Lovebirds
Lovebird is the common name for the genus Agapornis, a small group of parrots in the Old-World parrot family Psittaculidae. Of the nine species in the genus, all are native to the African continent, with the grey-headed lovebird being native to the African island of Madagascar. Social and affectionate, the name comes from the parrots' strong, monogamous pair bonding and the long periods which paired birds spend sitting together. Like other parrot species these birds bond for life and often grieve when losing their partner.
There are 9 species of Lovebirds, but only 3 are often kept as pets, peachface, masked and fischer.
Peachface Lovebird
Size: 17-18cm
weight: 40-60 grams
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Masked Lovebird
Size: 14.5cm
weight: 43-50 grams
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Fischer Lovebird
Size: 14cm
weight: 43-58 grams
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Facts
- Lovebirds are very cheeky and love to cuddle and hide in your clothes.
- Although they are a parrot they do not tend to talk. They may learn to mimic a few whistles or noises.
- Lovebirds Are One of the Smallest Parrot Species.
- Lovebirds Are Not Always Best Kept in Pairs, if you want to have a close bond with your bird, it is best to keep them alone.
- Lovebirds are very active and smart birds which need a lot of mental stimulation and several hours out of cage time a day.
Cage and Accessories
Once you have your cage place it in the corner of the room, preferably near a window. This will give your bird an excellent outdoor view. However, the enclosure should not be in a spot where it will receive direct sunlight or draft. Be sure to cover your birds cage at night.
- Cage size: minimum sizes 60cm x 41cm x 41cm, larger is always better! Bar spacing (1.27 cm - 1.60 cm).
- Perches: Natural branches in different thicknesses and structures.
- Toys: wooden toys, swings, bells, cat balls with bells, foraging toys, rope toys (Avoid toys made of cotton or synthetic rope as your bird can get tangled in the threads or swallow them leading to severe injuries. Safe options are sisal rope or superior rope).
- Cuddle house or nest- Lovebirds love to sleep in tents or houses. But best to remove if you notice hormonal issue in your bird.
- Food dishes, water dish
- Bird bath
- Cuttle fish bone
Daily Food
Diet is the most important aspect of Lovebird care.
An epic cage setup or how well you train them won’t even matter unless they’re eating a nutritionally balanced diet.
- 30% Quality pellets
- 10% Lovebird seed mix
- 30% Fresh vegetables/ Soaking Seed
- 20% Protein such as Rice, Quinoa, beans
- 5% Fruit
- 5% Training treats (Sunflower seeds, millet spray)
Feed Composition: Aim for 40% feed with around 15% protein, 8% fat, and 3% fibre.
Lovebirds are parrots and need fresh fruit and vegetables along with healthy protein on a daily basis.
Care and Cleaning
Daily:
- Check and replace food and water, clean dishes if necessary.
- Remove any decaying food from the cage and tray.
- Clean and refill birdbath if needed.
Weekly clean:
- Remove all accessories from the cage including the bird.
- Remove any solid waste you can see.
- Clean the cage and accessories with apple cider vinegar or dish soap mixture.
- Rinse the cage thoroughly and let it dry.
- Put your cage back together.
Health
to keep your lovebird healthy here are some things to consider.
- Keep the cage and food clean to avoid bacteria or fungi growing.
- Feed your bird a well-balanced diet. An only seed diet will cause deficiencies in your bird causing it to become ill.
- Keep out of direct sunlight and drafts.
- Birds have a very sensitive respiratory system. Airborne substances that may be harmless to us can be deadly for birds. Such as cleaning products, perfumes, scented candles, Teflon fumes, burnt food.
- If you notice your bird acting differently than usual, not eating, sleeping a lot, sitting fluffed up, then seek medical help.