Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    HI STEVE,
    
    Nice to hear from you again.
    
    I have talked to people about their lories in the past and some of them
    have said the birds are not all that messy if you feed them some of the
    powder diets. I am not sure how you feed the powder diets (dry or mixed
    with water) but I am sure a breeder or knowledgable  pet store could
    help. Some people have told me about their birds talking several words,
    I wouldn't expect it was EXTENSIVE though. Size-wise I think you would
    find the rainbow lorie a little bigger and twice the weight of your
    cockatiel.
    
    What is the price ?
    
    Let us know how you make out,
    Doug

    Hey Doug;
    
    I saw this handfed rainbow lory at "Just for Pets" in the Townsend
    Harbor shopping mall (the same place you saw the Topper's seed so
    cheap!) and was quite taken by this beautiful little bird.  The coloring
    is made of of several vibrant blues, reds and greens.  The neat thing
    is that he/she is at an age where you can really work with it to make
    it super tame.  I believe the salesperson told me they were asking
    $399.  
    

Lories really are beautiful birds.  Here's what I know about them:

The powdered food is a substitute for nectar, which is what lories eat in the 
wild.  Since lories eat a liquid diet, the droppings are messy.  Powdered 
food leads to more solid droppings.

Lories can make an ear splitting scream.  It's louder and higher than a
cockatiel's (probably not as loud as a conure, certainly not as loud as
a macaw).

I agree with Doug on the vocabulary issue.  I doubt that lories have 
extensive vocabularies (in general).

I've seen very tame red lories, but never a tame rainbow.  What a special
bird that would be!


Roseanne

    If you are looking for a lorie it is best to purchase a handfed from a
    reputable breeder.  The cost will be significantly lower (around $225
    or so for a Rainbow) and also most breeders start their babies on
    pellets with a smaller nectar diet, therefore their droppings will not
    be as watery or messy.
    
    Lories make delightful pets.  Their brushlike tongues are quite long
    and they love to tickle you with it.  The chattering Lory is the most
    talkative and I believe the largest of the Lories.  It is a simply
    beautiful bird about 2/3rds larger than the rainbow and a vivid red
    in color.  These are more expensive and will probably run you around
    $400+.
    
    They can be quite noisy with a sharp hoarse sing/song call, but not
    as severe as a conure.  I have taken care of a couple of lories for
    friends and they are delightful.
    
    There are MANY types of Lories and Lorikeets.  A very good book is
    Lories by Rosemary Lowe.  I have it at home and it gives much
    information on all the varities.
    
    One thing that most lories have in common other than their "brush"
    tongues and love of nectar is the vivid colors!
    
    I know of a pet store in Ayer, MA "Fish & Chirps" that has a black
    winged (I believe that is the name) Lory that is simply stunning -
    and it is a Handfed baby!  This a very uncommon bird to find esp.
    in this area.  I believe there are only a couple of breeders with
    succes in breeding these birds in New England.  I believe they
    want $699. for it. but again the rarity and beauty (and handfed)
    make this bird more pricey.  You might want to take a peek at
    this.
    
    If you are interested in getting a Lory, get in touch with me and
    I can give you some breeders names.
    
    Good Luck!
    Denise

    Hi.  I know this conf. is hardley used sience the last time something
    was writen in this was Feb/25/93.  So I thought I would update the 
    prices of these birds and behaviours.  
    
    This is a listing of on average the cost is for Lorys. 
    
    Red lory= $700          |
    Bla winged= $800        |
    Blu streked= $700       | They eat a varity of things. Like necton-
    Violet necked= $600     | lory, baby food. lory pellets, apple sause,
    Rainbow lorikett= $600  | pizza, and basicly any thing you would feed
----------------------------| a parot.  Exc. for seed because it is harmful
    to there digestive track.  And there beeks are to soft.
    
    As for there talking ability. They can say alot of things and do have 
    an extensive vocabulary.  For example= my rainbow can say HELLO S$%^
    HEAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, I LOVE YOU, WHAT TIME IS IT, DANCE DANCE 
    DANCE, AND CAN I COME OUT AND PLAY.  He says many more things and
    sings songs.  
    
    They can be messy birds but the love you get from them in return,
    makes up for it. 
    
    Des King
    

    They have some beautiful hand-fed babies at the Family Pet
    on Rte 101A in Nashua.  Mostly rainbows.  Cute little
    suckers (they also have an incredibly sweet CAG, and a
    white-capped pionus that is a doll).  
    
    beth