Lovebirds:
"How To Care For Lovebirds"
Lovebirds are some of the smallest of the
parrots ranging in size from 4 to 7 inches. They are comparable in size to the
Budgerigars, or Parakeets. They make excellent pets because of their size and
because they allow people in apartments to enjoy the beauty of a parrot without
the noise and space requirements. Lovebirds live up to 15-18 typically years with proper
care.
If you’re considering adding a Lovebird to
your family, you might want to ask yourself these questions:
1) Do I have a safe and appropriate space available for this bird?
2) Do I understand that owning this bird will be a life-long commitment?
3) Am I willing and able to spend supervised time with this bird outside of the
cage? |
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4) Will the natural calls and sounds of this bird
be bothersome to me or anyone in my family?
5) Will I, or another mature responsible person, take on the responsibility of
caring for this bird?
If you can answer yes to each of these,
congratulations! A Lovebird may be the perfect choice for your new family pet.
If you wan to raise a
lovebird that's thrilled to spend time with you we can show you how!
Lovebirds originated in Africa and Madagascar and
are now some of the most popular of all parrots. They are energetic, curious,
and come in a wide variety of colors. They love to chew on things, so providing
safe chew toys is a must. They also love to take baths, so you’ll want to
include a shallow bowl for them to bathe in.
Lovebirds can also be territorial, and that may
include choosing one family member over the others. They chatter quite loudly
but are nowhere near as noisy as their larger cousins.
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Although Lovebirds chatter
quiet a bit, and they can learn to mimic the human voice, most do not
learn to talk. Just because they don’t talk back doesn’t mean that you
shouldn’t talk with them when you give it the care and attention that it
craves.
You may actually be surprised to hear a
word or phrase slip from their little beak. The more time and attention
given to your Lovebird, the less likely your bird will develop behavior
problems like biting or feather picking. |
There are nine species of lovebirds; eight of the
nine can be purchased as pets. The eight species available as pets are:
1. Abyssinian Lovebirds
5. Fischer’s Lovebirds
2. Red-faced Lovebirds
6. Masked Lovebirds (Black-masked or
3. Nyasa Lovebirds (Lilian’s) 7.
Madagascar Lovebirds Yellow-collared Greyheaded
4. Black-cheeked or Black-faced 8. Peach-faced or Rosy-faced
The Black-collared Lovebird is generally not available as a pet because it does
not do well in captivity.
Don’t expect to purchase a
huge 3x4 foot cage for your Lovebird. They need an appropriately sized
cage that is large enough they have move around freely while still
having the security they need when they’re home alone.
It is often recommended that instead of buying one lovebird, you buy two
because they are such social birds. You know best the time you have to
devote to a bird or birds. |
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Don’t expect to purchase a huge 3x4 foot cage for
your Lovebird. They need an appropriately sized cage that is large enough they
have move around freely while still having the security they need when they’re
home alone. It is often recommended that instead of buying one lovebird, you buy
two because they are such social birds. You know best the time you have to
devote to a bird or birds.
Lovebirds enjoy variety, much like their human family. A commercially prepared
pellet, specially formulated for their nutritional needs, can be supplemented
with fruits, seeds, and vegetables. Fresh greens, such as spinach or kale, are
very beneficial. Some owners even share their own meal with their lovebird. Of
course, you will have to decide if you’re comfortable doing this, but lovebirds
can eat quite a few human foods.
Lovebirds are the easiest of the parrot family to keep. They aren’t extremely
destructive and they aren’t particularly loud even though they chatter all day.
They may try to “discipline” you with their beak, but you can’t allow them to do
so. Teach them through proper training and patience that biting is not
acceptable. Before long, your dominance will be established and the biting will
be a thing of the past.
These little colorful birds truly can be great companions. They live to be
nearly 30 years old, so it’s important to establish and maintain an affectionate
relationship with your Lovebird. After all, this relationship may last as long
as some of your human relationships. For more information on
developing a loving,
long lasting relationship with your lovebird sign up for our free
newsletter. |
