A couple questions

[angeboo]

So now that i'm planning to have a parrotlet in the future, I might as well ask some questions and see what happens!

1. What temperature is ideal for a parrotlet?

2. The fruits and vegetables that a parrotlet shouldn't have.

Not many questions, but i've already had some experience with birds. (cockateil, parakeets) I know that each bird might or may be a little different from others.

[Max]

No avocado for sure

I read there are a few other things as well but I cant recall what they are

[hollybean]

No: avocado, chocolate, caffine, alcohol. Also some say no onions.

I try to keep my apartment between 70-75 degrees. I'm not sure what the recomended temp is. I just notice that if I let it get too chilly- the parrotlets seem to get colds.
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[Max]

^No dairy as well?

[angeboo]

thanks for the replies... I guess I feel pretty prepared for a parrotlet. I've been reading through quite a bit on the forum also. Please add any other information that would be helpful!

[Pado]

As long as you are comfortable they should be comfortable. They don't like sudden changes in temperature - a temperature change over time they can handle. Remember they have feathers and down to keep them warm and the down will grow accordingly. Just no sudden changes and they will adapt to the temperatures in their environment.

[chapala]

It depends on what they're used to in terms of temperature. Definitely at first you don't want to go a lot different, up or down, than their previous habitat.

Our big parrots are outdoors year round, and though it's mild here, it does get into the 40's for about 6 to 8 weeks, 70's during the day. 30 degree temperature swings are common, 20+ degrees during the summer months. The birds do great. Cello, the Mexican P'let, is outdoors most days on a covered terrace, but in at night. We don't heat or cool in this climate, and there is more variation than many of you have with temperature controlled homes. He is doing very well.

Just last month I visited the habitat where wild Mexican Parrotlets live. It was chilly at night - we needed jackets, in the 70's daytime, so I would say close to a 30 degree temp. variation between night and day. The temperatures there, much lower elevation than we where we live at 5,000', are hotter and more humid in the summer. The P'lets (well, the Mexican ones anyway!) are well adapted to some temperature variation, and do not need to be treated like hothouse orchids. No drafts though, please!
Reta

[SweetPeasMom]

Add mushrooms and tomato leaves to the list of Do not feed.

[raiven]

I was wondering if parsley and basil would be ok to give them? You can buy them in pots at the supermarket so they are superfresh but was not sure if they were safe for the birds to eat?

[chapala]

Parsley is not great on a regular basis - it is high in oxalates which bind calcium. Once in awhile is okay, but I don't feed any to my birds and I have it growing in the garden. If you can find pots of vegetable greens, that would be best (kale, collard, mustard, bok choy, even leaf lettuce though it isn't as nutritious as the others).
Reta

[drab91]

Thanks for the tip about Parsley... the salad method that I have been doing is a hit.. But the base of it has always been parsley because it seems to keep longer then the other leafy greens which are recommended on the bottom layer.
I will have to try something different for sure!