Pet Care
Caring for your Lovebirds
Lovebirds are colourful, intelligent, curious and friendly birds. They are relatively easy to care for. Lovebirds thrive on the company of their own kind, so should be kept in pairs or larger groups. Lovebirds need daily exercise and are most active during the day. They sleep at night.
Types of Lovebird
Lovebirds are the second smallest species of parrot and can live up to 20 years. Lovebirds come in a range of colours and markings. They are usually green or yellow with pink, orange and blue highlights in either peach-faced or masked varieties.
Housing
Lovebirds can be housed outdoors in a purpose-built aviary. Lovebirds are very active and love to hop from perch to perch. The cage should have horizontal bars to allow climbing. It is possible to house Lovebirds indoors; the cage just needs to be large enough. Lovebirds kept indoors will need to be let out of their cage daily to exercise. Make sure you keep all windows and doors closed during the exercise period! You should also provide a bath for your bird, either a shallow bowl placed in the base of the cage or fixed to the side of the cage. Lovebirds enjoy being sprayed with tepid water!
Feeding your Lovebirds
In the wild Lovebirds eat grains, seeds and vegetation. A quality Parakeet/Cockatiel food mix makes a good basic diet. Small pieces of fruit and vegetables can be offered as treats. Avoid offering avocado, lemon, lettuce or potatoes. Cuttlefish helps grind the beak down and also provides vitamins. Food and drinks designed for human consumption should not be given to your Lovebirds, as they can be harmful.
Behaviour and temperament
Lovebirds are not solitary birds, so will prefer the company of their own kind. If kept in pairs (hen with cocks), although if keeping several birds together, either sex should be fine. For large avaries, it is usually best to keep more hens than cocks. It is not unknown for cocks to fight over the hens. Lovebirds can be mixed with other small parakeets, such as Budgerigars. Lovebirds are lively, active and very vocal birds! They can emit a truly ear-piercing shriek when they want your attention. Lovebirds can be a challenge to tame. Patience and perseverance is required. Encourage him to accept small treats through the cage bars to begin with. Move onto stroking your Lovebird with a small stick a couple of times a day. Repeat the process several times a day, and then encourage him to jump onto the stick. Repeat the process again through the door of the cage rather than the bars. Finally, repeat again using your hands instead of your stick. This process can take month of work – so be patient!
Handling your Lovebird
When holding your lovebird, ensure your palm covers its back and wings. Use your middle and index finger to surround the bird’s neck. Be very gentle. Lovebirds will bite if they feel stressed.
Breeding
Lovebirds can be mated from about a year and will produce a clutch of 4-6 eggs in approximately 23 days. Breeding Lovebirds requires plenty of commitment of time and effort. You should seek expert advice before considering keeping a breeding pair.
Health problems
Lovebirds can get lice and mites in their feathers. Sprays can treat these conditions. Excessive moulting can be caused by stress or temperature fluctuations. Lovebirds will need their nails clipped several times a year – consult your vet Fresh drinking water should always be available.