If you're trying to pick a smart and beautiful bird for a pet, the Lovebird is a breed that will surprise you. These animals need constant company because they do not like to be alone. They are so attached to their partner that the name of lovebirds comes from this fact; which is why you must always have two.
Besides preferring to live life as a couple, this bird needs a certain kind of attention to stay healthy. In this OneHowTo article, we explain how to care for Lovebirds and always keep it happy and healthy.
So far, you already know that Lovebirds live with a partner because this is important for its health, so you must have an decent cage that is spacious and well equipped for your birds.
Once you have chosen the ideal space so that two birds can grow and live together adequately, you can adopt your Lovebirds. Once they are 20 days old and grow their feathers, it's possible to separate a Lovebird from its mother and take it home.
If you get the pair when they have passed their chick stage, it's important to help them get used to you and your presence so they don't get scared or attack you when you try to clean the cage or feed them. Approach the cage slowly, talk softly, bring your hand close and help them get used to your presence, you'll see how they'll adapt with no problem at all.
A Lovebird's health depends largely on its diet. A good way to keep the birds healthy is to get bird feed and include it in their diet, rather than solely feeding them various seeds.
The seeds themselves are a good alternative if combined with other foods such as fruit; these birds can eat any fruit except for avocado which is poisonous for them, though clearly poultry feed is the one that offers the better nutritional balance.
Furthermore, having a good source of calcium is important for them, so you can put mollusk shells in the cage for them to peck, or even half a calcium tablet once a week.
For more detailed information we advise you to take a look at our article on how to feed a Lovebird.
Keep the cage clean. It is essential to avoid all of the most common bird diseases, which most often originate from poor hygiene. You should clean the cage and change the water daily for your pet, as Lovebirds, like any other bird, always needs fresh water.
Since the Lovebird is a tropical bird, it needs to get plenty of light and sun to be healthy. But when you live in a country with four seasons, this is not always easy to do.
During the warmer months of the year we recommend that you put the birds in a place with enough sunlight to help them better assimilate calcium which will help to keep their bones, beak and claws strong. In the winter months it is important that the cage has a 5 watt ultraviolet bulb that should be turned on at least three hours a day.
As with any other bird, a Lovebird's cage should never be placed in a drafty area, or the animal could get sick. Nor should you put them in places with temperature changes or too many chemicals, such as the kitchen or laundry room. Choose an appropriate place in your home that will guarantee its well-being.
Furthermore, and again due to its tropical origin, the Lovebird needs to get its feathers wet often, so it is recommended that you spray the cage and the bird twice a day with a little room temperature water from a spray bottle. Do this from the top of the cage so that the animal does not see the spray bottle and panic.
If you do not have the time to do so, you must put a bowl in the cage so that the bird can refresh itself whenever it wants to . Remember that keeping its natural habits is an important part to care for Lovebirds properly.
As you need to have two Lovebirds, you may want to make them breed and have new chicks. However, this simple task requires careful preparation. New chicks cannot stay as a couple with one of its brothers or sisters as they may have chicks with malformations which is why it's not recommended. The ideal is to make them breed with a new chick.
In this case you must have enough space to have new couples or know that people will be adopting the new chicks.
With a balanced diet and proper care, your Lovebirds will stay healthy and happy. And if you have any questions regarding their health, or if you've noticed they look down, ill or their plumage does not look healthy, consult a bird veterinarian.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Care for Lovebirds, we recommend you visit our Pets category.