Lories & Lorikeets
Lories & Lorikeets
The Specialist’s Reward
“Lories are the most visually arresting parrots in aviculture — and the most specialist to keep. They are nectar-feeders. That single fact rules them out for most homes.”
Four species — Black-capped, Chattering, Dusky, and Rainbow Lorikeet. Lifespans of 20-30 years.
They are clownish, cuddly, intensely playful — and on a wet diet that produces wet droppings of a kind that cause new owners to phone me a week after pickup, slightly stunned.
The Lory Keeper’s Reality
Liquid Diet
Commercial nectar (Nekton-Lori, Lafeber’s, Harrison’s Lory) reconstituted fresh daily. A seed or pellet-only diet will eventually kill them.
Wet Droppings
Liquid in equals liquid out. Lories project their droppings with surprising force. Daily cage cleaning is the cost of keeping one — non-negotiable.
Cuddly Specialists
Once you accept the diet, lories are clownish, intensely playful, and bonded to their people in a way that feels almost dog-like.
If you want lory-style affection without the dietary specialism, look at a Black-headed Caique or a Pionus. Both have the cuddliness without the wet-feeding commitment.
— Kalyn Bastion, Parrot Bliss
All Lories & Lorikeet Species
Looking for a Hand-Raised Lories & Lorikeet Species?
Parrot Bliss hand-raises a small number of lories & lorikeets each year here in West Palm Beach, Florida. Every chick fed by Kalyn personally, weaned onto Harrison’s pellets, and placed only with families who genuinely understand what they’re taking on.