Lory & Lorikeet Care 2025 🦜 | Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Welcome to the definitive 2025 guide on caring for lories and lorikeets! As a vet passionate about avian welfare, I’ll walk you through their unique needs—from vibrant diet to specialist housing, socialization, grooming, and health management. Your rainbow‑feathered companion deserves expert care! 😊

1. 🌈 Who Are Lories & Lorikeets?

Lories and lorikeets belong to the tribe Loriini—about 50–100 species in Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. Known as “brush‑tongued parrots,” they have specialized tongues perfect for nectar and pollen feeding :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. Popular pet species include rainbow lorikeets, red lories, and goldie’s lorikeets :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

2. Temperament & Behaviour

• Playful, curious, and highly social—thriving on daily interaction and enrichment :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• May nip when excited or stressed—teach calm “time-outs” instead of yelling :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Some Rainbow Lorikeets sleep on their backs—odd but often normal :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• They’re loud and energetic—best suited to bird‑friendly, tolerant households.

3. 🏠 Housing Essentials

Lories are messy eaters and need robust, easy‑clean setups:

• Use metal cages with a grate over lined trays to manage droppings :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Spot‑clean daily; replace liners and cages weekly with bird‑safe cleaners :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Keep cage in a busy area free from drafts, kitchen fumes, or smoke :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Provide full‑spectrum UV light 10–12 hrs/day, placed 12–18″ from perches; replace bulbs every 6 months :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

4. Specialized Nutrition 🍯

Diet is the most critical aspect of their care:

• Primary diet: commercial nectar/pollen mixes or pelleted lorikeet diets, making up 30–70% of intake :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Supplement with 20–50% fresh produce—carrots, sweet potato, squash, soft fruits—avoid high‑iron choices like citrus, strawberry, grapes, spinach :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Avoid seeds and nuts—they lack strong gizzards and cannot digest them well :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Prepare fresh diet twice daily; remove old nectar within 2 hours to reduce spoilage :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Always provide fresh water; many lories bathe in their water bowls too :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

5. Grooming & Hygiene ✂️

• Bathe/mist 2–3× weekly to maintain vibrant plumage and prevent dryness.
• Trim nails regularly; wing trims only if needed for safety, always by a vet.
• Clean and disinfect cage, dishes, toys weekly—avoid harsh fumes that irritate respiratory systems :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.

6. Exercise & Enrichment 🧩

Provide at least 2–4 hours supervised out‑of‑cage time daily. These active birds need climbing, chewing, and sensory experiences:

• Rotate a variety of toys—bells, ropes, swings, cardboard—to prevent boredom and feather‑plucking :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Include foraging puzzles and destructible items—they’re highly intelligent and love to explore.

7. Health & Veterinary Care 🩺

• Annual vet exam with weight check, droppings analysis, and beak/nail assessment is vital.
• Beware of iron storage disease—avoid high-iron foods and monitor liver/heart health :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
• Monitor for crop issues, feather-picking, respiratory symptoms; seek vet attention early.

8. Training & Bonding

• Use calm, reward-based methods for step‑up training and tricks.
• Handle daily to strengthen trust—never using force; respond to nips with quiet time‑outs :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
• Social birds—pair with other lories if possible, but introduce slowly under supervision :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.

9. Daily Care Checklist ✅

• ✔️ Provide fresh nectar and produce twice daily
• ✔️ Clean water & dishes daily, spot-clean cage
• ✔️ Offer baths/misting 2–3× weekly
• ✔️ Supervised out‑of‑cage time and social interaction
• ✔️ Rotate toys and enrichment items
• ✔️ Inspect health and behavior daily
• ✔️ Annual vet wellness exam

10. Why Trust Ask A Vet?

Ask A Vet connects you instantly with avian experts—perfect for diet advice, health checks, or behavior support. In cases like suspected iron storage or illness, fast vet access can be lifesaving. Download the Ask A Vet app today! 📱🦜

11. Final Thoughts

Lories and lorikeets are dazzling companions with bright personalities—but they require deliberate, specialized care. With the right diet, housing, enrichment, grooming, veterinary attention, and social interaction, these birds can thrive for decades, filling your home with color and joy. 🧡

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

👉 Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for expert avian support whenever you need it!