You can use this resource as an African lovebirds food list as well as a list for all eight other lovebird species. Many veterinarians and breeders today advise new lovebird owners to feed their birds pelleted foods instead of seed mixes. What is the difference, you might be wondering?
A pelleted food contains all the daily nutrients your lovebird will need in each pellet. Seed mixes are delicious, but they can encourage a picky eater to get pickier and can sometimes result in a malnourished or sick bird. If your new lovebird is a rescue who is a dedicated seed-eater, talk with your veterinarian about transitioning safely over to a pelleted food.
This will help encourage your bird to eat the other nutritious seeds as well. Then you can save sunflower seeds and millet to offer as an occasional treat food. Also, you can try offering less seed to encourage your lovebird to eat all the seeds instead of just picking out favorites. Veterinarians typically recommend offering between one and one and a half tablespoons of seed or pelleted food daily.
You can always add more if you see that your lovebird has eaten it all. This also helps you gauge whether your lovebird is eating and how much, since you will be removing the food cup each day for refilling.
Each pellet contains the same full nutrition of 21 vitamins and minerals as all the rest to avoid picky eating. If you prefer, there is also a color-free version. This all-natural, scientifically formulated pelleted food delivers complete nutrition in each pellet. This blend is organic and non-GMO certified. This highly rated blended food includes seeds, pellets and dried fruits in different colors and shapes. Volkman Avian Science Lovebird Food. Many people choose to buy their lovebirds in pairs so that their preening and feeding behaviors can be observed.
They do look very much 'in love' when they are sitting side by side! But since it is very difficult to sex these birds males and females look the same and sex cannot be determined unless the bird has a blood test or lays an egg , it can be difficult to determine if you have a true male-female pair when the birds are purchased. If your goal is not breeding but rather just to enjoy the company of your birds, gender is not important - lovebirds will sometimes bond with the same gender if they have no mate of the opposite gender that appeals to them.
Just be certain that your birds get along before your take them home - otherwise they may have to be separated at a later time. Lovebirds can be very aggressive and will kill another lovebird if they do not want it in THEIR cage!
Also, bonded pairs must be housed separate from other lovebirds or similar problems will occur. Bonded pairs of lovebirds cannot be handled and will resist all efforts to be taken out of their cage. However, hand-raised lovebirds that are kept alone and handled daily will be more likely to bond with their human family than another bird. Baby lovebirds must be handled every day for the first 6 months to ensure that they will remain tame for the remainder of their lives.
These birds will bond strongly to a human 'mate' just like any other hand-raised parrot and may even enjoy riding around in the owner's pocket for short periods of time. Lovebirds require several periods of play out of their cage each day typically in increments of 30 minutes for each session to keep them well-socialized.
It's important to note that these birds can become territorial of their cages when they reach sexual maturity, biting any object that comes into their 'nest area'. That way, they can be removed from their territory without inflicting a bite and can calm down for a few minutes before they are handled. When taking your new bird home please remember that the surroundings in your home will be new to it and it may take some time for the bird to feel settled in the new environment.
Speak softly and move very slowly whenever you are near the bird's cage. Do not try to handle the bird for at least the first few days as the bird needs time to adjust to the new home. With a well balanced diet you should not need to give your bird vitamin supplements.
Before adding supplements to your bird's diet you should consult with an avian veterinarian. When giving any supplements in the bird's water, make sure you clean and wash the water dish daily to remove any residue from the supplements. We recommend taking your bird to the vet for regular checkups and purchasing a book about your new pet. Always wash your hands before and after handling each animal. Germs that birds carry can be transmitted to humans and vice versa , which in some cases can cause serious illness.
You should have toys in the cage to prevent boredom. Bored birds are known to have behavior problems. Birds need to be active to maintain good health and to prevent them from getting overweight. Foraging toys are excellent because they stimulate the natural avian instinct to search for food. Toys should be changed regularly to keep your pet interested and if the toy becomes worn to prevent injury.
Birds can be scared to death. Frightening a bird can cause the bird enough stress to harm and possibly kill it. Move slowly and talk quietly to your bird until it is comfortable with you and its new home. It may be advisable to keep the bird in a separate room away from any other animals in the home until it gets used to the noises of its new environment.
Predatory animals such as cats, dogs and ferrets should never have direct contact with your bird. We recommend using a cuttle bone or mineral block for your bird. Many birds enjoy chewing on these items but only absorb a small amount of minerals from them. A cuttlebone or mineral block should never be used as a substitute for a proper, nutritious diet of pellets, seeds and fresh vegetables and fruits. If you notice signs of illness it is very important to get to the vet promptly as most birds will hide illness until it is in an advanced stage.
Visiting your vet before the bird is ill will allow the vet to see your bird when it is healthy and help the vet create a routine preventive health care program for your new pet. Javascript is disabled on your browser. They have a large bill and a tail that is either round or square. Their average life span is between years with some living even longer. The oldest recorded lovebird lived 17 years.
Most lovebirds love a bath either in a flat earthenware dish or by spraying them with a light mist of lukewarm water. If you use a bathing dish, you will see the birds perch on the edge and dip their heads and upper bodies in the water and beating their wings. They prefer this kind of bath to getting into the water. Lovebirds generally maintain their nails and beaks on their own through climbing and chewing. However, consult your vet about nail trimming. In the wild, lovebirds feed on seeds, berries, fruits, grains, grasses, leaf buds, and agricultural crops of corn, maize and figs.
A diet consisting of a small parrot mix along with a variety of supplements and vitamins is generally regarded as suitable; also a formulated diet along with greens, fruits, and vegetable supplements but without additional vitamins is also regarded as suitable, and is a more current trend. Supplements include fresh vegetables, greens, and tree branches for the bark, some fruits, and millet spray.
Some of the fruit supplements include berries, apples, grapes, pears, bananas, and kiwi. Some of the greens and vegetable supplements include spinach, endive, watercress, chickweed, radish, parsley, dandelions, carrot tops, and corn on the cob, peas, endive, field lettuce, and various garden herbs.
Additional proteins can be offered such as nuts, try some unshelled peanuts as well as hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and chestnuts. A cuttlebone, or gravel and oyster shell in a separate dish should be offered to provide calcium. Do not feed avocado, as it can be toxic to birds! Their food and water dishes should be earthenware or porcelain as lovebirds will chew the plastic dishes and this can be lethal. Lovebirds drink a lot of water, so be sure to change their water dishes frequently through the day.
Lovebirds are very active birds, so a cage best suited to adequately house them must provide a lot of space. Remember, they are extremely active birds.
Be sure the spot you pick has good light and is well ventilated, though free from drafts. It should be away from doors and windows where direct exposure to sunlight can make it overly warm, but placed close to at least one wall to enhance a feeling of security.
Average daytime temperatures can range from 60oF to 70oF with nighttime temperatures down to 40oF. As a rule of thumb, ambient temperature comfortable for you should be adequate for your bird. Whether your bird is sick or healthy, be sure to watch for tell-tale signs of temperature-related discomfort: cold birds will often remain fluffed up for extended periods of time, and overheated birds will hold their wings away from their bodies and pant.
The cage should be covered at night to prevent drafts and disturbances.
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