The Beautiful Parrotlet

They say all good things come in small packages. HELLO PARROTLET! Parrotlets are the worlds's tiniest parrot but they are big on personality. Parrotlets are less than 6 inches in length and altho very small they have a very powerful beak!

Want a bird that sits on a perch all day? The Parrotlet is not your bird. This little guy is an active bird with lots of big personality. He plays with his toys, swings on his swing and eats all day long. It is a must to be inter-active with the Parrotlet. If you spend time with your Parrotlet he will become an amazing companion.

Answer this

Should you own a Parrotlet? Well, let's find out.

Can you be committed to a pet for up to 20 years? Yes, 20 years. A Parrotlet can live up to 20 years of age.

Do you have time to commit to a bird? Parrotlet's require lots of care and lots of attention. Time must be spent with a Parrotlet if you want a bird that can be handled, a bird that won't bite and a bird that is great fun to be around. Cages must be kept clean. Food must be kept fresh. And, the water must be kept clean and fresh.

Do you have the funds to acquire a Parrotlet? Birds can range from $100 on up. Then there is the cage and they aren't cheap. Money for the Vet, for the food and for the bird toys.

If you can answer yes, and I mean a loud YES, then a Parrotlet would make you a wonderful pet. They are intelligent, energetic and fun to be around. You can teach them to talk and teach them tricks. Parrotlet's bond well with loving attention. They enjoy sitting on your shoulder or all nestled in your hair.

Attention, Attention, Attention

A busy Parrotlet is a happy Parrotlet! So first and foremost you must spend time handling your Parrotlet. Let him know that he is safe with you; No fast or jerking movements. Slow and easy with lots of conversation. When getting him out of the cage put your hand down low by his feet nudging him to jump aboard. If your hand is up high over his head he won't know what you want and might get nervous.

Parrotlet's get bored easily. They need lots of different toys to play with. Differernt textures and shapes. At least once a month (when you are doing a thorough cleaning of his cage) rearrange his toys and perches. Parrotlet's love to swing, so a swing is a "must have".

Give your Parrotlet lots of good food choices. A cuddlebone, seeds, millet, fruits and veggies.

Clipping their wings is the best way to controling them while out of their cage. Take them to a Vet for the first clipping and have the Vet show you how many feathers to cut and how to hold your Parrotlet while clipping his wings. A clipped Parrotlet will usually be more dependent on you thus making them need you and trust in you.

Bathing is an important part of caring for your Parrotlet. This is the easiest way. Fill a shallow dish with luke warm water and place the dish in the bottom of the cage. Parrotlet's like to bathe themselves. Do this regularly, preferably in the morning so that they have all day to dry and preen. Regular bathing promotes healthy preening.

Keep the cage clean to avoid disease. You can use a solution of warm water and apple cider vinegar for cleaning the cage and his food and water dishes.

You will be amazed at what an appetite your little Parrotlet has. It is important to check his food and water dish to make sure he has fresh water and that there is food in his dish. Your Parrotlet cannot go very long without food; check it often because he will eat all day long. Keep the fresh food fresh and if it isn't, remove it from the cage. This is a very small bird with a very big appetite.

Depending on your water supply, bottle water might be best. Keep his water dish full of fresh water.

A seed mix is important. Parrotlet's like to nibble and break seeds apart. They enjoy picking the spray off millet and eatng the little seeds.

Here are some vegetables you might try: Asparagus, Romaine Lettuce,Peppers, Broccoli, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts, Celery, Green beans and Corn on the Cob.

Here are some fruits you can try: Apple, Apricot, Banana, Musk Mellon, Cherries, Grapes, Kiwi, Mango, Peaches, Pears, Pineapple and Watermelon

THESE ARE TOXIC!

Seeds from: Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Pears and Plums

NEVER FEED YOUR PARROTLET THESE!

Avacado, Chocolate, Coffee Beans, Lima Beans, Bean Sprouts, Milk, Soda, Sugar or Tea.

Find the perfect size!

Purchase your bird cage before you bring your Parrotlet home.

Once you have your cage you need the perfect spot. Once you have found your perfect location DON'T move it. Your Parrotlet likes to be comfortable with his surroundings and if you keep moving it he will get confused. Your location should be near a window so your Parrotlet can watch the comings and goings of the outside world. It will keep him entertained. Your Parrotlet will want some sun but Parrotlet's can become overheated very quickly so he needs to be able to get out of the sun if he needs to.

Your Parrotlet cage should not be smaller than 17"L x 14"W x 17"H (17 inches Long by 14 inches Wide by 17 inches High. With bar spacing between 1/2 and 5/8 of an inch. Very important you don't want your little darling escaping! The cage needs to give your Parrotlet enough room to move around freely.

There should be a grate on the bottom of the cage so the bird doesn't eat his own droppings. This could make him very sick. The bottom tray needs to come out easily because you will be cleaning the bottom paper every day.

For the perches; A natural untreated wood is best. You should also have a cotton rope perch which feels good on his feet. This perch should be placed up high in the cage because if your Parrotlet isn't swinging he will seek a high platform to see what is going on around him. Spacing of the perches is also important. They should be spaced so the bird can move freely and not too close to the cage or else your Parrotlet might break his tail feathers.