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Basic Lovebird Care

© Mary Wilson

Tame hand-fed lovebirds are curious, intellegent little birds who love to explore their world and everything in it. These little birds are hardly ever still, instead bouncing and playing with anything and everything. Not even something as innocent as a piece of paper is safe, for these bundles of feathers enjoy nothing more than a good piece of paper to shred.

The attractive colors of lovebirds makes them eye-catching in a petstore. However, just like any bird purchase, the propsective owner needs to keep in mind what it takes to care for lovebirds.

Lovebirds can be nippy. This can be overcome with careful, loving guideance. All birds have the potential to bite; therefore, don't think that lovebirds are nippier than any other bird.

Do not make the mistake that your lovebird needs a small cage. These little birds are on the go every minute of their day and at the minimum need a standard size cocatiel cage. The bar spacing should be under 3/4", and keep in mind that a mixture of horizontal and vertical bars is best. For a breeding pair, provide at least a 30x30x18 cage. As with any bird, the more room the better.

Lovebirds thrive on a varied diet. Your lovebird's diet should contain either a pelleted diet, supplemented with fresh fruits, vegtables, boiled eggs, cereals, pasta, rice, and lentils or a good seed mixture supplements with the same things. Do not make the mistake of feeding one kind of seed. A good seed-based diet will contain a mixture of seeds and grains. Your bird will like most of the same things that you do, so remember if you're eating healthy fruits or vegtables, to share a bit with your bird.

Lovebirds do not sing. Instead, they emit a variety of peeps, cheeps, chirps, and squeaks. Very few birds learn to talk, but with the bountiful personality of lovebirds, this should not detract from their personality. If you own a lovebird, be prepared for shrill whistles. These birds have an opinion about everything that goes on in their world and aren't afraid to voice it.

Finally, what color lovebird do you want? Pick a color. Lovebirds come in a wide variety of color mututations from yellow, green, violet, blue, and any combination thereof.

Lovebirds are often overlooked as a single pet because as a pair they form a strong bond. Bonded birds will only seek out the company of the other lovebird, and while their antics are cute to watch, they don't make for an interesting owner/bird relationship. So, the next time you are thinking about adding a dynamic, colorful bird to your home, think about a lovebird.

The copyright of the article Basic Lovebird Care in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish Basic Lovebird Care in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.