Caring for Green Rump Parrotlets

One of the biggest parts of caring for green-rump parrotlets is proper diet. These companion birds, like a lot of other bird species, require "menus" that are centered around commercial pellets. Allow your green-rump parrotlet to have constant access to pellets. Apart from pellets, diced fresh fruits and vegetables are also important for these birds. Some parrotlet-friendly fruits and vegetables are corn, bananas, oranges, carrots, pears, apples, peas, celery, pomegranates, green beans and kiwi. Allow tiny portions of nuts and seeds -- but never more often than one serving per day. Dietary supplementation for calcium is also crucial. Cuttlebones, which are cuttlefish shells, are suitable for these purposes. Always speak with an avian veterinarian before you allow your parrotlet to eat any foods, whether vegetables, fruits, seeds or anything else.

Although green-rump parrotlets are tiny, they are highly vigorous creatures, and therefore need roomy cage environments -- a minimum of 4 feet long. Look for a cage that is made out of a sturdy and tough material such as wrought iron. For safety purposes, make sure the bars are not far away from each other. That way, your parrotlet can't poke out his curious head. Do not allow over half an inch of distance between all of the individual bars.

Toys are crucial for keeping green-rump parrotlets happy and occupied. Ample chew toys are a must. Just check with the veterinarian first to make sure that the toys are always made out of safe substances, like pine. If your parrotlet has things to chew, he can remain busy and content even when you're not at home. Make a point to routinely switch out the toys in the cage, as you don't want to run the risk of your bird tiring of anything due to overexposure. To manage his feet, several perches are also vital. Provide variety your bird's perches, with varying shapes and forms including everything from rectangles to tree limbs.

Although green-rump parrotlets are small in size, they make up for it with their bold personalities -- sometimes to the point that they can even be rather fierce. Prevent unnecessary -- and potentially dangerous -- physical incidents by always having your parrotlet living on his own -- sans cage mates.

Encourage restful sleep in your green-rump parrotlet by giving him a calm, dark and quiet space to sleep every night. Make sure that he can receive a minimum of 10 or so uninterrupted hours.

Routine veterinary attention is also imperative in properly caring for green-rump parrotlets. Take your bird to an avian veterinarian for checkups at least once a year. Otherwise, if anything ever seems unusual with your parrotlet health-wise, take him to the vet without hesitating. Pet birds display illness in many ways, from hazy eyes to decreased appetites. With healthy living conditions, green-rump parrotlets can survive for around 20 years.