JS>I just purchased a five and a half week old Red Lory. I have a book on 
hem
JS>but I would like any information that anyone may have to offer please.
Look through the back of Bird Talk magazine for a breeder named John
VanDerHof, in California. He knows more about lories than ANYONE.
If you call him, I'm certain he'd be happy to help you--he's a very nice
man.
I can try to answer a few of the questions, although I'm not a lory
owner/breeder myself.
JS>Are they really messy birds?
YES! A friend here had 3 for a while. She kept plexiglass pieces tied to
the sides of their cages to contain the liquid poops. The plexiglass had
to be washed EVERY day. If she missed a day, or if it got hot in her
house, the cages smelled like fermented fruit juice and she got HORRIBLE
fruit fly infestations. She kept LOTS of throw rugs down on the floors,
so she didn't have to scrub her carpet daily when the birds came out to
play.
JS>Do they require a larger cage than a conure?
Lories are HYPER birds, and they really need the biggest cage you can
provide so they have room to play and move around. Also provide lots of
safe toys so the bird has things to amuse itself with; they can become
mean, or actually begin to feather pluck if they don't have enough
mental stimulation and activity.
Now that I've said all that bad stuff, I will state that they are
fascinating birds, VERY smart, VERY VERY mischievous, and can be sweet
when THEY want to be. My friend's Dusky lory used to delight in hiding
her car keys and her glasses so she couldn't leave the house! He'd throw
them into the pan of dishwater, or into her soda can recycling bin (ever
try to find silver keys and silver-framed glasses in a box of aluminum
cans when you are nearsighted and can't see without the glasses you're
looking for? ). Her birds also used to like to cuddle and be
petted--once they'd burned off some of that extra energy for a little
while. When they settled in for cuddles, they made the neatest sounds!
I really suggest you contact John VanDerHof--he can probably suggest
some feeding/care methods and other books to help you care for your new
baby properly. Good luck with the bird!
--Kathy
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