LOVE BIRDS

LOVE BIRDS

A lovebird is a type of parrot Their name comes from the fact that they are very sociable and affectionate When they bond with their mate it usually lasts their entire life Though its possible to have only one its best to keep the birds in pairs

The lovebird is short and stocky Its considered to be one of the smallest parrots in the world Though many lovebirds are green they can come in many colors The average life span of a lovebird can be anywhere between 10 to 15 years There are 9 different species so how can we know the difference They can be identified by their colors and markings each species has their own unique color scheme Lovebirds were basically unknown until the 1600s Some Europeans touring Africa saw the birds and decided to write about them The first lovebirds were imported into Europe in the 19th century but by the 20th century many were being imported into both Europe and the US The lovebird can be found in Africa and in Madagascar It prefers a dry and open area The lovebird can lay between 3 to 6 eggs at a time and it usually takes about 22 days for the eggs to hatch The baby birds generally leave the nest within 5 weeks of being born When in the wild lovebirds like to live in small flocks Their diet consist of grass seeds fruit and vegetables

Lovebirds are popular pets Breeding lovebirds is a big business Though some owners may have lovebirds from the wild most are purchased through breeders The lovebirds that come from the breeders are more tame and should probably adapt to their new environment easier then lovebirds from the wild Pet owners need to be sure they want lovebirds as their pets If the owners only want one bird then they need to know that a lovebird requires a lot of attention and interaction Thats why its suggested that lovebirds be kept in pairs so they can keep each other company Lovebirds just like humans sometimes dont get along Owners need to make sure their birds are compatible because if theyre not they will fight The lovebird is one of those exotic birds that has been able to adapt to domestication much easier than most other creatures from foreign countries They make great pets as long as the owners understand all that is involved with owning them Maybe its their social ability or the chirping that makes the lovebird such a desirable pet People love having something foreign and exotic to liven up their homes and show off to their neighbors Lovebirds have created a large and loyal following in the world of pet owners Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close to each other not because they are in love with each other Lovebirds can and do mate for life but it doesnt happen every time

Lovebirds are social birds and should be kept in pairs They are very active and curious birds and can even be quite aggressive at times They can chatter all day long with a sometimes very shrill sound Lovebirds are native to Africa and a few nearby islands In their native habitat they are found usually in small flocks of 10 to 20 pairs Lovebirds are of the class Aves the genus Agapornis and members of the Psittaciformes or family of parrots Agapornis comes from the Greek words Agape meaning love and ornis meaning bird

Lovebirds typically live from 10 to 15 years depending a great deal on the care they are given some lovebirds have been known to live to be 20 in captivity There are 9 species of lovebirds of which 8 are available as

· Abyssinian Lovebird

· Redfaced Lovebird

· Madagascar Lovebird Grayheaded

· Black cheeked Lovebired Blackfaced

· Fischers Lovebird

· Masked Lovebird Black Masked

· Nyasa Lovebird Lilians

· Peachfaced Lovebird Rosyfaced

· Madagascar

· Redfaced

· Peachfaced

· Abyssinian

· Fischers

· Nyasa

· Black cheeked

If you are a first time or novice lovebird owner dont choose a bird that you think may be sick choose the healthiest bird you can find Many sicknesses can be cured but better to leave these birds for experienced owners Dont buy a sick lovebird because you feel sorry for it. If possible get a certificate of health from the breeder or pet shop guaranteeing that a replacement will be made if the lovebird becomes sick or wont breed Lovebirds are not rare there are a lot of them around to choose from So take your time and select only birds that you really like the coloring .Lovebirds should be kept in pairs one female and one male They very much enjoy each others company although dont be alarmed if they have occasional spats with each other

If a pair of lovebirds constantly fight then its best to find each of them another mate If you are buying birds from a breeder make sure the breeder will exchange birds if they are not compatable As a general rule only one pair of birds should be kept per cage Keep one or more cages far enough apart from each other so they do not allow birds to be able to peck at each other. Lovebirds need between 10 to 12 hours of rest a night Do not keep your birds in rooms with televisions or other noisy devices when its time for the birds to roost Total darkness is not advised either use a small 7 watt bulb in the room to provide enough night light for the bird to find its perch and drink or feed if needed

Keep all electrical wires extension cords etc completely hidden and unavailable to the birds

Never use Kerosene or similar type heaters that give off fumes Coal and wood stoves are no nos No matter how hard you may try a wood burner will emit fumes and smoke into your home that may kill your lovebird If you have a home with a wood burner completely isolate a room only for your birds and use an infrared or electric heater

A fairly constant 80 degrees Farenheit temperature is about right for lovebirds

Its not a good idea to keep finches cockatiels rosellas or budgies with lovebirds