Lovebird Care

Lovebirds are a type of small parrot native to both the African continent and Madagascar. In the wild, lovebirds tend to live in small flocks that travel locally to feed. There are nine different species of lovebirds, some of which have been domesticated to be kept as pets. Lovebirds have a relatively average lifespan among pet birds, most commonly living from ten to fifteen years.

APPEARANCE

One of the most common domesticated lovebirds is the rosy-faced lovebird. This bird is generally a light emerald green, with a pinkish red coloration around the face and the front of the neck. When a lovebird is full grown, it will usually be from 13 to 17 cm in length. Most lovebirds weigh from 40-60 grams, though some lovebirds in captivity can exceed this weight. Lovebirds are classified as being among some of the smallest species of parrots, being somewhat small and stocky in appearance. In the wild, most lovebird species have primarily green color variations, with some of the brighter colors being selectively bred for birds that are kept in captivity.

BEHAVIOR

Most lovebirds like to bathe on a regular basis and will be more than happy with a shallow water dish specifically designed to be a birdbath. If they do not have a bathing dish, they may bathe in their water dish instead. Lovebirds have a very cheerful, active demeanor, being very charming when properly socialized with their owners. Lovebirds are often kept in pairs, which are primarily male-female in order to encourage breeding. If lovebirds are kept alone, they tend to form an extremely strong bond with their owner. However, most pet care experts agree that single lovebirds do require more attention and specialized bird care in order to be content. If you do not have enough time to devote to your lovebird’s social needs, you may want to keep a pair of lovebirds instead.

FEEDING

If you choose to feed your lovebird a seed mix, be sure that it also contains nutritional supplements and pellets in order to ensure that your lovebird receives proper nutrition. Lovebirds have short, blunt beaks which are designed to crack seed shells, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t enjoy other foods as well! You can supplement your lovebird’s diet with certain fresh fruits, vegetables and sprouted grains in order to ensure that they stay in good health.

HOUSING

Lovebirds will be happiest in a spacious cage which has at least two places for them to perch. It is not advised that you use sandpaper perches, as these can actually cause serious damage to a lovebird’s sensitive feet. For a single bird, it is best if you have a cage that has at least 30 inches of horizontal space. For convenience, you may want to have two sets of food and water dishes that you can alternate on a daily basis. This allows you to have time to thoroughly clean each dish in between refills. In addition to this, you may also want to place a shallow birdbath in your lovebird’s cage.