New Parrotlet Owner = Lots of Questions

[Kuki23]

Hii :o)

As the title says, I am a new parrotlet owner and just got Kuki a week ago tomorrow. I had done my research beforehand on how to care for such a bird. but reading what to do on paper and theory doesn't always translate so neatly to reality. Especially when Ive never had any experience with these cute birds. It also doesn't help that I bought her from Petco and that the staff there wasn't very helpful. They didn't even know hold old the birds were, except that supposedly they were too young to determine sex. I'm assuming on my own that ours is female due to the fact that its completely green and that "her" cagemate had signs of blue.

I have billions of questions, but to not be a complete pain, I'll only ask the main questions I'm concerned about right now.

1.) Diet Schedule. --> Kuki was being fed only parakeet seed while in the store. And I know that she would need pellet, fresh fruits and veggies. I've been told that I should keep the pellets in a treat tray until for 2 months until she is weaned. My concern is, I don't really know if Im introducing the fruits and veggies correctly. She seems to pick at them and fling them everywhere. I don't even know if I should take out the other food while the fruits and veggies are in? Another concern is that she has a millet spray, but when it is in the cage she concentrates only on it and nothing else. So I've started taking it out and using it as a treat when she is taken out of the cage. Is this okay?

2.) Training --> Kuki loves to cling to the sides of the cage. It is 18X18" She apparently was used to this in the store and hardly sits on the perches at all. We have several set up in corners and such but she prefers to climb around. This makes it hard for training. Because while she already steps up somewhat on command onto a perch, it often results in a lot of chasing around the cage because we are trying to get her off the sides, and even if she is on a perch, she'll start a indie 500 at first signs of a perch or finger. Any suggestions?


Also, she loves to bite. I've tried ignoring, I've tried spritzes of water to the face with hard commands of "No!" But true to her nature, she's been stubborn. Sometimes she behaves other times she tries to make us lose a valuble appendage. What really is the best way to stop biting?

[Juliee]

for the last question about biting i think i have an answer.
You probably have already read this about parrotlets that they have a nippy stage just
like puppies. My parrotlet is only 4 monthes and she is starting to get in to his nippy stage. Yours might be in her's too. In the nippy phase they go through, they want to explore everything with their beaks and see how tough their beak really is.
When she bites, give a slight shake to the hand she is on(or finger) and say 'NO' or 'No Bite'. the second thing you may want to use is some kind of toy(or millet) that she likes and distract her off biting everytime she does. What i like to do is when ever Tiko bites i shake my hand, say NO BITING and put him down or back in his cage and pick him up again or play later. It works! my friend has a budgie who loves to bite and when she would say no bite, he would stop and listen. Now 2 monthes have went by and Molly(the budgie) has lernt to say 'No Biting'!!!
she says it whenever you walk in the room!!.
For the diet problem, what i did was when my parrotlet wasnt eating was, when he was out of the cage i took some slices of apples and kept eating tiny bites in fornt of them and making a big deal out of how good they were. Tiko(parrotlet) loves to explare and wants to see what ever is in ur hand. So he comes to the tray of apple slices and starts pecks, (me still making a big deal) he looks at me and starts takes bites. the next morning and onwards. couple of time a week i put big apple slices in his treat bowl and when i miss a day he is sure to let me know!!
hope this helpd!

[jimpierce7]

With Cricket I give him his "blend" and mash in seperate dishes. The blend is a pellet blend. I make my own as well as using Benji blend from bird paradise. Sometimes I toss it in the food processor to make it a bit smaller for him. I also add in every couple of days some Volkman's Parrotlet seed mix. He gets sprouts every afternoon as well.

[Kuki23]

Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I really appreciate the advice.

[birdguy]

thanks for the answer about biting. i am looking into getting a parrotlet and he is about 4 months old. he's really nippy too...lol

[Powder]

I make a made sound like a dogs growl. She doesn't like it and stops her current bite, but she will try another bite later. I'm just hoping we can work through this. She's about 4 months old now.