Hi ! New here

[Donna Marie]

Hi everyone. I'm brand new here. Just found out about this forum. I was given my Parrotlet a few months ago....had NO idea what it was but loved him. Found out he was a Parrotlet.....his previous owner had larger birds and found he was too big for his britches and thought he would be better off in a new home.....Mine !!!! So I'm gradually learning about this little guy but he's the best little bird I have ever owned. I'm not great with pictures but will work on it. I am anxious to learn about feeding and everything else that will keep him happy and healthy. He's a real love bug and will sit with me for hours. Looking forward to talking with everyone.

[pam311]

Welcome, and congratulations on your new baby. The folks here are so knowledgable and nice. I cant wait to see pics. What is his name?.

[Donna Marie]

His name is Kiki, he's approx. 1 yr. old, green with some beautiful periwinkle blue. He's short and cobby and I would love to feed him more variety than I do. Right now he loves this "Pretty Bird Premium" bird food for small parrots It says it's a "perfect blend of fruits veges and nuts and he really loves it. I also give him"ZuPreem" fruit blend flavour but it says it's for cockatiels,parakeets, lovebirds....oh and small parrots. He looks fine, acts fine but I would love to know what else to give him to make sure he's at his premium health and happiness. Boy these little guys sure steal your heart. I have owned budgies and one cockatiel and enjoyed them......but this little guy takes the cake. I am at his beckon call !!!! They are just cute, cute, cute !!!

[chapala]

The Parrotlets (like most parrots) need a lot of fresh vegetables and a little fruit, along with a varied diet of seeds and grains (preferably soaked or sprouted), and some soaked and cooked legumes like lentils. The dried vegetables and fruits in the mix aren't sufficient. If you feed pellets, I prefer the non-colored, non-artificially flavored plain Zupreem instead of the fruit flavored.

Vit. A deficiency is the most common nutritional problem of pet parrots (well, that and a diet way too high in fat from too many seeds/nuts). So that means we need to provide vegetables (and fruits) that are high in Vit. A - kale, collard, mustard greens, broccoli, bok choy, cooked and mashed sweet potato or winter squash - pumpkin too, plus any of the more nutritious fruits mango, papaya, berries, cantaloupe, pomegranate. I find they eat vegetables best if chopped very finely, or lightly processed in a food processor. I prefer to mix my own seeds/grains, and then soak a small amount overnight. That starts the germinating process and they are more nutritious with less fat. Good grains and seeds to use include red millet, white millet, quinoa, whole wheat berries (or kamut or spelt), hulless barley (not pearl which is refined), oat groats, raw buckwheat, canary seed. All these (except canary seed) can be bought in bulk at a natural foods store, or on-line. Sunflower, safflower and pumpkin are very high in fat, and best limited to very small amounts if you're going to feed them.

Glad you're enjoying your P'let so much! They sure are cute. I have a Mexican Parrotlet named Cello.
Reta

[Donna Marie]

Thanks again Reta, that is a wealth of info. I'm not feeding him all of that so will get started right away.

[Pado]

Hi Donna Marie - welcome to the forum :)

[Donna Marie]

Thanks Pado, it's really great here.

[marce61]

Riddler says Hello KIKI! Donna Marie we anxiously await a PIC! Let us see your Baby!

[LyndaM]

Welcome Donna Marie! We look forward to your pictures and stories!

[Sally]

Welcome! I am so glad he has a new home and is loved! Yes, they need a wide variety of nutritious foods. You just keep offering foods and they really do get used to it and try them. You can also play like you are eating the foods to make him more interested.

Does he have a flight sized cage? Parrotlets usually love very wide and large cages with wonderful toys.

We all keep learning here and I am so glad you are here.

I have a female Parrotlet named Chipper. She is my little green buddy.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Sally11/DoodleFrames.jpg

[BirdsRMyLife]

Hi! I have a 2-year-old Stubborn pacific green parrotlet- Divot, And 2 blue - I have no idea how old they are, I think they are 2 or 3 - Pacific blue parootlets named romeo and Juliet, I am breeding them but so far no luck! :D

Im not suprised that you love your baby. Parootlets are very adorable, and most people treat them as if they were babys. :p

I hope you have a great time on Talk Parotlets! :)

~ Cassie :rolleyes:

[Donna Marie]

Hi Sally, your Chipper is just beautiful. Looks just like my Kiki. Pictures may take awhile. I don't even have a compatible camera !! Someday I hope.

[Py & Cosmo]

Welcome to the group! Py sends his regards to Kiki!;)