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Do lorikeets make good pets?

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on March 11, 2026

Do lorikeets make good pets?

Overall, rainbow lorikeets are excellent pets for those who have plenty of free time to spend with them. Rainbow lorikeets love to play and need to be provided with plenty of toys to keep their minds and beaks busy. These birds need a large flight cage or aviary.

Also know, how long do rainbow lorikeets live in captivity?

10 to 20 years

Secondly, are scaly breasted lorikeets good pets? They are less common than the closely-related rainbow lorikeet, but are otherwise quite similar in diet, care requirements and temperament. Scaly-breasted lorikeets are popular as pets, and have a reputation for being intelligent and easy to train.

Also Know, how long do lorikeets live for?

20 years

Can lorikeets be kept with other birds?

Avoid housing lorikeets with other birds.As a rule, lorikeets do not get along with other birds. They are territorial and can sometimes be vicious toward other lorikeets. They're often very aggressive toward birds of different species. Because of this, never leave your lorikeet unattended with other birds.

What not to feed rainbow lorikeets?

Don't give Rainbow Lorikeets other kinds of food, such as biscuits, bread or seeds. They may become dependent upon these sources of food and become less inclined to forage in the wild. Eating seeds can actually cause damage to their tongue and beak.

Are lorikeets smart?

Lorikeets are intelligent and can be trained, some even talk. In large numbers they can be quite noisy emitting sharp shrieks and chatterings.

Why do lorikeets bite?

Many nips and bites are probably unintentional and occur when the bird just gets too playful or too excited. After a few minutes in an aviary with several lories they all may want human attention. When its clear that lories are becoming over excited then its time to leave and let them settle down.

Do lorikeets sleep?

Lories and lorikeets should have a regular sleep schedule. During the day, they should be active and alert. However, if they start sleeping more during the day, it could be a symptom that the bird is ill.

Are lorikeets good talkers?

Speech and Vocalizations. Rainbow lorikeets are excellent talkers, and they can learn to say many words and phrases. They are noisy birds and have a high-pitched tone with frequent squawks. Their sometimes shrill vocalizations can be abrasive and unpleasant to some people.

How can you tell the difference between a male and female rainbow lorikeet?

Physical Traits. Identical feathering and coloration make it impossible to discern a male lorikeet from a female. If you have a pair of the same age, the male will usually be slightly larger. The only way to tell with certainty is to have your veterinarian perform a DNA test using droppings or feathers.

Can rainbow lorikeets talk?

They are fairly quiet, tend not to talk and have a lifespan of around 10 years. Tropical lorikeets live up to 20 years and are around 30cm long; they are excellent talkers and varieties include the common Rainbow and Red-collared lorikeet.

Where do lorikeets sleep?

If you want, consider housing your lorikeet in a small cage at night (when it sleeps) and in an outside aviary during the day. You can put a small roosting box inside your aviary for the bird(s) to use as shelter and nest inside.

Are lorikeets cuddly?

These smart little lorikeets have charmed many pet owners all over the world and with good reason. Their friendly demeanor, as well as their love for tricks and cuddles, make the Muski Lorikeet a great pet. Friendliness, cuddly behavior and a penchant for tricks make the Musk Lorikeet a great pet.

Are lorikeets aggressive?

Lories are known for their intelligence, and they are more than happy to entertain you with the tricks that have learned. They are capable of aggressive behavior if their territory and possessions are not respected and nippiness can occur if this behavior is not managed.

Do lorikeets get drunk?

But many of the lorikeets brought to the hospital aren't just mildly drunk – they're completely sloshed, and sometimes for days at a time. The most probable culprit is the Schotia brachypetala, a southern African native, commonly known as the drunken parrot tree.

Can two male lorikeets live together?

Avoid housing lorikeets with other birds.
As a rule, lorikeets do not get along with other birds. They are territorial and can sometimes be vicious toward other lorikeets. They're often very aggressive toward birds of different species. In some cases, you may be able to house multiple lories and lorikeets together.

Can you buy a lorikeet?

Look into local lorikeet breeders and make an appointment to meet with them and their birds to see if you think you could handle day-to-day living with a lorikeet in your household. They can cost from $500 to $1,500. Rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders where you can find rainbow lorikeets include: Adopt a Pet.

How can you tell the age of a lorikeet?

But this is a baby bird and is not fully feathered yet. You can roughly tell the age of a Rainbow by the beak. When they are hatched their beak is black and it gradually changes colour as they grow changing to full orange colouring at around 12 weeks of age, sometimes a bit later or a bit earlier.

Can you feed lorikeets honey?

Let's begin with what not to feed lorikeets.
Never give a lorikeet bread and honey, or water with added honey or sugar. They love it in the same way kids love lollies, but it will strip the delicate hairs off their tongue. If a lorikeet can't gather nectar it will slowly starve.

What do rainbow lorikeets eat in captivity?

Though some lories will crack a few seeds, their main diet is fruit, such as bananas, oranges, melon, and apples; they also eat flowers, such as hibiscus; but the staple diet in captivity is a nectar made from juice with specially formulated lory-diet powder mixed into it.

Are rainbow lorikeets loud?

Rainbow lorikeets are excellent talkers, and they can learn to say many words and phrases. They are noisy birds and have a high-pitched tone with frequent squawks. Their sometimes shrill vocalizations can be abrasive and unpleasant to some people.

Do lorikeets eat banana?

A variety of fresh, seasonal fruit should also be made available – apple melon, grapes, citrus, pawpaw, banana, mango, lychee, stone fruit etc. Some vegetables can be offered, however, the lorikeets will tend to 'pigout' on sweet corn, so don't overdo it. Never feed fatty, salty, processed human foods.

How long does a scaly breasted lorikeet live?

Lorikeets are hardy birds with a lifespan of around 10 years for small varieties and up to 20 to 25 years for the larger birds. As with all birds, the key to their health is ensuring good hygiene practices with the aviary and providing a healthy and varied diet.

Do scaly breasted lorikeets talk?

Life With My Pet Lorikeet, Artie
He is pretty much always talking, muttering, screeching, whistling or singing, depending on his mood. He constantly calls the dog, whistles at the dog, calls to the wild birds or is talking to his companion bird, a green-cheeked conure.

What Birds Can you put with rainbow lorikeets?

Small species such as the Purplecrowned and the Varied Lorikeet can be kept in planted aviaries and will coexist with other species. Larger birds such as the Rainbow and Redcollared Lorikeets can be kept and bred in the colony system in a large aviary.

What can scaly breasted lorikeets eat?

The scaly-breasted lorikeet feeds on a diet consisting mostly of nectar and pollen from flowering trees and shrubs plus different kinds of fruits and seeds.

How much is a pet rainbow lorikeet?

They can cost from $500 to $1,500. Rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders where you can find rainbow lorikeets include: Adopt a Pet.

Can Tame lorikeets survive in the wild?

If its happy walking around and sitting on your DH's head then it is tame, wild birds dont do that. If it has its flight feathers, the longest last 4 feathers on its wings, then it is able to fly. Leave it outside and it will fly away, they are very capable of surviving in the wild.

Can lorikeets eat seeds?

Lorikeets are energetic, entertaining and sometimes messy birds. They can make great pets but special attention must be paid to their diet. Lorikeets are nectar feeders. They do not eat seed, instead consuming nectar, pollen, fruit and vegetables.

Are you allowed to keep rainbow lorikeets?

Bird breeders and recreational owners can now keep rainbow lorikeets without a licence after a revision of the regulations. The National Parks Service's revised list of native birds has added three species that have seen an increase in illegal trafficking.

Can lorikeets eat WeetBix?

Most of our lories seem to really enjoy corn. Other vegatables such as peas and green beans add further variety to the diet. Usually blended whole fruit, some fruit juice, honey or sugar, hot or cold water, cereal such as WeetBix or Corn flakes and perhaps bird vitamin supplements.

What do rainbow lorikeets like to play with?

Housing – Cage's. Rainbow Lorikeets are an active, playful bird that needs suficient room to move around, stretch their wing and play with toys. When choosing a cage keep this in mind and remember the bigger the cage the better off the bird will be. Select toys that can be chewed, wrestled and played with.

Can caged birds be happy?

It's no more cruel to keep a pet bird than it is to keep a pet dog, and I can tell you for a fact that pet birds are (for the most part) less stressed, and more satisfied and happy than the same birds in the wild.

Can lorikeets eat bread?

Don't give Rainbow Lorikeets other kinds of food, such as biscuits, bread or seeds. They may become dependent upon these sources of food and become less inclined to forage in the wild. Eating seeds can actually cause damage to their tongue and beak. Let them feed on native plants.

How do you keep a rainbow lorikeet entertained?

Lorikeets are naturally adapted to swinging and hanging upside down to retrieve nectar and therefore enjoy toys such as swings to mimic these behaviours. Leafy native Australian tree branches also provide good entertainment as well as perch sites. Toys and food can be used to encourage natural foraging behaviour.

Can you put two different birds in the same cage?

It's tempting to put different sized birds in the same cage, but it's not a good idea. Many parrots are aggressive, and don't like other parrots. At one point I had 17 birds -- finches, parakeets and parrots. The finches all lived together in a large aviary.