a few in the hobby who are great. But more so often then not I'd meet those who make it sound impossible to have a reef set up. Hehe.

 

[bokaholic]

I'm on a waiting list for a parrotlet in the spring, but I have lived with pet lovebirds for the past ten years. They are definitely potty trainable. Just like dogs (and some people), some are just naturally "neat freaks" and refuse to potty on their person. I bird-sit an adorable little lovebird named Rainbow, and his mom says he NEVER potties on her, and flies back to his cage when he has to go, then comes right back to her. She never had to train him to do that; it was his choice. While my lovebirds aren't THAT fastidious, they are pretty good about going when I give them their cue word. It's my responsibility to hold them over the trashcan every 10-15 mins. Once you get to know your particular bird's signals for about to go, you can pretty much catch them every time, UNLESS you have a particular bird that thinks pooping on you is actually pretty funny, and that would be my Grey. He uses poop as a weapon. LOL

You are so lucky! I'm still trying to find a breeder. I want to find a happy baby who's had nothing but love since egg. :3 We've had rescued dogs, cats, reptiles, etc. They are all amazing and perfect. But for my first (2nd, actually) birdy, I'd love to have a baby. Not expecting everything to be perfect and amazing. But I'd love him regardless of what he would throw at me!

 

[Dharmawaits]

Green rumps are considered calmer. I think they might have more of a personality of a cockatiel. A little more chilled out. Its hard to really say they are not common at all. Pretty rare. I know a lady who had two. One was a huge sweetheart and the other was down right evil. So there you go typical birds being unique and different personality traits....crazy birds.

Pacifics are the parrotlets your typically see. And they are the one's that have all the different color mutations. No one has ever felt there was any real difference between a blue pacific versus a green pacific. Mainly because anyone who's been around parrots just know. They are ALL different!

With that said. It is of good authority. Most parrotlets of the pacific kind. Are loving to their chosen one, bossy, smart as a whip, sassy and if its my parrotlet a huge challenge because that girl is to smart for her own good. I am constantly trying to find the next big thing for her to play with (on me always on me. Toys are WAY more fun if they are making a mess on me...duh) or the next cool trick we can work on. She is very VERY good at training her human.

Of course some parrotlets are very chill and love nothing but to cuddle with there human. Peapod loves to cuddle for about fifteen minutes then she'd rather hang off my shirt chewing on a foot toy and yelling at me to scratch her head.

I think they are amazing, truly amazing. And yes! There is a forum for us. Its small but everyone is really nice. Talk Parrotlets Forums See ya there!