• Scientific Name: Lorius garrulus
• Common Name/s: CHATTERING LORY
• Sub Species in country / area of origin: Yes 3.  L. g. garrulus,  L. g. flavopalliatus = Yellow backed Chattering Lory,  L. g. morotaianus.
• Origin / Distribution: Indonesia and Moluccan Islands.
• Habitat In Wild: Inhabits forests as well as coastal areas.
• Status In Wild: Declining due to habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade. CITES appendix 2 listing.
• Status In (Australian) Captivity: Rare
• Age To Sexual Maturity:  2 - 3 years
• Best breeding years (estimate):  4th year onwards
• Lifespan (estimate): approx. 20 or more years
• Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic. DNA or surgical sexing is usually necessary
• Mutations: ?
• Availability: Rare. Specialist breeders.
• Temperament: One of the most attractive of the Lories. Can be noisy birds and generally unsuited to urban areas. Not to be housed with other birds due to their aggressive nature.  Can learn to mimic human words and environmental sounds.  A bird kept as a pet or companion bird need lots of human interaction to prevent these birds developing bad behaviours.
• Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $3500
• Description Of Adults:

1. Length: Approx. 300 mm (or approx. 12 inches)
2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
3. Weight: Approx. 200 gms (or approx  7 ozs)

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements: Refer to " Lorikeets & Lories " web page for general details on the housing of Lorikeets & Lories or read on for specific details for this parrot.

With their rarity in Australian aviaries it would be best to give each pair a large aviary of their own.  Not to be housed with other birds due to their aggressive nature.
Only house one pair per aviary.  Double wiring between adjacent aviaries is essential.

Each sub-species should be housed separately due to the possibility of hybridization.  There are hybrids in Australia so care must be taken to ascertain exactly what is on offer prior to purchasing or pairing up each bird.  The 3 pure lines plus hybrids can cause selection problems so get advise and identification from the expert breeders if any doubts exist.
A suspended cage is the preferred housing for these birds.  Overseas breeding is done in suspended cages of 3 metres in length, 1 metre wide and 1 metre high (10 x 3.5 x 3.5 feet).
Can be housed in a parrot style aviary of about 3 - 4 metres long, 1 metre wide and 2.1 metres high (10 - 13 x 3.5 x 7 feet).  The floor should be concrete and easily cleaned.  The aviary flights need double wiring between the flights to avoid aggression and injury to other birds.  If space allows the pairs should not be housed side by side.  It is preferable to have a different species between pairs.
These are active and sometimes noisy birds that like branches to chew, along with other activity items to keep them active and entertained.  These birds love to play with the "play gym" toys that are offered to the pet birds.  Physical and mental activity should be encouraged and this may be beneficial to a healthy breeding pair.
All fixtures, fittings, floor, feed and water bowls must easy to clean and done so on a regular basis.  Don't forget to clean any areas of the wire mesh, walls, perches etc that are contaminated by the food mixes.  A simple hosing with water may not be adequate, so be prepared to use a brush to remove any dried on food.
These birds love to bathe in the water and as many birds leave some wet or dry mix in the water bowl, the automatic water systems that flush out the water bowl on a regular basis can be the best water system.  These systems do not replace the regular manual cleaning of the water bowls.  Stainless steel utensils are ideal.

The Chattering Lory love to bathe in a suitable water bowl or under a sprinkler.

Non toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up. This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. Natural branches can be used for perches. These natural perches will be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced regularly.

Suitable parrot bird toys and parrot bird Gyms can be placed in the aviary or suspended cage.  This will entertain the birds and provide mental and physical stimulation.  Should keep the birds fitter and healthier.

Diet / Feeding: Refer to " Lorikeets & Lories " web page for general details on the feeding of Lorikeets & Lories or read on for specific details for this parrot.

Natural foods in the wild include flowers, nectar, pollen, fruits, insects and insect larvae.

As per Lorikeets & Lories web page

Nesting:  A basic overview only.  Dimensions are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds preferences. Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared. If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice. Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season. Try and keep that one for their exclusive use. Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed. If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.

• Nesting months: May breed year round if conditions are suitable.
• Log / Nest-box:
  • Length / depth 400 - 600 mm (or approx. 20 - 24 inches)
  • Log internal diameter approx. 250 - 300 mm. (or approx. 10 - 12 inches)
  • Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 250-280 mm square (or approx. 10-11 inches square)
  • Diameter of entrance hole approx. 75 mm (or approx.  3 inches)
  • Inspection hole (square or round) 100 mm (or approx  4 inches)
  • A removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
  • Location and height of log / nest-box = in a sheltered part of the aviary and at about 1.5 - 1.8 metres height, but not too close to the roof to cause heat problems in the hotter months.
  • Angle of log or nest box =  45 degrees through to vertical.  Usually vertical.
• Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
• Who incubates the egg/s: Hen / cock / both share.

The Chattering Lory will roost in the nest year round.  Young non breeding birds will roost in the nest year round.

Nest boxes are easy to clean, cheap and easy to replace when they become soiled or damaged.
The nest box is left in the aviary or suspended cage year round as Lories and lorikeets will roost in the nest during the non-breeding season.
Timber nest-boxes generally require a climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance hole. Both logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening about 100 mm (about 4 inches) from the top. The exact size of the entrance hole depends on the size of the species. Many species of parrots like the entrance hole to be just big enough to squeeze through. An appropriate size entrance hole will help to give the birds a feeling of security and confidence to effectively start and raise a clutch of young.

More details on parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of parrot nestbox/log photos can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 1 or 2.  Eggs per nest 2.  Incubation approx. 26 days.  Fledge approx. 10 weeks.  Independent approx. another ? weeks.

Best results are generally obtained with birds that have been paired up at an early age. The Chattering Lory is generally a good reliable parent.

To maximize the numbers of young produced per pair, some breeders remove the first clutch of eggs or young birds and then let the parent birds rear the second clutch. The breeder has to incubate the eggs and hand rear the young.

These birds can become aggressive at breeding season and may attack the keeper. Nest boxes are best positioned so the nest inspection can be carried out from outside the aviary. Nest inspection is best done when the adult birds are out of the nest.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues:  Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

• Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
• Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

• Australian Aviculture
• Australian Birdkeeper
• ABK Vol 13 Issue 3. Jun-July 2000 Page 150-154
• ABK Vol 13 Issue 3. Jun-July 2000 Page 162-165
• ABK Vol  4 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1991 Page 480-482

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