Tips for the Care & Feeding of Your Pet Lovebirds

Lovebirds look like mini parrots but that's where the association between 'Lovebirds' and 'mini' ends. Although they are members of the parrot family these birds are quite different. They don't mimic human sounds and are fairly quiet in comparison to most parrots.

The highly effervescent and energetic Lovebirds need to be well fed, well cleaned and well attended. Everything from their cage to their diet, from their toys to their aggressive nature has to be paid special attention to.

Lovebirds enjoy playing with toys and an owner should buy a cage garnished with a variety of bells and blocks. A large cage, about 2 feet by 2 feet, is ideal; it should provide for enough room for the birds to flap their wings and hop around. Horizontal bars serve as handsome perches and I have known some owners to buy perches made from natural materials instead of metal.

Lovebirds are intelligent and can learn to pick the locks of their cages; so ensure that they are secured. Also, keeping a Lovebird with other breeds is not a good idea or is it really safe. The birds are friendly with their own kind, but will fight with other birds, sometimes until death. Toys should be hard so that they can withstand the strong beaks and constant pecking of the bubbly Lovebirds. Ensure that while toys keep the birds busy, they do not overcrowd the cage and limit the birds from flying around.

Dietary preferences of Lovebirds include fresh vegetables and fruits that have to be sliced and diced for them to easily pick with their small beaks. They are fond of seeds and berries that are freshly available in the geographical location you reside in. It is important to have a well balanced diet for the birds and owners should avoid a seed-only diet as that is the easiest to put together.

Lovebirds are also fond of leafy vegetables and sometimes they like to pluck the small leaves off the stem and suck the stem dry. It can be very entertaining watching the birds accomplish this act. As a general rule of thumb, if the produce is fresh and is something you would eat, you can feed it to your bird as well. The constant activity gets the birds thirsty and one should ensure that clean water is always available for them.

Cleaning the cage is a must. Experts would advise a daily clean-up but once in two days is acceptable. A weekly exercise of disinfecting the cage should also be practiced. It is also important to clean and dry the toys and perches so that the birds find it comfortable to play with them. This is also helps in grooming as the birds sharpen their beaks/nails on the perches and toys.

Lovebirds are affectionate and form strong bonds with their owners and mates. If they are acquired at a young age (a few weeks), they get enough time to trust and love their owner. Some owners advise on buying a pair at a time, this is not a must as Lovebirds, appropriately named, fall in love with their owners if a mate is not around.