Lovely Lovebirds

This bird is in the parrot family and they have been kept as pets for over 400 years. There are nine species in all and they are native to Africa. These birds are about 6 inches long, making them about the same size as a budgie. The “normal” or the color most often found in the wild has a dark green body, iridescent blue rump and a bright reddish face, otherwise known as the Peach Face. Some other more common types you may run across are the masked and the Fischers. In captivity lovebirds come in a wide variety of colorful mutations.

Lovebirds make great pets, their small size and relatively low price make them an ideal first pet. They will form a strong bond to those family members who handle them frequently and reach a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. It is best to acquire your lovebird just after it has finished weaning. Some people have heard and believe that lovebirds should be kept in pairs. Actually a lovebird will be more affectionate and less inclined to be nippy if it is kept as a single pet. As long as you are going to spend a lot of time with your bird out of its cage, you will substitute as its companion.

The best diet for the lovebird is a pelleted diet with a mixture of fruits and vegetables. They are also partial to fresh cut corn on the cob cut into 1-inch rounds, leafy greens, carrots and yams. Also be sure to remove these foods from the cage before having a chance to spoil, this is particularly important in our hot south Florida climate. Cuttlebone should always be provided to all birds as a source of calcium. Water supply is best provided by a fountain attached onto the cage as they tend to mess up a water bowl quickly.

Cage requirements should be as large as possible. Lovebirds enjoy playing, so toys are also necessary. They enjoy chewing soft wood and like swinging from rings and ropes. It is important to remember to keep wings trimmed in order to prevent injury due to household collision. Also, remove leg bands so they do not become entangled in toys and cause leg fractures.