Rainbow Lorys - anyone familiar with them.

[rbloedow]

I have an awesome Rainbow Lory - I don't know his exact age - I'm thinking 15 year right now. We got him from a deploying military member when I was in high school (13 years ago).

When we first got him, his coat was beautiful and full. He's been on the same diet since his first owner - Pretty Bird Lory Specific food. He also gets bits and pieces of human food (a no-no, I know).

As he's aged, his coat has slowly been thinning out and he's been losing his colored feathers. We've bought some coat supplements, but nothing has really worked.

Any ideas on what we could do to bring his coat back? Do the birds normally lose quality to their coat as they age?

Pictures of Sebastian:

 

[evesta]

I know lory's have very specific diets since they are nectar eaters but don't know much about them. I got to feed some at the Denver zoo and they drank nectar out of little cups. I also think they need fresh fruit and veggies. All birds need a varied diet with fresh foods but not junk people food. Also a daily bath is good for their feathers.

 

[rbloedow]

I know lory's have very specific diets since they are nectar eaters but don't know much about them. I got to feed some at the Denver zoo and they drank nectar out of little cups. I also think they need fresh fruit and veggies. All birds need a varied diet with fresh foods but not junk people food. Also a daily bath is good for their feathers.

Yeah - we feed him nectar sometimes, and he gets fresh fruit on a daily basis. He also bathes nearly everyday.

 

[Aims]

Could it be feather plucking? With its head being unaffected and being the place feather pluckers have trouble getting to, it is making me think he might be a plucker. :-/

 

[thebirdnerd]

Looks like he is feather plucking...Does he have lots of toys to play with? Lorys are high energy parrots that need lots of stimulation..I would also try offering more nectar in his diet.

 

[ann]

Whatever the cause, i think you should take him to the vet to rule out disease. Good luck !

 

[BMac]

I would definitely take Sebastian to a good vet. His photos look like my Piki when he was suffering from a bad case of mites picked up from a new perch. The perch still had most of its bark and the mites were concealed. Another thing that makes me suspect it might be mites is how dry his feathers appear to be, a symptom of feather mites. To cut a long story short, Piki was dusted a couple of times and his coat is now bright and colourful again. Anytime I get a "rough" perch from now on I always treat it for mites before putting it in the cage. Hope your Sebastian gets better soon.

 

[bumblebec]

It looks like he could be plucking. Birds sometimes pluck out their own feathers when they're stressed, sick or bored. Has he got toys, and does he play with them? If he doesn't have much toys, or does and doesn't play with them, I'd suggest some foraging toys to keep his mind busy.

I'd also suggest taking him to the vet, sometimes birds can have disease or mites that cause them to pluck or lose feathers. Because it's located only below is neck, I think he is doing this himself. Have you ever seen him do it?

 

[BMac]

Hi, Bumblebec. Piki has lots of toys, but I was wondering what the 'foraging toys' you referred to. Thanks

 

[MikeyTN]

I know lory's have very specific diets since they are nectar eaters but don't know much about them. I got to feed some at the Denver zoo and they drank nectar out of little cups. I also think they need fresh fruit and veggies. All birds need a varied diet with fresh foods but not junk people food. Also a daily bath is good for their feathers.

Yeah - we feed him nectar sometimes, and he gets fresh fruit on a daily basis. He also bathes nearly everyday.

Nectar should be fed daily not sometimes! That is their main diet! Fresh fruits and veggie makeup the rest. They're very inquisitive birds so they need toys and stuffs for them to think on how to take apart, basically puzzle toys. Because of their diet, foraging toys don't work so well....

 

[bumblebec]

Hi, Bumblebec. Piki has lots of toys, but I was wondering what the 'foraging toys' you referred to. Thanks

Where are you located? if you're in America, here are some easy foraging toys that he might like from an online store in the US.


JW Pet Nut Case for Birds - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Small Hexagonal Wrought Iron Toy Feeder/Forager - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Star Bird Braniac Block Small - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Super Bird Creations Four Way Forager - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Turn 'N Learn Logs - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Jungle Talk Garden Kabob Small - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

(this is great for skewering fruit on, the skewer moves and sways from side to side when they're eating from it so they have to work harder for it. My two conures regularly have fruit on one of these kebabs. )

If you're located else where, I can suggest some other sites or toys for you.

Foraging toys are great for keeping birds busy and it gets them using their beaks, feet, body and mind. It may take them a while to "get" them, but they eventually will, especially if you hide their favourite treats or toys in them.

What diet is he on? Lories should have a dry powder nectar mix everyday and fresh fruit and veggies. They can have "wet mix" often but it should be in small amounts. I used to own a lorikeet and wet mix was he favourite, I made it with warm water instead of cold water and he went crazy for it.

 

[friedsoup]

Yep those feather look like barbering he is being self destructive to his feathers get him to a vet and work on his diet making sure you add citrus and Zupreem makes a pellet diet for Lories if you don't like the messy squirts from an all nectar diet. If vet can't find anything and as a last resort you could try the collar so he can't reach his feathers to destroy them.

 

[BMac]

Thanks for the help, Bumblebec. I'm an ex-American now living in New Zealand since 1978. Originally an Okie then up to Seattle before settling here in NZ. Piki has dry mix every day and some wet mix (special variety recommended by vet). He also has fruit (don't stand between him and a grape :smile011: Your life is worth more than that.) Also, whenever he gets the chance he will confiscate ice cream . . . but not chocolate, prefers Pepsi Max over Coke Zero, and enjoys a bit of coffee, flat whites preferable. He will also eat anything Rocky is trying to eat, except dry dog food. This includes the sardines Rocky gets every night for his coat. I also have to get dates that aren't preserved with sulphur dioxide as he loves them. This means a trip to the health food shop. When I go to the green grocers to get fruit and veg, Piki always comes with me as the lady there always has a treat for him. She even washes them so he won't get pesticides. Piki is one spoilt bird, but very much loved. How many birds do you know have their very own pet dog to carry them around on?