If you have come to this article then you may already have an interest in lovebirds. These African birdies come in a plethora of beautiful colors, and are highly social and stock full of personality to boot. If you are looking to get yourself a lovebird or two, read this article that will tell you a few things you should know about them first.
Here are five fun facts about lovebirds!
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Battling the misconceptions about lovebirds because of their name
A member of the Belgian Lovebird Association, Lawrence Oei, who owns around 70 lovebirds, and runs a Facebook page dedicated to all of the birds he has, has to say the following, “The single biggest misconception is that you need two of them to make them happy, and the next biggest one is that they mate for life. It is actually quite easy to pair them up with other lovebirds, the key being you introduce a female to a male in an established cage.”
So, even though lovebirds do form a strong pair bond, if you are looking for a pet to interact with you, then it is better to keep only one lovebird, because this way the bird will bond with you and only you.
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Their size does not make them easy to handle and keep
Many people are fooled by their size and think they are easy to keep. Oei says, “They are a step up from cockatiels and budgies, but easier to handle than the bigger parrots. Weaned hand-fed babies to start with are best if you want them as pets.”
Lovebirds also have a tendency to test the boundaries with their dominant and sometimes even aggressive behavior. As with all birds they have the potential to be territorial and nippy as well. It is recommended to not give the birds a nest box if you are not actively breeding them and want to discourage bad behavior.
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Lovebirds love to be social!
Even though they don’t necessarily need to be kept in pairs, a single bird will definitely need to spend a lot of time with their human “flock”. If you have a bird bonded to you, then you have an exceptionally good companion already.
They have an innate need for socialization, and with that comes a heap of vocalization. While lovebirds are not as loud as big parrots can be, they do vocalize often in hopes to keep in contact with their flock, regardless of whether it’s another lovebird or a human.
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Lovebirds need constant care, so if you care for them daily, they will be good
Lawrence Oei feeds his lovebirds fresh and grated bird safe veggies every morning, and gives his birds access to seeds. For their water, Oei had this to say, “One important thing to note is to change the water at least once a day or once it becomes muddy.
Lovebirds love to make soup out of their water bowl by putting seeds inside.”
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Some species may even exhibit quirky, yet cute methods for gathering nesting materials
One of the most well known exhibitors of this behavior is the peach – faced lovebird. The females will tear the nesting materials, such as paper, into strips and then stuff them into the feathers near their tail.
The result can come across as funny, but it is a sure fire way of telling the gender of your lovebird, as it is a strictly female behavior.
You might be interested:
8 Reasons Why Cockatiels Make Great Pets
The Best Pet Birds For Beginner Keepers
Are Budgies Good Pets for Beginners ?
