How to Raise Parrotlets

Gaining in popularity as pets in the United States due to their small size and big hearts, parrolets live for 20 to 30 years with the right care, and they enjoy entertaining crowds with their silly antics. If you̵7;re looking for a pocket-size bird, their willingness to befriend humans makes parrotlets good companions. However, these energetic members of the parrot family do have quirks that require a little human ingenuity if you want the best environment for your bird.

  1. Little Parrots

    • Parrotlets, or little parrots, live wild in South America and Central America, has the typical parrot̵7;s hooked bill and measures 3 to 5 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the stubby tail. Wild parrolets travel in flocks containing as many as 100 birds but generally nest as couples. The four most common pet species are the Pacific parrotlet, the Mexican parrotlet, the yellow-faced parrotlet and the spectacled parrotlet. Natural colors of all four range from vivid to softer green with dark to light blue or yellow markings for the males and duller shades for the females. Breeders have successfully produced color mutations such as silvery blue, white, yellow, cinnamon with hints of blue, and varying shades of allover dark blue.

    General Care

    • Your parrotlet requires a roomy cage that's a minimum of 18 inches by 18 inches by 18 inches. It should allow room for flight as well as all the toys you̵7;ll provide to keep his mind occupied and energy-packed body content. The International Parrotlet Society recommends cockatiel or conure accessories rather than the smaller budgie toys, due to a parrolet's beak strength. A parrotlet̵7;s high metabolism requires as much food as his bigger parrot cousins. Commercial seed or pellet mixes, and small amounts of fresh fruits and leafy greens daily will provide a nutritional diet. Your parrotlet will also need at least annual checkups with an avian vet.

    Nurturing Your Parrotlet

    • Parrolets sometimes develop stubborn and aggressive natures at maturity. Reputable breeders hand-feed and socialize young birds to curb those tendencies and raise cuddly, good-natured pets. Once home, he̵7;ll rely on you to provide daily human interaction. Placing his cage in a busy room so he̵7;s part of the action, and spending time watching his antics during play, will help satisfy his desire to belong. Single birds form close bonds with human companions, but isolation significantly affects a social bird like the parrotlet, even reducing longevity. If you don̵7;t have an hour or more daily to devote to your bird, hosting a male and a female will prevent loneliness. They develop strong pair bonds with their mates, but these territorial birds will fight with members of the same sex in the same cage.

    Keeping Him Safe

    • His big-parrot attitude in a petite package takes special consideration if you̵7;re planning out-of-cage time for your feathered pet in a bird-safe room. With his 5-inch body and inquisitive nature, he could quickly find himself wedged behind furniture, caught in gaps between sofa cushions or under assault from dislodged artwork. Careful observation from his perspective will help identify potential dangers. His attitude also means he̵7;d rather advance than retreat when it comes to dogs, cats and other birds he sees as invaders in his space. For parrotlets, out-of-cage exercise is best accomplished with just his mate and you for company, or just the two if you if you̵7;ve got just one. Even the gentlest dog or cat observing from a distance may accidentally harm your bird if attacked.