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Lovebirds
and parrotlets are small parrots. Lovebirds are
from Africa, while parrotlets are from South
America, and Mexico.
They are easy to keep as pets and are very easy to raise
for breeding. Here is some information to help you care for your lovebirds,
and parrotlets.
HOUSING:
Lovebirds and parrotlets need a cage which has at
least two places to perch, with room to fly from one to the other. A cage
with a horizontal measurement of 24 inches to 30 inches is appropriate.
Anything less than 18 inches would be too small. Perches need to be
different sizes which will give your birds feet exercise. I usually also
put natural sticks from the outside in my cages. The parrots love to chew
and climb on them. Just make sure you wash the branches free of any
pesticides.
It is
convenient to have two sets of food and water dishes so that they can be
alternated and washed each day. Water must be changed and the dish washed every
day. Food dishes can stay longer, with food added each day if preferred,
but food dishes do need to be completely emptied, washed, and refilled at
every 3-5 days. Caution -- food dishes
sometimes look full, but only have seed hulls and waste in them, with no
good food for the bird! All lovebirds and parrotlets
love fresh vegtebles and fruits. Make sure if you
give fresh food to your lovebird not to leave it in the cage to long or
they may spoil.
Lovebirds
need activity in the cage to stay healthy. Swings, ladders, and interlocked
bamboo rings are favorites. The 6 inch cockatiel swings are the best size
for lovebirds. Parakeet swings work great for parrotlets.
Pet departments or stores have many choices in toys for pet birds. Avoid
small toys designed for parakeets and budgies. Lovebirds and parrotlets have very strong beaks for chewing and can
break these items. Toys designed for cockatiels and small parrots are the
right size for lovebirds and parrotlets.
Lovebirds and Parrotlets are very smart and can
open their doors. I use clips to keep them closed.
FOOD:
Lovebirds and parrotlets need the same size food
as cockatiels and other small parrots. If you plan to feed your birds a
seed mix, choose one which contains nutritional supplements to assure a
"total diet" to keep birds healthy. Other less expensive seed
mixes, or seeds sold for wild birds will not have all the nutrients your
bird needs, although they can also be used if you provide lots of fresh
foods. Note --pellet diets like Kaytee Exact or
Pretty Bird or Lafabre, are nutritionally
complete and very good for birds, though some birds will be slow to accept
them. Birds that are used to seeds will need to be given adequate time to
adjust and learn to eat a pellet-only diet. I feed seed, pellets, and fresh
fruit and vegetables to all my birds.
Try to
give fresh foods at least 3 or 4 times a week. Our birds love apples,
broccoli, cabbage, carrots, parsley, and green beans, egg yolk. You can try
other vegetables and fruits, too. Lettuce is okay, but it doesn’t have much
nutritional value. In the summer we sometimes give dandelion and clover
(flowers and greens) from the yard. Make sure to wash off any pesticides or
chemicals which could hurt the bird. Our birds also like corn tortillas
(not salted tortilla chips) and whole grain breads. Don’t feed anything
with high fat, salt, or sugar content, like donuts, cake, or cookies.
Caution -- remember to remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage before
it spoils. Remember: NO CHOCOLATE!!
Try to keep
cuttlebone in the cage all the time to provide calcium for the bird. Millet
sprays, sometimes called "seed trees" are a good treat. Lovebirds
and parrotlets do not need grit in their diet
like finches do. I also provide all my birds with a mineral block.
OTHER NOTES:
Lovebirds are very easy to care for and will be healthy if kept in a clean
environment. Lovebirds and parrotlets should not
be exposed to freezing conditions.
Lovebirds
like to bathe frequently. The will bathe in their water dishes if the
dishes are large enough. I always train my birds to use a bottle to drink from, but they still like a dish
kept in their cage. To train your bird to drink from a bottle, just hang it
in front of their beak by their favorite perch in the cage, or above the
water dish. Lovebirds and parrotlets are parrots,
and it doesn’t take long with their curiosity to figure it out. Just make
sure you provide them with a dish of water daily as a back up. They also
like to be sprayed with water mist once in a while. This helps keep their
feathers in good condition.
CAUTION! -- If your bird is
to be kept in or near the kitchen be very careful not to over heat Teflon
pans or appliances. When Teflon gets too hot it gives off fumes which are
toxic to birds! The bird may die with respiratory distress. Teflon coated
irons and other items can also be very dangerous. please remember to
keep your flu open wide enough to allow the smoke to go
out the chimney. Wood burning smells and smoke are toxic to birds.
VETERINARY CARE:
If your bird seems sick, or has been injured, seek the help of a qualified
avian veterinarian. Most veterinarians see very few birds, and have little
experience diagnosing and treating them. It is best to find a good vet before
any problems arise, so that you will know who to go to if there is an
emergency.
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