Love Birds are one of the easiest of the parrots to take care of. They are limited in speech but they love to mimic sounds, other birds, and even some music. They will surprise you sometimes. These parrots, like any other parrot or pets in general, take lots of care and attention especially if you want a good well trained pet. Some of the routine jobs that have to be done are cleaning the cage, scrubbing down the cage with disinfectant once a week, feeding, watering and of course training and giving your little friend a little attention daily.
If breeding is your main reason for having these Love Birds then maybe try the Masked Face or the Peach Faced species. Breeding them should not be done until they are about 18 months. Several tips to know about this, is you will need a breeding box, some nesting material. If you want to build your nesting box here are some measurements: 25 centimeters high, 20 centimeters wide, 15 centimeters deep and 2 centimeters thick, plus a roof, and a 5 centimeter hole and perch toward the top of the box. Nesting material will be needed now and some later so she can freshen up the nest around the incubation cycle. The nesting material you will need depends on where you live; there are willow twigs, pine shavings, palm fronds and some damp peat for the floor of the box. To have stronger and healthy chicks only let them breed once a year.
Love Birds training starts before the breeding though and that’s where the real work starts. Now you have two Love Birds and soon enough you will have little ones to train. A well-lit, distraction free, quiet room will do the best for training your love birds. Your love bird will feel safe and comfortable and you will have a positive session. Start off small like really the first thing they need to do is learn to step up on your finger or a wooden rod. Then work into something a little harder like teach him to turn around. Some food may help with this part of the training. Love Birds like to nip at you, this is their way of checking you out and this is a natural thing for them. Keep your sessions short and when using food cut them up in little pieces. Give them small pieces of fruit or vegetables, bananas or apples, celery or corn. If they get tired give them a break for a little while, then try again for a short time. After that just be with them for some attention.
Love Birds training starts before the breeding though and that’s where the real work starts. Now you have two Love Birds and soon enough you will have little ones to train. A well-lit, distraction free, quiet room will do the best for training your love birds. Your love bird will feel safe and comfortable and you will have a positive session. Start off small like really the first thing they need to do is learn to step up on your finger or a wooden rod. Then work into something a little harder like teach him to turn around. Some food may help with this part of the training. Love Birds like to nip at you, this is their way of checking you out and this is a natural thing for them. Keep your sessions short and when using food cut them up in little pieces. Give them small pieces of fruit or vegetables, bananas or apples, celery or corn. If they get tired give them a break for a little while, then try again for a short time. After that just be with them for some attention.
What to feed them to keep them happy and healthy? 90% of the food they will need is a recommended pellet mix. This gives them a balanced diet of vitamins and minerals. 10% corn, broccoli, red or green bell peppers, silver beets, bananas, apples, chick weed, celery and a variety of seed and nuts.
Foods not to give them would be apple seed, peach pits, chocolate, coffee, avocados, rhubarb and nothing salty.
In conclusion: Love birds are smart and will make good pets for your family. Very trainable bird and they will amaze you. Gain their trust and you will have a great relationship.
CopyrightGlenn Byers
