The Basics:

Though much smaller than Amazons and other “large” parrots, Parrotlets are true parrots and have similar needs, personalities, and care needs as their larger cousins. They enjoy human companionship, but do not respond well to other birds, even those of the same species, so they should be kept singly. Their quiet voices and small size make them an ideal parrot for an apartment dweller.  

Cage:

A Parrotlet will be content in a cage measuring 18” high, by 18” wide by 18” long, provided it is kept clean and there is room to exercise. Parrotlets can be very territorial and should be housed alone. For a Parrotlet, bar spacing should be no more than ½”.

CAUTION

In most cases, more space is more desirable for birds. However, when increasing the size of a Parrotlet’s cage, the bird’s human companion must be careful to maintain a safe (narrow) space between the bars. The bars of a cage have to be narrow enough to prevent a bird from sticking his head in between. Bars that are spaced too far apart for the bird’s size can result in serious and even fatal injuries.

Positioning The Cage:

Parrotlets are social birds, so their cages should be placed in a room where family members spend a lot of time. However, like all birds, a Parrotlet’s cage should not ever be placed in or near the kitchen or bathroom, due to potentially harmful fumes and drastic temperature or humidity changes. One side of the cage should be against a wall, providing Parrotlets with a sense of security and privacy.

Playthings:

Toys can easily keep a Parrotlet occupied and happy, since they’re very curious birds. Large toys may be difficult for Parrotlets to play with; toys intended specifically for Parrotlets or other small birds such as Finches or Parakeets are best. While Parrotlets are generally not picky about the toys they play with, a diverse variety provides more opportunities for entertainment. Toys should be durable to stand up to a Parrotlet’s determined playing. It’s also a good idea to rotate toys to keep this smart bird interested.

Perches:

Perches of various textures and smaller widths, around ½”, will give Parrotlets options, preventing their feet from being in the same position. A wooden perch is essential, but a concrete perch can help keep a Parrotlet’s nails trim and proper, while rope or plastic perches can also be added for variety. A perch should be placed in front of, but not above, food and water dishes.

Play Time Outside The Cage:

Parrotlets do not require as much interaction as other parrots, they since occupy their own time, but their curious nature can also get them in trouble. A Parrotlet must have a safe, secure area to play in when outside of a cage, such as a play gym, that is far removed from furniture, electrical cords and any other potential dangers, but above all, must be monitored at all times. Their small size makes accidents easy.  Additionally, since a Parrotlet is so small, wing-clipping may not be effective in preventing flight. Extra precaution should be taken to ensure that all windows and doors are closed and secure when a Parrotlet is outside of its cage. Confining a Parrotlet to a room that has been thoroughly bird-proofed may be the safest option.

Grooming:

Consult veterinarian or literature about trimming nails and possibly flight feathers.

Bathing:

Provide a shallow bowl of chlorine-free water for supervised bathing. You can also mist bird with chlorine-free water. Bath and mist water must be lukewarm to room temperature. Avoid drafts. Remove bath when finished.

Diet:

In nature, Parrotlets eat primarily seeds and fruits. A Parrotlet should receive a diet consisting of about 75% pellets, with the other 25% being vegetables and fruits with seeds and cooked grains being offered only on rare occasions. Vegetables and fruits should be dark green or dark orange. All produce should be rinsed, dried and cut into appropriately sized pieces before being offered to this bird. Fresh food should be monitored throughout the day and removed it if it is soiled or begins to spoil. Mixing together pellets and foods is possible, but the pellets must be removed, along with the other food, and then replaced with clean, dry pellets, which can be wasteful. Pellets, along with clean, fresh chlorine-free water, should be offered at all times, and removed if they become soiled. Provide additional calcium i.e. cuttlebone during egg laying.

A Note About Water:

All water given to birds for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.  (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions.