Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.
    Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.
    Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.
    Ebook122 pages1 hour

    Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.

    By Roger Rodendale

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Lovebirds make the most wonderful pets. It can be great fun to have a lovely pair of birds at home , chirping and playing. The reason why lovebirds are so popular is the fact that they are extremely active and entertaining creatures. They are also the smallest parrots in the world, originating from Africa. But, don’t let their tiny exterio

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIMB Publishing
    Release dateJul 13, 2017
    ISBN9781912057139
    Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.

    Read more from Roger Rodendale

    Related to Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.

    Related ebooks

    Birds For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      BFFs: Best Feathered Friends

      Oct 7, 2020

      BFFs: Best Feathered Friends
      4 min read

    • Article

      How I Keep My Parrots Happy

      Apr 27, 2022

      ASET of official needs are included in the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. Sixteen years later, I still try to comply with them although my circumstances have changed due to age and widowhood. This year, I have rehomed or sold my mixed flock of various s

      4 min read

    • Article

      A Familiar Enigma

      Feb 23, 2022

      THE blackbird (Turdus merula) is a common bird found throughout the UK. If you look out into most gardens in this country, the bird you will probably see first is a blackbird hopping across the lawn pecking at any small morsel found to eat. And, of c

      5 min read

    • Article

      Alien Offspring

      Aug 5, 2021

      Alien Offspring
      2 min read

    • Article

      Love bugs 2

      Feb 12, 2020

      Love bugs 2
      6 min read

    • Article

      5 Gentle Chicken Breeds

      Feb 12, 2021

      5 Gentle Chicken Breeds
      5 min read

    • Article

      Sporting Answers

      Jun 2, 2021

      Sporting Answers
      8 min read

    • Article

      Reasons To Choose Diamonds

      May 17, 2023

      Reasons To Choose Diamonds
      2 min read

    • Article

      Love On The Wing

      Feb 8, 2023

      Love On The Wing
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Story Of The Blues

      Jan 5, 2022

      I HOPE that the following article will be helpful to those interested in breeding parrot species. Although it relates to blue mutation ring-necks, there are a number of interesting elements to this work. They include a great deal about feeding and ge

      4 min read

    • Article

      Birdkeeping On A Grand Scale

      May 31, 2023

      CAGE & Aviary Birds: How did you get into birds? Mike Fox: For me, the obsession started at six years old, with two wallpaper-strippers (budgies), then a zebra finch and diamond dove, all in my parents’ kitchen. A neighbour of mine kept racing pigeon

      4 min read

    • Article

      Ribbit, Ribbit

      Sep 1, 2019

      Ribbit, Ribbit
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Thinking Never Stops

      Jun 1, 2022

      The Thinking Never Stops
      4 min read

    • Article

      Seen For The First Time In Budgies

      Aug 24, 2022

      I STARTED breeding budgies when I was 13 and over 57 years I have observed many different traits, habits and the ways they act in differing situations. A time that has always been of great interest to me has been when I pair up to start breeding, and

      3 min read

    • Article

      Cut-throats Of Many Colours

      Aug 25, 2021

      AVIARIES, whether indoor or outdoor, as well as spacious breeding cages, are sufficient for keeping cut-throat finches. In an aviary, the birds will appreciate plants to hide in from time to time. Bear in mind, though, that cut-throat finches spend q

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Christmas robin

      Nov 9, 2023

      The Christmas robin
      6 min read

    • Article

      Ladybird, Ladybird…

      Jan 25, 2024

      Ladybird, Ladybird…
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Much-loved Finch... Or Canary

      Dec 8, 2021

      A Much-loved Finch... Or Canary
      5 min read

    • Article

      Shrike Memories And Wood Swallow Farewells

      Oct 13, 2021

      THE strange and frustrating breeding season is over, with everything in a heavy moult. Most of my softbill friends say the same thing. Now is the time to get birds through the moult as quickly as possible, without any issues. The current-bred softbil

      2 min read

    • Article

      Chicken Breeds GALORE

      Jun 29, 2018

      Chicken Breeds GALORE
      6 min read

    • Article

      Love Bugs

      Apr 30, 2020

      Love Bugs
      7 min read

    • Article

      Blackbird Breeding And Colour Mutations

      Mar 9, 2022

      IN SPRING, blackbirds are often quickly out of the traps, beaten only by the mistle thrush. Expect nest-building activity in late March. You have to supply these birds with sloppy mud and a mix of materials – dried grasses and rootlets – so that they

      4 min read

    • Article

      GENETS Poetry In Motion

      Dec 2, 2021

      GENETS Poetry In Motion
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health.

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Lovebirds. Lovebirds as pets. Lovebird Keeping, Pros and Cons, Care, Housing, Diet and Health. - Roger Rodendale

      Introduction

      Lovebirds are among the smaller members of the parrot family. These beautiful and highly social birds have been domesticated for over 100 years and are the most popular choices for pet birds. These active birds are a treat to watch and will captivate you with their tireless climbing, chewing and playing. Indeed, these birds are extremely charming. But, one common misconception about lovebirds is that they are easy to maintain and economical. In comparison to the other species of parrots, these birds only lack in size. Besides that, they are just as demanding for attention, just as hard to care for and just as noisy.

      So, the real question is whether you are ready to take on the responsibility of bringing home a pair of these gorgeous birds. To begin with, lovebirds are very loving and social. They need interaction to thrive. That means, a lot of responsibility comes upon the owners to ensure that they are able to give their birds the attention that they need. If you are constantly travelling or stay away for long hours at work, you will probably end up with an unhappy little bird. That is the top consideration for anyone who wants to bring a lovebird home.

      However, for beginner bird parents, lovebirds make great pets. In comparison to other parrot breeds, they are easier to maintain. Their size allows you to keep them in your home quite easily. In addition to all this, a beginner can get a lot of support from fellow lovebird owners because of the popularity of the breed. Although these birds are considered exotic because of their origin, they are easier to learn about. The most amazing thing about lovebirds is that they form emotional attachments with their owners. These bonds are extremely deep and the loss of a bond can have very serious repercussions for the bird. Sometimes, it can even be fatal for the bird.

      That is why lovebirds are a great responsibility and something you need to think about before you make a commitment. These birds can live up to 20 years, which means that you need to actually plan ahead before making any commitment to these birds. Even when you bring lovebirds home in pairs, there are two possibilities: they may simply hate each other or they may become mates for life. Both these conditions have their own outcomes. In the former case, you may wind up with birds that have bad personalities and aggressive behavior. In the latter case, you must always be prepared for the fact that the birds may mate. Then, the care of the birds and their eggs become your responsibility.

      So the real purpose of this book is to introduce you to all the aspects of lovebird care. That way, you will be in a better position to decide if these birds are good pets for you or not. For those of you that do decide to bring home lovebirds, this book will serve as a wonderful guide.

      The book contains all the information that you need about the natural habitat, behavior and personality of these birds. In addition to that, you have tips for interactions, including acclimatization, training and grooming these birds. One of the most important subjects, feeding is discussed in great detail to ensure that you have healthy and happy pets in your home.

      All the information contained in this book are personal experiences of lovebird owners. So, you can rest assured that the information will help you deal with the most common issues that pet owners face. However, remember that learning is never ending when you have a pet at home. However, the biggest advantage of having lovebirds is the fact that they have been kept as pets for over 100 years. That makes it easy for you to find reliable information on the most peculiar situations.

      We hope that you share a wonderful life with your pet lovebirds. Whether you bring home a single bird or a pair of lovebirds, you can be assured that this is a bond for life. With good care, you will be able to enjoy this affection a lot better.

      Here is to wishing you a great lovebird parenting experience.

      Chapter 1: Meet the Lovebirds

      The one thing every lovebird owner will tell you is that these are tiny birds with larger than life personalities. Having a lovebird at home is as good as having a friend for life. These birds are extremely emotional, loving and of course, social.

      If you always thought of lovebirds as a pair of bright yellow birds, then here is some news for you. There are, in fact, nine species of these birds. Each one is more exotic and colorful than the last. The first chapter gives you an insight into the origins and the natural habitats of these gorgeous birds.

      a. Physical appearance

      Also known as Pocket parrots, lovebirds are among the smallest parrots. On average, these birds will measure between 5 to 7 inches in length, when you measure them from the beak till the tip of their feathers. This is one of the many reasons why lovebirds are so popular as pets. They are perfect for pet owners who live in apartments or smaller homes. Their tiny size makes them easier to house in comparison to the larger species like the Cockatoo.

      In terms of weight, a lovebird should measure anything between 40 to 70 grams. The largest of all the lovebird species is the peach faced lovebird which weighs about 60-70 grams. Lovebirds are stocky in their build. They tend to have a short tail that has a blunt end. Their beaks are quite large in comparison to their bodies and can be really sharp. This helps them climb and play very effectively. The upper body of these birds come in some of the finest colors, depending upon the species that the bird belongs to.

      There are nine species of lovebirds that are very unique in their physical appearances. The next section talks in detail about each of these nine species.

      b. Nine Species of Lovebirds

      There are a total of nine species of lovebirds. Each one can be identified by the unique coloration and physical traits. Now, there are two categories that these species have been further divided into:

      1. Dimorphics

      Out of the nine species of lovebirds, three of them are dimorphic. This means that the male and female are visibly different from one another. They have unique coloration that will help you distinguish between the male and female. The three species are:

      The Madagascar Lovebird

      As the name suggests, these birds are from Madagascar. They are the only species of lovebirds that are from this region. The other eight hail from Africa. You may find a few Madagascar lovebirds, even in the neighboring islands, including South Africa.

      The scientific name for this species is Agapornis Cana. These birds are also called the grayheaded lovebird. The cocks, or the males, have a distinct gray coloration on the head, the breast and the back of the neck. Their body contains dark green feathers on the wings and the back and light green feathers on the rest of the body. Only the underwings are black in color. On the other hand, the hens are different because they are fully green.

      These birds were very popular as pets a couple of years back. However, the recent regulations about exporting these birds from Madagascar have made the lovebirds a rare species in captivity. They generally do not breed prolifically in captivity either. They are found in large flocks in the wild. However, even when breeders attempted to breed these birds in colonies, they were not successful. This is why Madagascar Lovebirds are rare in captivity.

      Red Faced Lovebird

      These birds are very brightly colored with green plumage all over the body. In addition to that, they may have some yellow plumes on the underwings and the chest. The scientific name for these birds is AgapornisPullaria. Their common name is derived from the obvious physical trait of these birds which is the red head or the orange coloration on the face and head. The shoulders have black feathers while the feet are gray in color. The bright red beak is the best physical trait of these birds. In comparison to the male, the hens have a lot more orange feathers on the face and head. The underwings are green for the females.

      In comparison to all the species of lovebirds, the red faced birds occupy the largest territory in Africa. You will find red faced lovebird populations in the entire stretch from the coastal areas of central Africa up to west Ethiopia. It is believed that these were the first lovebirds to be brought to Europe. They have been used in portraits from the 16th century, according to the Duke of Bedford.

      Even with a history of over 100 years in captivity, these birds have not been bred so often. There are very few numbers in captivity. Very few breeders have had success in breeding this species of lovebirds. This is possibly due to the nesting habits of Red faced lovebirds in the wild. They usually nest in termite areas. One very interesting thing about the red faced lovebirds is that the breeders have more success breeding them when they are kept in separate pairs. They don’t do very well in groups when kept in captivity.

      Abyssinian lovebird

      These birds are also known as black winged lovebirds. Scientifically, they are called Agapornistaranta. The cock has bright green feathers on the lores and the forehead with red around the eyes. They also have black underwings. The hens do not have any red coloration on the face or head. They are usually green overall, with rare instances

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1