Parrotlet Breed Information

Where do parrotlets come from?

The vibrant-feathered parrotlet bird is a miniature parrot. He originated in Mexico and Central and South America. This is an extroverted bird. Thus, he is commonly found travelling in a flock. A flock can be composed of about four to over one hundred birds depending on the species.

There are many types of parrotlets, including celestial parrotlet, Mexican Parrotlet, Spectacled Parrotlet Pacific parrotlet, green-rumped parrotlet, and yellow-faced parrotlet. Do you want a parrotlet bird? Find the perfect one for you here.

What does parrotlet look like?

The parrotlet is the smallest pet parrot species. A full-grown parrotlet measures around 28.5 cm in length and weighs around 33 g. Because of his miniature size, he sports the shortest individual wingspan of approximately 24 cm. In general, their feathers are green in colour.

To know a parrotlet bird’s sex, observe his plumage. The feathers of males are dark blue behind his eyes, back, and wings. Their female counterparts either have no blue feather or a lighter blue or green streak behind their eyes. They tend to have darker shades of colour on their wings, whilst their faces have light green feathers.

How big should be the parrotlet’s cage size?

In general, this parrot species can grow approximately 28.5 cm in size and weigh about 33 g. An 18″ x 18″ is the recommended minimum cage size for your pet. If you are able to provide a bigger one, the better. It will give him more room to exercise and stretch out his wings.

The cage’s bar spacing should be around 1/2″ or 5/8″. This is to prevent his head from getting stuck and also avoid the risk of him escaping.

How to care for a parrotlet

The parrotlet needs regular exercise and bonding time with his human companions. Allow three to four hours of your time for interacting with your pet bird. Give him various bird-safe toys such as chew toys, ladders, bells, ropes, and leather to keep him busy and entertained. Make sure that each toy doesn’t have sharp edges to prevent him from being injured.

Bathe your pet parrot every day to keep his skin and feathers clean and healthy. You may use a shallow bowl filled with warm water. Or you can also opt for using a spray and gently spritz him with water. Be careful to avoid misting his face and nose.

Are parrotlets good pets?

The parrotlet is a small bird with a big personality. He is bubbly, loving, yet feisty. Handling and socialisation are important in shaping him to be an affectionate companion.

Since he loves interacting with people, leaving him for long periods is not advisable. This can result in behavioural problems such as biting or becoming excessively noisy.

Hand-fed parrotlet is very friendly and quite playful. He enjoys doing adorable antics such as hiding on shirt pockets or relaxing on his owner’s shoulders. His spunky nature also has its drawbacks. They can be very stubborn and he will not hesitate to vocalise his displeasure if something offends him.

Do parrotlets need to be in pairs?

The parrotlet does not need to be kept in pairs if you want to share a close bond with your pet bird. Having a pair will only lead them to be attached to each other. Then, you will be more likely to end up getting excluded.

For bird enthusiasts who have less time to spend with their parrotlets, consider getting a pair so that they can keep each other company. However, regardless of their sex, they should be kept in separate cages. This is to avoid accidental breeding and bird aggression.

Can parrotlets talk?

This bird has a talent in learning words and mimicking sounds. However, he is not the most proficient talker in the parrot family. Males are known to be good at speaking than females. They can learn to talk over ten to fifteen words and even imitate whistles and household noises.

What should parrotlets eat?

Provide your parrotlet with fresh water every day. His daily diet should consist of 25 to 45 per cent of pellets. Low-fat seed mix such as anise, barley, cantaloupe, flax, and millet must comprise of 15 to 25 per cent of his food. 30 to 50 per cent is a mix of grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits.

Make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before serving. Do not forget to remove pits and seeds as well, since they are choking hazards. Below is a list of fruits and vegetables that are healthy and safe for your parrotlet to eat:

Fruits

• Apple
• Banana
• Blueberry
• Grape
• Mango
• Melon
• Orange
• Pear
• Pineapple
• Strawberry
• Tangerine
• Health

How long does a parrotlet live?

If properly cared for, a parrotlet bird can live up to twenty years in captivity. The best way to ensure that he lives a quality life is by meticulously providing his daily needs. Be sure to give him proper housing, balanced meals, a stress-free home environment, and ample amounts of exercise and interaction.

What are the most common health problems in the parrotlet?

How much does a parrotlet cost?

Buying healthy parrotlet may cost you about £50 to over £70. The overall yearly food expenses can amount to £300–£400. The price tag for his birdcage can range between £30 and £100 depending on the size. For his basic items including food and water bowls, budget approximately £40–70.

You will need around £40 to buy bird toys, stands, and perches. Every session of vet check-up has a fee of £30, whilst microchipping costs £20.

• The parrotlet is less noisy than his other parrot cousins. This trait makes him a great companion for people living in apartments.
• Although the bird is small in size, he is a hefty eater. Be sure to provide him with the right amount of food to meet his nutritional needs.