Lovebirds are colourful, intelligent, curious and friendly birds. They are relatively easy to care for. Lovebirds thrive on the company of their own kind, so should be kept in pairs or larger groups. Lovebirds need daily exercise and are most active during the day. They sleep at night.
Lovebirds are the second smallest species of parrot and can live up to 20 years. Lovebirds come in a range of colours and markings. They are usually green or yellow with pink, orange and blue highlights in either peach-faced or masked varieties.
Lovebirds can expect to live between 10-15 years, but 20 years is not uncommon.
Lovebirds can be housed outdoors in a purpose-built aviary. They are very active and love to hop from perch to perch. The cage should have horizontal bars to allow climbing. It is possible to house Lovebirds indoors; the cage just needs to be large enough. Birds kept indoors will need to be let out of their cage daily to exercise. Make sure you keep all windows and doors closed during the exercise period! You should also provide a bath for your birds, either a shallow bowl placed in the base of the cage or fixed to the side of the cage. Lovebirds also enjoy being gently sprayed with tepid water!
In the wild Lovebirds eat grains, seeds and vegetation. A quality Parakeet/Cockatiel food mix makes a good basic diet for pet birds. Small pieces of fruit and vegetables can be offered as treats. Avoid offering avocado, lemon, lettuce or potatoes. Cuttlefish helps grind the beak down and also provides vitamins. Food and drinks designed for human consumption should not be given to your Lovebirds, as they can be harmful. Fresh drinking water should always be available.
Lovebirds are not solitary birds, so will prefer the company of their own kind. If kept in pairs (hen and cock), although if keeping several birds together, either sex should be fine. For large aviaries, it is usually best to keep more hens than cocks. It is not unknown for cocks to fight over the hens. Lovebirds can be mixed with other small parakeets, such as Budgerigars.
Lovebirds are lively, active and very vocal birds! They can emit a truly ear-piercing shriek when they want your attention.
Lovebirds can be a challenge to tame. Patience and perseverance is required. Encourage them to accept small treats through the cage bars to begin with. Move onto stroking your Lovebirds with a small stick a couple of times a day. Repeat the process several times a day, and then encourage them to jump onto the stick. Repeat the process again through the door of the cage rather than the bars. Finally, repeat again using your hands instead of your stick. This process can take month of work, so be patient!
When holding your lovebird, ensure your palm covers its back and wings. Use your middle and index finger to surround the bird’s neck. Be very gentle. Lovebirds will peck at you if they feel stressed.
Lovebirds can be mated from about a year old and will produce a clutch of 4-6 eggs in approximately 23 days. Breeding Lovebirds requires plenty of commitment of time and effort. You should seek expert advice before considering keeping a breeding pair.
Lovebirds can get lice and mites in their feathers. Sprays are available to treat these conditions. Excessive moulting can be caused by stress or temperature fluctuations. Lovebirds will need their nails clipped several times a year, consult your vet about this.