Lovebirds

Information About Lovebirds

Physical Appearance of Lovebirds

Temperament of Lovebirds

A Lovebird is curious, funny, and playful. Lovebirds are also known to be aggressive and territorial, especially towards other pets. Experts say that the female Lovebirds are more jealous and territorial compared to male ones. The birds enjoy chattering and squawking and when they want attention, they’ll make loud chirps.

Lovebirds are very social and will form strong bonds with their paired mates and caregivers. If you’re looking for a cuddly bird, then a Lovebird is the perfect pet. Lovebirds become so attached to their caregivers that they can attack other pets that you give attention to. 

When buying a Lovebird, We recommend buying a baby Lovebird that’s fully weaned and knows how to feed from the hands of its caregiver. Getting a young bird makes it easier to fully train them, otherwise the Lovebirds are known to be stubborn and possibly aggressive. Once you take your bird home, spend time with them so they will become used to being handled. Take time every day to gently stroke their feathers so that they become used to your attention.

Training Lovebirds

Their Compatibility with Children

The funny, entertaining, and curious character of Lovebirds make them ideal pets for kids at least 6 years old. Children can handle a lot of the responsibilities for caring for your birds but shouldn’t be given the sole responsibility of taking care of them. 

Lovebirds crave attention especially if kept alone and children may not give them all the attention that they need. When a Lovebird wants attention they’ll most likely make very loud chirps which can frighten children.

Some Lovebirds especially those not used to handling can become aggressive and even bite people. Until you know how your child and your bird will react with one another, children shouldn’t handle the Lovebird without adult supervision.

Best Habitat for Lovebirds

Lovebirds are very active birds and require spacious cages to let them move around and not feel cramped. A standard cage for housing a pair of Lovebirds should be at least 18″ width x 18″ length x 24″ height. The bars should be 3/8 inches wide to keep your birds from squeezing through. The bigger the cage, the better because it will give your birds enough space to move around while leaving space for feeding bowls, perches, and toys.

Perches are a necessity for Lovebirds because they help them exercise their feet and also prevent arthritis. Perches should be different sizes so that your bird doesn’t hurt their feet standing in one position for a long time. The minimum perch size should be about a ½ inch in diameter.

The bottom of their cage should have a dropping tray for easier cleaning. We also recommend having a metal grate over the dropping tray so that your Lovebird doesn’t come into contact with the droppings. Lining the bottom of their cage with layers of newspapers is a great way to make cleaning faster and easier.

Habitat Maintenance

Each day at least the top layer of the newspaper substrate should be replaced to avoid mold and fungi growing in their cage. Clean the feeding bowls every day to keep your birds healthy. Deep cleaning the cage using warm soapy water is recommended once a week. When cleaning the cage, also clean the toys and perches. Once the cleaning is done, disinfect the cage using an avian disinfectant and let it dry completely before placing your birds back inside.

Replace any damaged toys or perches to keep your Lovebird from injuring themselves or eating small pieces. We also recommend changing the toys in the cage every few days to keep your birds from getting bored. The toys shouldn’t have any lead or zinc because if eaten they are toxic for your bird.

The Attention a Lovebird Needs

Lovebirds require a lot of attention especially if kept alone. If kept as a pair, the birds may keep each other company reducing their need for human interaction. Spending at least two hours with your lovebird will keep your birds happy and strengthen your bond. If your family has a busy schedule, then Lovebirds aren’t the best pets for your family.

Health Issues

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

Beak and Feather Syndrome is caused by a newly identified virus called circovirus psittacus (PsCV). The virus is spread from bird to bird through contact with saliva, feces or feather dust. The virus has also been found in feed, water and cages that are contaminated with infected bird droppings.

Infected birds usually have symptoms of the disease within 6-12 weeks of contact with the virus, and it can take up to a year for all symptoms to manifest.

Symptoms of Beak and Feather Syndrome

Symptoms of Beak and Feather Syndrome include:

• Feather loss
• Discoloration of the feathers
• Deformed beaks
• Overgrown claws
• Swollen joints

In more severe cases, beaks can become fused together or a bird may develop difficulty balancing or walking. The virus can also cause weight loss and weakness in infected birds. In extreme cases the disease can lead to death.

Feather Plucking and Mutilation Disease

Feather Plucking and Mutilation Disease is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental, social, and/or physiological factors. Environmental causes can include overcrowding in cages or aviaries, not enough perching space, inadequate nutrition or diet, inadequate exposure to natural sunlight or other forms of light, and stress due to changes in the bird’s environment. 

Social causes can include trauma caused by excessive handling or physical contact, as well as not enough mental stimulation from toys and activities. Physiological causes can include an underlying medical condition like a vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, infection or parasite infestation.

Candidiasis

Avian candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida albicans. It can affect both wild and domestic birds, though it’s more commonly seen in pet birds. Symptoms of avian candidiasis include flaking or discolored skin, poor feather health, and respiratory distress. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other areas of their body, leading to serious health problems and even death.

Avian candidiasis is most often caused by a weakened immune system, which can be due to stress, poor nutrition, or overcrowding. Certain bird breeds are more susceptible to the infection than others. Treatment for avian candidiasis usually involves antifungal medication, such as fluconazole or nystatin. It’s important to keep your bird’s environment clean and free of potential sources of infections.

If you suspect that your pet bird is suffering from avian candidiasis, it’s important to take them to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Early detection and treatment can prevent more serious health problems.

Parrot Fever or Psittacosis

Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever or avian chlamydiosis, is a contagious bacterial infection caused by the Chlamydia psittaci bacterium. Chlamydia psittaci is mostly found in birds from the Psittaciformes family, such as parrots and macaws.

Symptoms of Avian Psittacosis

The symptoms of avian psittacosis can vary depending on the species affected, but may include:

• Respiratory distress
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

In some cases, birds can also have neurological signs like tremors, seizures or paralysis. Birds with psittacosis can have difficulty breathing and might have signs of eye discharge.

Bathing and Cleaning

Feeding Lovebirds

Seeds and pellets should make up about 80 percent of your Lovebirds diet. A seed and pellet diet isn’t enough nutritionally and should be complemented with fruits, vegetables, and occasional treats. Some of the best fruits for a Lovebird are grapes, mangoes, papayas, and oranges. Healthy vegetables for your bird are broccoli, zucchini, kale, carrots, and squash. Fruits and vegetables not eaten within a few hours should be disposed of because they go bad very fast.

If you can, it’s not a bad idea to sprout seeds before feeding your birds. The seeds should be soaked in water for several days and then rinsed before feeding your birds. If sprouting the seeds is not an option it’s fine to feed them dry seeds. Sprouting the seeds makes them more nutritious and easier to digest for your Lovebird. 

Treats such as nuts, small amounts of yogurt, and dried fruits are also healthy for your bird. The treats should be given in moderation because your bird might refuse healthy food so that they feed on treats. Another method of feeding treats is during training sessions as a reward for good behavior.

It’s important to remember that all food should be chopped into small sizes. Large food can choke your bird or even discourage it from eating.  When feeding Lovebirds make sure that their fruits and vegetables have been thoroughly cleaned to remove any pesticides or chemicals.

Fresh water everyday is very important for your birds. Make sure that the water is in a clean bowl every day so that your bird can drink whenever they get thirsty. It’s important that your bird’s water is chlorine free to prevent digestive problems.

Related Questions:

Can Lovebirds Eat People Food?

Birds enjoy certain cooked foods such as lean meat, cheese, sweet potatoes, eggs, and fish. Junk food such as chocolates and lots of dairy should be avoided because they can get very sick if fed junk food. Alcoholic drinks and caffeine should also not be given to any birds.