If a customer is looking for a small, intelligent pet that is cute, friendly and quiet, a parrotlet may be the answer. These birds are ideal for both the novice and the experienced bird owner.

Parrotlets, the smallest parrots in the world, are little birds with short wedge-shaped tails and large beaks for their size. Most species are less than five inches long and weigh less than 30 grams. They are relatively new to the pet trade, and a sure attention grabber. Everyone who sees one wants to know, "What kind of bird is that?"

The most popular species in the pet trade are the Pacific, Mexican and green-rumped parrotlets. Other species are rare. Some people believe green rumps are the most gentle, although all three species can make nice pets if they are handfed and properly socialized.

Most parrotlets are primarily green. Patches of yellow, gray and blue identify the species, subspecies and sex. A healthy parrotlet will be alert, have shiny feathers, a clean vent and clean feet. Parrotlets can live up to 20 years.

Parrotlets are sexually dimorphic, which means the sex of the bird can be determined by looking at it. In the commonly available species, males have a varying amount of vivid or deep blue on their rumps and also have shades of vivid blue on primary and secondary wing feathers. The females always lack the blue markings on the wings.

There are many beautiful mutations of Pacific parrotlets. These include blue, dark blue, yellow, cinnamon, fallow, lutino, albino, white, dark green and blue-fallow. Although these birds are lovely, it is important to remind customers that a mutation parrotlet may not be as hardy and may have a shorter fife span than a normal green parrotlet.

Parrotlets come from the same regions as larger parrots such as macaws, Amazons, conures and Pionus. Their range spreads from the arid tropical zone of western Mexico, along the West Coast just below Baja, Calif., to the southern most parts of Brazil and from the east to west coasts of South America. They inhabit Trinidad and have been introduced to the Netherlands Antilles and the West Indies.

Personality

These small parrots often have a feisty, courageous nature that belies their tiny size. They are most closely related to the Amazon species, and many people refer to them as "Amazons in pint-sized bodies" because of their often fearless nature. They are bold, playful, clownish, fearless and determined.

Parrotlets frequently learn to talk. They have limited talking ability, but with patience and practice, can learn to say several words, short phrases, and many sounds and whistles. Their voices are small in proportion to their size and sometimes it is hard to recognize words. Their natural sounds are very pleasant chirps. The lack of noise makes them ideal for apartment or condominium dwellers.

Pet Quality

If you are interested in selling a parrotlet as a pet, it is best to get a hand-fed, well-socialized bird. Parrotlets can become nippy if nibbling is not discouraged from a young age. This means it is a good idea to advise customers to not allow even gentle nibbling of their ear lobes, skin or fingers. This gentle nibbling can turn to an unpleasant bite when the bird matures. Of course, compared to the bite of a larger bird, it is relatively painless.

Parrotlets are very active, playful birds. They need a roomy cage to keep them busy. Because of their playful nature, it is best to get them a cage that is large enough for their acrobatics. A parakeet-sized cage might seem right for their size, but it is better to take a step up to a lovebird or cockatiel-sized cage. The bar spacing should be no larger than half an inch so the birds cannot get their small heads caught between the bars. It's always best to recommend the largest cage the customer can afford.

They love a variety of interesting toys from which they can swing and hang, as well as mirrors and ladders. They need a stimulating environment so they don't become bored. We suggest to your customers that they purchase lots of extra toys so they can rotate them weekly to keep their parrotlet amused.

Many parrotlets happily enjoy playing on a small gym outside the cage. However, remember that they are very small and should be supervised at all times when out of the cage. They tend to like to hide behind cushions, which can have obviously dire results if the owner doesn't know where they are at any given moment. I have heard a number of stories of parrotlets being stepped on. If the bird is not on your shoulder or in its cage, keep your eye on it. Some customers may want to buy more than one playpen, to give their parrotlet a second home in more than one room.

A hand-fed parrotlet kept singly can make a wonderful pet. It is not a good idea to keep two or more together as pets ,because they are likely to bond to each other and, as a result, have no need for human interaction. If a prospective owner wants two parrotlet pets, suggest that they keep them in separate cages.

Interaction with Other Birds

Although parrotlets enjoy being around lots of different people, they do not always enjoy interaction with other birds. Very often a parrotlet, especially a Pacific, will attack much larger birds without regard for their own small size. Particularly when they become mature enough to breed, they can become especially hostile toward other birds. Parrotlets have been reported to attack much larger birds. For example, I've heard of a parrotlet attack a Rosella more than three times her size, which resulted in the Rosella losing a toe. Do not allow parrotlets to be unsupervised around other birds.

Care and Training

Parrotlets, like their Amazon cousins, can be quite willful. It is important to socialize and train them the exact same way you would a larger parrot such as an Amazon. Teach the "up" command from the beginning and use it at all times. Remove the bird from its cage rather than let it wander out on its own, again using the "up" command.

We ncourage your customers to buy a book about parrots to go home with their parrotlet. A good choice is Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Well-Behaved Parrot.

These feisty little birds are often quite willing to be handled by all family members as well as visitors. Generally, they are not one-person birds which makes them ideal for a family atmosphere. Advise your customers that proper handling and consistent socialization and training keeps these birds happy and well-adjusted as pets. To ensure their pet quality, spend some time with parrotlets in your shop every day.

Diet

Parrotlets play hard and use a lot of energy. They need top quality nutrition. A healthful diet of a variety of foods is the best. Parrotlets thrive on a basic diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, seed and pellets. They should also receive whole wheat bread, cooked rice, pasta and cooked dried beans. If your customer is worried about the time it will take to prepare food, there is many commercial heat and serve parrot mixes available. If fresh fruits and vegetables are difficult to obtain, frozen vegetables may be thawed to room temperature and substituted.

Although they are smaller than most budgies, because parrotlets are true parrots they should not be given parakeet food. Instead, encourage their owners to buy them small or mini pellets and small hookbill seed.

A few foods are mildly to severely toxic to birds. Remind future owners to never feed birds chocolate, avocado, seeds from apples, or pits from peaches, cherries or apricots. Caffeine is another danger. A sip of soda, coffee, or tea can put the bird in danger. Alcohol or tobacco products are deadly

Parrotlets, with their big bird personalities and small size, can make great pets for customers looking for a relatively quiet, intelligent companion.

PARROTLET BASICS 

• Parrotlets make good family birds because they enjoy interaction with many people. They are not one-person birds.
• in spite of their small size, parrotlet are true parrots. They are frequently compared to their larger Amazon cousins.
• Parrotlets need a large cage and lots of toys to keep them busy. Consider buying extra toys to rotate on a weekly basis to prevent boredom.
• Parrotlets do well on a balanced diet of pellets, seeds, fruits, vegetables and grains.
• In spite of their tiny voices, these birds can learn to talk. Be patient. Be aware not all birds will talk. Enjoy your parrotlet for its personality regardless of whether it ever learns to talk.
• Parrotlets need frequent handling to remain tame.
• A parrotlet is a good choice if you live in an apartment or condo because these birds are fairly quiet.
• Parrotlets do not get along well with other birds. They may attack and injure a bird that is much larger than they are.
• It is easy for a tiny bird to get lost in a house. They need constant supervision when they are not in their cages. Consider purchasing a play gym for the rooms you are in frequently so your parrotlet can hang out with you without always being on your shoulder.