A Beginner’s Guide to Lovebirds
Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close to each
other, not because they are in love with each other. Lovebirds
can and do mate for life, but it doesn’t happen every time.
Lovebirds are social birds and should be kept in pairs.
They are very active and curious birds and can even be quite
aggressive at times. They can chatter all day long with a
sometimes very shrill sound.
Lovebirds are native to Africa and a few nearby islands. In
their native habitat, they are found usually in small flocks
of 10 to 20 pairs.
Lovebirds are of the class Aves, the genus Agapornis and
members of the Psittaciformes, or family of parrots.
Agapornis comes from the Greek words: Agape meaning love,
and ornis meaning bird.
Lovebirds typically live from 10 to 15 years depending a
great deal on the care they are given, some lovebirds have
been known to live to be 20 in captivity.
There are 9 species of lovebirds, of which 8 are available
as pets. They are not related to the South American parrotlets.
Sexually Dimorphic
1. Abyssinian Lovebird
2. Redfaced Lovebird
3. Madagascar Lovebird (Grayheaded)
Sexually Monomorphic (Similar)
1. Black cheeked Lovebired (Blackfaced)
2. Fischer’s Lovebird
3. Masked Lovebird (Black Masked or Yellow collared)
4. Nyasa Lovebird (Lilian’s)
5. Peachfaced Lovebird (Rosyfaced)
Characterized by Eye Rings:
Without Eye Rings:
1. Madagascar
2. Redfaced
3. Peachfaced
4. Abyssinian
With Eye Rings
1. Masked
2. Fischers
3. Nyasa
4. Black cheeked
What To Look For In A Healthy Lovebird
1. Active, alert and curious disposition
2. 4 well formed toes, 2 forward and 2 backward, nails must be complete
3. Bright, round eyes
4. Nostrils clear of discharge
5. Feathers lay tight against the body
6. Smooth beak that closes completely
What To Avoid In A Healthy Lovebird
1. A bird that sits huddled in a corner or on the floor
2. A bird with feathers fluffed up
3. Deformed toes
4. Vent fouled with feces or badly stained
5. Signs of weeping or runny eyes
6. Excessive plucking or excessive missing of feathers
7. Bald spots
8. A squeak, wheezing or other abnormality when breathing
9. Nervous behavior
10. Lethargic behavior
11. Dull or lifeless feathers
12. A bird too large for it’s normal size (birds can and do get fat)
13. Nasal discharge
If you are a first time or novice lovebird owner, don’t choose
a bird that you think may be sick, choose the healthiest bird
you can find. Many sicknesses can be cured, but better to leave
these birds for experienced owners. Don’t buy a sick lovebird
because you feel sorry for it.
If possible get a certificate of health from the breeder or
pet shop guaranteeing that a replacement will be made if the
lovebird becomes sick or won’t breed.
Lovebirds are not rare, there are a lot of them around to choose
from. So take your time and select only birds that you really
like the coloring and personality of.
Keeping Lovebirds as Pets
Lovebirds should be kept in pairs, one female and one male.
They very much enjoy each others company, although don’t
be alarmed if they have occasional spats with each other.
If a pair of lovebirds constantly fight, then it’s best to
find each of them another mate. If you’re buying birds from
a breeder, make sure the breeder will exchange birds if
they are not compatable.
As a general rule, only one pair of birds should be kept
per cage. Keep one or more cages far enough apart from each
other so they do not allow birds to be able to peck at each
other.
When introducing new birds to a home with pre-existing birds,
the new birds may not always be welcomed readily.
Lovebird Behavior
Lovebirds need exercise out of their cages daily.
Remember: Birds Love to Fly
Being cooped up in a cage all the time is not healthy for
them, physically or emotionally. Birds kept in a cage will
often sit on a perch and flap their wings incessantly.
Lovebirds need between 10 to 12 hours of rest a night. Do
not keep your birds in rooms with televisions or other noisy
devices when it’s time for the birds to roost. Total darkness
is not advised either, use a small 7 watt bulb in the room
to provide enough night light for the bird to find it’s
perch and drink or feed if needed.
Keep all electrical wires, extension cords, etc, completely
hidden and unavailable to the birds.
Never use Kerosene or similar type heaters that give off fumes.
Coal and wood stoves are no nos. No matter how hard you may’
try, a wood burner will emit fumes and smoke into your home
that may kill your lovebird. If you have a home with a wood
burner completely isolate a room only for your birds and
use an infrared or electric heater.
A fairly constant 80 degrees Farenheit temperature is about
right for lovebirds.
It’s not a good idea to keep finches, cockatiels, rosellas,
or budgies with lovebirds.
By: Dave Cole
About the Author:
Copyright
Categories: Parrot Raising Tips Tags: Genus Agapornis, Greek Words, Parrotlets
Crucial Lovebird Breeding Basics
Before you start breeding your Lovebirds, you have got to first make certain that crucial things are well provided. Breeding Lovebirds need to be healthy and in their top excellent condition.
Basic Breeding for Lovebirds is that you can cross breed any specie, but here’s the catch, breeding different types of Lovebirds may result in major issues. Issues due to the child taking on the characteristic of both parents that might result to a powerful defiance of the offspring. So therefore, it is recommended to only put or breed same types or species of Lovebird to avoid such mishaps.
Again, before breeding your Lovebirds confirm they’re in first-class condition and not substantially fed, and also they need to be living in a clean cage. Pellets and seed mix don’t actually compensate enough nourishment to your Lovebirds, it is the fresh fruit and vegetables that keep them healthy to enable them to have fruitful eggs and raise powerful offspring.
One of most crucial things is to be certain you have the right couple. Lovebirds sex can not be simply identified and that often makes Lovebird breeding not a straightforward task.
This is cured by DNA testing, though that may need an expensive expansion for your Lovebirds, it is the surest, best way. You will have to pay for a kit to get a sample and to test it at the laboratory. There are some visible differences you can see between the sexes, though other owners would say you may also see them in the alternative sex.
There are 2 different breeding methodologies, first, is in giant bird house groups or individual pairs in different cages. If you need to govern the color mutation of your Lovebirds, you may need to select the second technique. Also you can reproduce indoors, though there are some critical things you may want to add in your Lovebird breeding list if you would like to take this option.
First, the quantity of daylight the birds will be exposed in the day. You can supply special lights for this reason. Ensure you have lots of space for your Lovebirds breeding. They need to be ready to flap their wings and not hit anything, you’ve got to ensure they can play and climb for exercise. If you don’t have enough room, Lovebird breeding isn’t commended. It won’t be good for your pets.
Another choice is using a nestbox. It can give the most satisfactory results, it permits interaction between the hen and the cock, while the hen is nesting. Humidity has a very important role in the successful hatching of the eggs. Also you have to remember and to add to your Lovebird breeding list that you’ve got to consistently offer nesting material, to keep the nest fresh and keep the humidity level. Simply make sure these are not poisonous to your Lovebirds.
Nourishment determines the fitness of your Lovebird breeding pairs and their young. Foods must be generally, fresh fruit and veges. There are some circumstances that an egg doesn’t hatch. This is natural if there are more eggs that haven’t hatched in that particular group of eggs, for they may not have nested well, and failed to have a large amount of heat from the hen. This is a natural circumstance there are eggs not intended to hatch. Ensure you are knowledgeable on Lovebird breeding before taking any step.
By: Elise Gonzalez
About the Author:
Elise Gonzalez is a lovebird expert. Do You Want To Know How To Take Care Of Your Lovebird & Build Great Friendship With Your Bird? Discover more information about Lovebird Breeding, visit http://www.lovebirdscaresecrets.com.
Categories: Parrot Raising Tips Tags: Dna Testing, Fresh Fruit And Vegetables, Methodologies