Lorikeets have fun and bubbly personalities that make for an entertaining pet bird. When buying one you’ll need to factor in the price of the lorikeet, equipment such as cages, and the unique nectar food which they consume. Because this feed is mostly liquid, they can be messy birds so you may need to buy additional cleaning products. There are over 50 species of lorikeet but generally only two types are kept in captivity. The pricing of the lorikeet is listed below:
What is the cost of a Lorikeet?
Most people that want to buy a lorikeet will be considering the Rainbow Lorikeet, with the cost of a Rainbow Lorikeet on average being around $400 to $700. If you’re thinking about getting another type of Swainson’s Lories then these birds may cost over $1000 from top quality breeders.
What will affect the price when buying a Lorikeet?
Looks count when it comes to lorikeet pricing and so if your lorikeet has a particularly vibrant set of healthy looking feathers then they will be priced at a higher rate. If the bird has any scars, imperfections or damage to itself then this is likely to drop the price. On the flip side, if the bird happens to have an odd or unique look to it which is pleasing to the eye, then this may raise the price.
People that are interested in breeding these birds would need to buy a pair of them. When doing so, you can usually get 2 birds together at a slightly lower price than if you were buying them separately. DNA testing is possible to detect the lineage of the lorikeet and can be purchased for a small fee. This will let you know if it is a purebred or hybrid and can also be useful in detecting whether or not the bird has any hereditary diseases.
How will the age of a Lorikeet affect its price?
Something to keep in mind is that a lorikeet has a lifespan of around 20 years and you may not consider upon first glance how old a bird is.
A baby lorikeet won’t have any feathers and will be very vulnerable and need hand rearing – this needs a lot of time and attention. It will be cheaper to buy a lorikeet which is being hand reared but it is not recommended. When a lorikeet has stopped weaning and can now eat adult foods it will start to be priced higher. This price increases as the bird grows and becomes stronger entering into its young life. However, after a certain period of time the price of a lorikeet will start to decrease as the bird ages. In fact, if you don’t mind adopting an older pet bird then you may be able to find a lorikeet at one of your local shelters for free. The difference in prices between male and female lorikeets is no different and DNA testing can be used to determine gender if this isn’t obvious to you. To see a pet rainbow lorikeet in action, check out the video below:
When and where to buy a lorikeet?
Just before Christmas is always a period when breeders like to increase the prices of their birds slightly, whereas the price may decrease after a breeder has finished weaning a number of young lorikeets that are now ready to be sold.
Depending upon where you live in the world will affect how much a lorikeet will cost. Because Lorikeets come from Australia and Indonesia, they will be priced at a lower rate in these countries, especially Indonesia which has lower currency rates. However, even within Australia or Indonesia the price will vary because these birds natural habitat does not cover the entire country. Higher prices will be demanded in parts of the country that do not naturally possess these birds. Common species such as Rainbow Lorikeets are so common in Australia that they are not protected under any laws and regulations, however, other rarer subspecies may not be possible to own. Additional research will be required for these birds.
When buying your lorikeet you’ll need a travel cage or carrier so that you can transport the bird from the breeder to your home. You may be able to buy this cage from some breeders for an additional fee. Otherwise if you own a travel cage and a car then you should be able to travel to the breeder to arrange the pick up. If this is a long journey then consider the cost of fuel that the trip may add.
Is it legal to own a lorikeet?
In Australia, owning a rainbow lorikeet is legal because the birds are so common. You should still check will a local bird owners association or national pet bird owning group to see about the laws specific to your state or country. When buying from a breeder, it is highly recommended that you research the company name online to see reviews of the person or company. Avoid breeders with bad reputations, no matter how enticing the deal may seem.
Warning signs to not buy a lorikeet
Essentially if the lorikeet is priced much higher or lower than it should be (around $400 to $700) then this could indicate a scam or something wrong is going on. Keep in mind that certain subspecies may be priced higher. A claim of the genetic purity or lineage of the bird should be backed up with DNA evidence for it to command a higher price. Lower prices outside of the normal range may indicate that the bird is diseased, badly behaved, illegally traded or bred in a bird mill.
How much are the lorikeet cages, equipment and supplies going to cost me?
Aside from the cost of the bird itself, there are many other expenses involved in looking after the lorikeet over its lifetime.
- First of all, there is the lorikeet cage which is likely to set you back at least $100 with higher end cages costing $300.
- You’ll want a bird carrier or travel cage so you can take the bird with you to and from the vet. At a minimum this will cost you $50 but with higher quality versions of these cages costing $100 to $200.
- The inside of any cage will need to be furnished with perches which you should be able to purchase for $20 to $30.
- Lorikeets are unique in their feeding requirements since they feed on nectar and so specialized food is required. This can cost $25 to $50 for packages of this feed.
- Because lorikeets feed on a liquid diet, they excrete a lot of mess which needs to be cleaned. Bird cage liners and cleaning supplies may be a regular fee and may cost you $10 to $20 each time you top up.
- Insuranceis worth paying on a monthly or annual basis because it will save you money in case any emergency health situation arises.
- A couple of toys are also worth investing in to ensure you keep your lorikeets entertained and will cost $10 to $20.
- Yearly trips to the vet can be costly but are recommended to keep an eye on the health of the bird and also are useful for gaining expert advice.
If buying from a breeder, double check what they offer as sometimes they may be able to include some supplies to help you get started with your bird. Also, keep in mind that all of this equipment will take up space in your house or apartment so measure out an area ahead of time.
Costs in terms of time and energy
You should spend at least one hour per day with your lorikeet but at least several hours is really recommended. Also, these birds don’t like to be left alone and so if you have another bird to keep it company then this is preferred. The lorikeet should have plenty of time out of its cage so it can burn off its energy.
You’ll need to spend time topping up the water and feed each day as well as doing quick cleans around the cage, plus a more thorough weekly clean.
You may also want to invest time training your lorikeet so that it is better behaved, can wear a harness and can be moved more easily. You should prevent your bird from over bonding with you by allowing it to interact with several members of your family and other birds. Plus you’ll need a fair amount of patience so that you can deal with the noises that lorikeets create.
Where to buy lorikeets?
We recommend adoption instead:
Final thoughts
Lorikeets have a lot of energy and are very clown-like and playful. This can make them entertaining at first but also means they need a lot of time and attention over the long-run. This is something some people may not be able to provide to their birds. If you have this free time, money and resources then you may be rewarded with them as companions. But it’s a good idea to check you can provide all of the needs listed above in this article before obtaining one of these birds.
Related Posts
If you’d like to read more articles that are related to this subject then check out the following:
- Lorikeet Species Care Guide – see more details about the bird and how to look after it.
- Parrot Prices – a full guide to the pricing for numerous bird species.
References:
Birdsnow
Birdbreeders
hbw.com
