 Keeping
Lovebirds As Pets
Lovebirds: Friendly, inquisitive, colourful, and
intelligent birds that are easy to keep and look
after. The second smallest parrot species, they
originate from Africa and its surrounding islands
and they can live up to 20 years - so choosing them
as a pet is a long-term commitment. Lovebirds like
the company of their own species so are best kept in
pairs or larger groups. If kept indoors they will
need regular daily exercise outside their cage and
are at their most active during the daytime,
sleeping once it gets dark.
Housing
Lovebirds can be housed indoors in a large wire
cage with a plastic base or outdoors in a
purpose-built aviary. The cage should have some
horizontal bars on it to allow climbing – Lovebirds
enjoy hopping from perch to perch. This means most
round cages are unsuitable. Bars should be no wider
than 12mm apart to prevent escape. Kept outdoors,
your aviary should allow room for the birds to fly
around properly. Lovebirds kept indoors will need to
be let out of their cage daily to exercise under
supervision – make sure you keep all doors and
windows closed when you do this. Covering the cage
with a cloth at night will encourage your Lovebird
to settle down for sleep. Keeping masked and
peach-faced birds together is not recommended as
they can fight.
You should provide a bath for your bird, either
fixed to the outside of the cage or a shallow bowl
placed inside the cage – although some birds may
prefer to be sprayed with tepid water instead.
Types of Lovebird
Lovebirds come in a variety of colours and
markings. They are usually green or yellow with
orange, pink, and blue highlights in either
peach-faced or masked varieties.
Feeding
Lovebirds in the wild eat a wide range of seeds,
grains, and vegetation. A quality Cockatiel /
Parakeet food mix makes a good basic diet although
supplements may also be required such as cuttlefish
which acts as a vitamin supplement, environmental
enrichment, and also helps grind the beak down.
Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables can also
be given as treats and fresh drinking water should
always be available. Certain foods can be harmful to
your Lovebird - avoid giving them lettuce, avocado,
lemon, potato, or any sweets or drinks designed for
human consumption.
Looking after your Lovebirds
Exercise & Entertainment:
Lovebirds are curious and highly active birds that
enjoy playing and climbing, so toys are essential to
stimulate them mentally and physically. Lovebirds
may be smaller than cockatiels yet they’re much
louder – they can emit a truly ear-piercing shriek
when they want your attention.
Handling:
Lovebirds can be quite difficult to tame. Purchasing
a pair of hand-reared birds under 4 months old is
recommended. Lovebirds are quite territorial so you
will need patience and perseverance to tame them
successfully. Let them settle in their new
environment, talk to them gently, and gradually get
them used to accepting small treats through the cage
bars before moving on to stick training methods.
Start by gently stroking the birds with a small
stick a couple of times a day, then encourage them
to jump onto the stick. Next, repeat the whole
process through the door of the cage rather than the
bars. Finally, repeat again, using your hands this
time instead of the stick. This is a gradual process
and may take several months of patient work.
To pick up your Lovebird, ensure your palm covers
its back and wings while your middle and index
finger surround the bird’s neck. Be gentle –
Lovebirds will bite if they feel stressed. If
catching an aviary bird use a padded rim net and
never try to catch it in mid flight - always wait
until it is perched safely.
Breeding:
Lovebirds can be mated from about a year old and
will produce a clutch of 4-6 eggs in about 23 days.
As with all pets, breeding Lovebirds requires much
commitment of time and effort. It is recommended
that you therefore seek expert advice and do
appropriate research before considering keeping a
breeding pair and only if you’re certain you can
find good homes for the babies.
Tips for a happy healthy Lovebird
Community:
Lovebirds are not solitary birds by nature, so will
always prefer the company of their own kind. They
can be kept in pairs (hens with cocks) although if
just keeping a few birds together, either sex should
be fine. For larger aviaries it’s usually best to
keep more hens than cocks – otherwise the cock birds
may fight over the hens. You can also mix pairs of
Lovebirds with other small parakeets such as
budgerigars although if kept in a breeding aviary
you shouldn’t mix more than 2 species.
Health:
Lovebirds can get mites and lice in their feathers,
usually treatable by sprays. Excessive moulting can
be caused by temperature fluctuations or stress. As
with all birds, if you are worried about any aspect
of your Lovebird’s health, seek advice from an Avian
veterinarian. For a healthy life, your Lovebird
needs the following:
- A good balanced diet
- Plenty of toys to keep them amused
- Water bottle and feed bowls cleaned daily
- Their nails clipped several times a year –
ask your vet for advice
- A daily bath – essential for their preening
activities
- Regular exercise outside their cage
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