Funny, colorful lovebirds live on the island of Madagascar and in the tropical forests of South Africa. They are very popular among poultry lovers due to the fact that they quickly get used to humans. These birds received this name because in nature they live in large flocks, but in pairs.

What do lovebirds look like?

Ornithologists today count 8 species of these birds:

• grey-headed (Madagascar);
• Fischer's strawberry-headed (Nyasa);
• mask;
• collared (green-headed);
• orange-headed;
• spectacled;
• rosy-cheeked;
• black-winged (taranta).

All lovebirds are very similar in description to each other:

• size is smaller than average (10-17 cm);
• dense build;
• weight 40-60 g;
• large head;
• strong and powerful hooked beak;
• very short tail (less than half a bird's wing);
• The predominant color of the plumage is green, but the legs, chest, neck and head can be yellow, blue, or red.

Those who breed birds recommend that beginning bird lovers get lovebirds. Many people are interested in the question: can one lovebird parrot live? There is a well-known legend that these birds can only live with their mate, and if one of them dies, then the other also dies of sadness. But this is just a beautiful myth. In fact, you can keep one bird, and if you care for it correctly, the parrot will feel healthy and cheerful for a long time.

Temperature for keeping lovebirds

Proper keeping of lovebirds at home is to create comfortable living conditions for these birds. In order for them to develop normally, be cheerful and active, parrots must be kept in a warm, dry and bright room. There should be no drafts in it. Fluctuations in humidity and temperature can have a very negative impact on the health of birds.

In the summer, the room where lovebirds live must be regularly ventilated. In winter, the room (aviary) must be insulated and, if necessary, artificial heating must be turned on. The optimal air temperature for keeping lovebirds is 20-22°C. Relative humidity during normal periods should be maintained at 50-70%, and during nesting 70-80%.

Lovebird Cage

If you are wondering what kind of cage is needed for a pair of lovebirds, then know that it should be so spacious that both birds can freely spread their wings in it. The best shape for a parrot's house is rectangular. In a round cage, a bird's spatial orientation may be disrupted. The optimal cage size for two lovebirds is 60x35x60 cm. It is good if it is located against the wall: this way the bird will feel more protected.

It is also very important what material the parrot cage is made of. It is better not to buy a wooden house, as wood is more difficult to wash and can become a source of infection. In addition, the lovebird can easily chew it. The best option would be a cage with a plastic tray and a metal top. The bars in the cage should be located at a distance of 1-1.2 cm, then the parrot will not get stuck in them. The doors in the bird house must close well.

What should be in a lovebird's cage?

Beginning bird lovers may be wondering how to set up a lovebird cage. The bird house should have the following accessories:

• made of wood (better if they have bark) with a diameter of 1.5-2 cm, you need to have several of them, and they should be located at different heights;
• the feeder can be internal or external hinged, although the latter option is not very safe for birds; the container should be shallow and wide;
• the drinking bowl can be installed either closed (which is more convenient and hygienic) or open; the water in it must be changed daily, and on hot days several times a day;
• bath for bathing - lovebirds love to splash in the water;
• holder for fruits and vegetables;
• for birds - swings, ladders, bamboo rings.

Nest for lovebirds

Lovebirds at home can be bred in special nests or nest boxes, as they are also called, as well as in nesting boxes. The last option is a variation of the well-known birdhouse. A hollow is a piece of a tree trunk with a hollowed out or carved core. The nest for parrots should be spacious, but not too large so that the birds feel comfortable in it.

Depending on the location, a bird nest can be of three types:

• vertical;
• horizontal;
• combined.

Experts say that the most convenient is the combined socket. It is spacious, like a horizontal one, and a female entering the nest will not damage the eggs lying there. And the grown chicks will not fall out of the vertical-horizontal nest. But such a nesting site will take up a little more space than the previous two species.

Caring for lovebirds at home

These birds are very unpretentious and do not require special attention, so caring for lovebirds at home is easy. The cage should not be close to radiators or other heating devices. Drafts and bright rays of the sun are harmful to birds. Don't keep your pets in a cage all the time. They should be mobile and active, so let them fly around the room more often, but in the house they can only sleep, eat and swim. With a sedentary lifestyle, parrots will begin to develop obesity, which will ultimately lead to disastrous results.

What to feed a lovebird parrot at home?

Those who have ventured to take a feathered pet into their home for the first time are often interested in what lovebirds eat. The basis of the entire diet of these birds is grain mixtures. You can prepare them yourself, but it is better to purchase ready-made ones, which are well balanced and more suitable for medium-sized parrots. An adult bird cannot eat no more than 4 tbsp per day. spoons of grain.

Sprouted grains of wheat and barley will be a tasty treat for birds. Fresh greens are very useful for parrots: young leaves of currants, clover, nettles, dandelions. They also need animal food rich in protein. You can give the birds chopped boiled eggs, bread with milk, fresh crumbly cottage cheese. Your feathered pet also needs mineral supplements. This could be finely crushed eggshells or feed chalk. You can buy a cuttlefish shell for this purpose at a pet store.

Reproduction of a lovebird

Breeding lovebirds at home is quite possible if certain conditions are met:

1. Choosing a partner - for monogamous lovebirds this is much more important and more difficult than for other birds. A courting male carefully feeds his chosen one from his beak and gently fingeres her feathers. But if a couple has formed, then mating occurs quickly.
2. The optimal period for breeding is from February to May and from August to October. A lovebird can give birth to offspring at any time of the year, but during hot periods, as well as in winter, the offspring may be born very weakened and it is much more difficult to care for such chicks.
3. Age of birds - healthy, energetic and active parents will have good offspring. Lovebirds become sexually mature from 1-1.5 years to 3-4 years.
4. Equipped nesting box - a few thin branches of willow, birch, and linden should be placed on the bottom of it. The main part of the branches must be hung from the lattice: the female will use them to arrange her nest, which in its finished form resembles a mitten. It will take the bird 2-3 weeks to nest. After this, the female will lay eggs and hatch them.
5. The appearance of the chicks - they will hatch blind and naked, their eyes will open after 10 days, and they will be covered with feathers by the month. Another month will pass and the young offspring will be ready to leave the parental nest. When the chicks grow up, they need to be transplanted into a separate cage.

How to determine the sex of a lovebird?

It’s difficult for non-professionals, because visually they are not much different from each other. But how can one still distinguish a female lovebird from a male? Ornithologists determine the sex by the hip bones of the bird: in the female the distance between them is about 1 cm, and in the male - 0.5 cm. Males are more flexible and easy to handle, unlike females, which are more mobile and grumpy.

Sometimes you can notice that both lovebirds do not express a desire to build a nest, and conflicts constantly arise between them. In this case, there is a possibility that the birds are same-sex. If you put a paper napkin in the cage, the female will tear it into pieces and collect them for the future nest. But only veterinarians can accurately determine the sex of a lovebird when they take all the necessary tests, but these procedures are expensive.

How long do lovebirds hatch eggs?

Having laid eggs in the nest, the female lovebird parrot sits on them, warming them with the warmth of her body. During the day, she rolls them several times so that the heat is distributed more evenly. After a week, it is already possible to determine which of the laid eggs are fertilized: their surface is smooth, matte, with a gray tint. Unfertilized eggs have a yellowish tint and are covered with spots. After about 22-26 days, chicks begin to emerge from the eggs.

How long do lovebirds live at home?

Many owners are interested in the question. With proper care, these small birds can live up to 10-15 years. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that they be in pairs all the time. And a solitary lovebird, if provided with constant communication and suitable conditions, will live with you for at least 10 years. And if a bird dies, it happens in most cases due to the fault of people.

Lovebirds - diseases

Lovebirds can get sick, like all living things. This is often the result of improper care or poor quality food. lovebirds and their symptoms may be:

If you have taken a lovebird into your home, you should know that an adult bird is very difficult to train and will never become tame. Those who are interested should remember that you need to tame your feathered pet and teach it to talk from a very early age, when the chick has not yet flown out of the nest. A young parrot can be taught several words.

Lovebirds (lat. Agarornis) are birds from the Psittacidae family and the Psittacidae order. The genus Lovebirds is represented by several subspecies and is one of the most popular among many lovers of domestic exotic birds.

Description of the lovebird

In accordance with the modern classification, the genus Lovebirds is represented by nine main subspecies, which differ in appearance. For a long time, such parrots were traditionally called lovebirds, because it was believed that after the death of one bird, the second would soon die from sadness and melancholy.

Appearance

Lovebirds belong to the category of small parrots, the average body length of which varies between 10-17 cm. The dimensions of the wing of an adult individual do not exceed 40 mm, and the tail part – approximately 60 mm. The maximum weight of an adult bird is in the range of 40-60 g. The head of parrots of this species is relatively large.

This is interesting! The color of the plumage is usually dominated by green or greenish shades, but certain areas of the body, rump and chest, head and neck, and throat are characterized by the presence of other colors, including pink, red, blue, yellow and some other colors.

The budgerigar's beak is relatively thick and very strong, with a pronounced curve. If necessary, with its beak an adult bird is capable of inflicting quite severe injuries and injuries even to people and large animals. The beak color of some subspecies is bright red, while others are straw yellow. The tail is short and rounded. The bird's legs are short, but this does not at all prevent parrots from being very agile and not only running well on the ground, but also quickly climbing trees.

Lifestyle and behavior

Under natural conditions, lovebirds prefer to settle in tropical forest zones and subtropical forests, but mountain and steppe subspecies are also known. Parrots are accustomed to a gregarious lifestyle, and in their natural environment they are incredibly mobile, fast and good fliers. At night, birds settle in trees, where they rest on branches or sleep, clinging to relatively small branches. In some situations, fights and even conflicts arise between several packs.

Important! It is advisable to start teaching spoken language to a lovebird from the age of one month, but adult birds are practically unteachable. Among other things, unlike the budgie, the lovebird takes much longer to learn words.

To the great regret of lovers of pet parrots, lovebirds are quite difficult to train, so a talking bird of this species is a rarity. When keeping lovebirds in pairs or groups, it will not be possible to teach the birds to talk at all.

However, some lovebirds have the ability to speak, so with the persistence and patience of the owner, they can easily learn about ten or fifteen words. Tame lovebirds are very sociable, characterized by devotion and can get very bored when alone.

How long do lovebirds live?

Lovebirds are among the small parrots, so the average life expectancy of such birds is quite short. If your pet is provided with proper care and good maintenance, the lovebird can live from ten to fifteen years.

Types of lovebirds

Lovebirds of different subspecies have a certain similarity in size, behavior and appearance, but also have some differences:

• Collared lovebirds(Agarornis swindernianus). A small bird with a body measuring up to 13 cm and a tail up to 3 cm long. The color of the main plumage is green with an orange “necklace” on the black neck. The chest area is yellowish, and the rump is ultramarine or blue. The beak of such a bird is blackish;
• Liliana's lovebirds(Agarornis lilianae). The body size does not exceed 13-15 cm, and the general color resembles rosy-cheeked lovebirds, but with brighter coloring on the head and throat. The significant upper part of the body is green, and the lower part is in fairly light colors. The beak is red. There is virtually no sexual dimorphism;
• Masked lovebirds(Agarornis personatus). The parrot's body length is 15 cm, and its tail is 40 mm. The subspecies has a very beautiful and bright color. The area of ​​the back, belly, wings and tail is green, the head is black or has a brownish tint. The main plumage is orange-yellow. The beak is red, and sexual dimorphism is practically absent;
• Red-faced lovebirds(Agarornis pullarius). An adult individual is no more than 15 cm long with a tail size of within 5 cm. The main color is grass-green, and the throat and cheeks, occipital and frontal parts are bright orange. Females are distinguished by an orange head and a yellowish-green overall color;
• Rosy-cheeked lovebirds(Agarornis roseicollis). The total body length does not exceed 17 cm with a wing size of 10 cm and a weight of 40-60 g. The color is very beautiful, in intense green tones with a bluish tint. The cheeks and throat are pink, and the forehead is bright red. The beak is characterized by a straw-yellow coloring. The female is slightly larger than the male, but is not so brightly colored;
• Grey-headed lovebirds(Agapornis canus). Small parrots no more than 14 cm long. The plumage color is predominantly green, and the upper chest area, head and neck of males are light gray. The bird's iris is dark brown. The beak is light gray. The head of the female is gray-green or green;
• Fisher's lovebirds(Agarornis fischeri). The bird measures no more than 15 cm and weighs 42-58 g. The color of the plumage is predominantly green, with a blue rump and a yellowish-orange head. The beak is red. Sexual dimorphism is almost completely absent;
• Black-winged lovebirds(Agarornis taranta). The largest subspecies. The size of an adult representative of the genus is 17 cm. The color is grassy green. The beak, frontal part and the border around the eyes are bright red. The head of the female is green;
• Black-cheeked lovebirds(Agarornis nigrigenis). The bird has a very graceful appearance, measuring up to 14 cm. There is an external similarity with the masked lovebird, and the difference is represented by the gray coloring of the feathers on the head and the presence of a reddish-orange color in the upper part of the chest.

In addition to external differences, all subspecies that are representatives of the Lovebird genus differ in their distribution area and habitat.

Range, habitats

Red-faced lovebirds live in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Tanzania, as well as on the island of Sao Tome, where small colonies most often settle in clearings and forest edges. The rosy-cheeked lovebird lives in Angola and South Africa, as well as in Namibia. Gray-headed lovebirds inhabit forests, palm plantations and date groves on the islands of Madagascar and Seychelles, as well as Zanzibar and Mauritius.

Fisher's lovebird lives in the savannah in Northern Tanzania, as well as near Lake Victoria. Black-winged lovebirds live in Eritrea and Ethiopia, where they settle in mountain tropical forests.

Representatives of the subspecies Black-cheeked lovebird live in the southwestern part of Zambia, and Collared lovebirds live in Western and Central Africa. The Liliana lovebird subspecies inhabits acacia savannas in eastern Zambia, northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania. Masked lovebirds are found in large numbers in Kenya and Tanzania.

Caring for lovebirds at home is quite easy to learn. Particular attention should be paid to the design of the cage and its filling, as well as preventive measures and the correct composition of the diet for a feathered pet.

When choosing a lovebird, you need to take into account that when people approach, even very sick birds are able to become active for a while, so they can give the impression of being quite healthy individuals. For inexperienced connoisseurs of exotic birds, it is advisable to enlist the help of specialist ornithologists when choosing. A lovebird purchased for home keeping must be cheerful and cheerful, and also have shiny and even plumage. In addition, the characteristics of a healthy pet are presented:

• feathers that fit tightly to the body;
• neat, non-sticky feathers around the cloaca;
• thin, but quite noticeable subcutaneous fat in the abdominal area;
• sonorous, without hoarseness voice;
• strongly curved and strong, symmetrical beak;
• uniform color of the paws;
• absence of spots and growths, as well as peeling on the paws;
• glossy claws;
• sparkling and clear eyes.

Young birds, up to the age of six months, are not too brightly or intensely colored. Only at six months do lovebirds molt for the first time and acquire a beautiful color. It is strictly not advisable to purchase birds at markets or in dubious zoological stores, where sick, old, and weak individuals are often sold.

Competent experts advise purchasing birds exclusively from trusted and well-established breeders who have been breeding exotic birds for a long time.

Cage structure, filling

The cage for lovebirds must be spacious, which will allow the parrot to straighten its wings. The best option would be a nickel-plated cage, which is supplemented with synthetic elements in the form of plastic and organic glass. It is advisable to avoid purchasing zinc and copper cages with lead, bamboo and wooden inserts. These metals are poisonous to lovebirds, and wood and bamboo are low-hygienic and short-lived materials.

It is advisable to give preference to rectangular structures with a flat roof and a retractable bottom, which facilitates the process of servicing the cage. The standard distance between the rods should not exceed one and a half centimeters. The minimum acceptable dimensions for a cage for one parrot are 80x30x40 cm, and for a pair of lovebirds - 100x40x50 cm. The room must be provided with sufficient lighting power, but without direct sunlight on the bird, and also without drafts. The cage should be placed at a height of 160-170 cm from the floor level.

Important! Experts recommend keeping the cage door constantly open, which will allow the bird to fly out of its house and return to it without hindrance. However, in this case, it is strictly forbidden to keep any predatory pets in the same room as the lovebird.

The bottom of the cage must be lined with sawdust, which is pre-sifted, washed and processed in the oven at high temperature. The use of sifted and clean sand is also allowed.

A pair of feeders, an automatic drinker and a shallow bath are installed in the bird’s home for the parrot to take hygienic baths. At a height of 100 mm from the bottom, a pair of willow, birch or cherry perches are placed, which are periodically updated. Additionally, you can install special rings, ladders, as well as ropes or swings for birds.

Proper diet for a lovebird parrot

The best diet for lovebirds are ready-made feed mixtures, preferably produced by foreign manufacturers. You don’t have to limit your parrots’ greenery at all, and supplement their diet with dandelions, carrot tops or clover.

The lovebird's diet should include fruits and berries, as well as vegetables. It is not recommended to use mangoes, papaya, persimmons and avocados in feeding lovebirds, which are harmful to domestic parrots. To grind down the beaks of birds, you can give young branches of fruit trees.

Caring for a lovebird

The rules for regular care of lovebirds are quite simple and consist of following the following recommendations:

• dry food is poured into the feeder in the evening and in an amount sufficient to feed the parrot during the day;
• wet food is poured into the feeder in the morning, but must be removed from the cage at night;
• The feeder must be washed daily and wiped dry with a clean cloth before filling with a new portion of food;
• Fresh water must be poured only into a clean automatic drinker, the body of which is washed twice a week.

The parrot's cage should be thoroughly washed with hot soapy water on a weekly basis, and then dried or wiped thoroughly. When washing the cage, it is also necessary to replace the bedding.

Health, disease and prevention

As well as some infectious diseases, which include:

It is very important to observe preventive measures, including mandatory quarantine conditions for all newly acquired specimens, regular and thorough disinfection of the cage, settling of water for the automatic drinker, as well as cleaning the pan and choosing the right food.

Reproduction at home

Parrots are able to mate throughout the year, but the ideal time for breeding is considered to be summer and early autumn, due to a sufficient amount of fortified food and long daylight hours.

To get healthy offspring, in the room where lovebirds are kept, it is necessary to maintain humidity levels at 50-60% at a temperature within 18-20 o C.

This is interesting! A nesting house is installed in the cage, but the female lovebird builds the nest on her own, using all kinds of materials for this purpose, including twigs.

A week after mating, the female lays her first egg, and the maximum number of eggs does not exceed eight. The incubation period is approximately three weeks. At the stage of feeding the chicks, the diet of lovebirds should be represented by high-protein foods, as well as crumbly cereals, sprouted wheat and oats.

For centuries, people living in various parts of our planet have been happily breeding parrots. There are such fans in Russia too. People of different professions, in their free time from work, teach these birds to “talk” and various tricks. For city dwellers, such leisure activities serve as a kind of replacement for close communication with nature, bringing genuine joy.

Particularly popular among lovers of feathered pets are lovebirds, whose care and maintenance (see photos of birds below) do not require much effort.

These parrots serve as a real decoration for the room. They are cheerful and very active. And their breeding, in addition to enormous emotional pleasure, expands the volume of knowledge about living nature.

Characteristics of the genus

Lovebirds, or Agapornis, are very popular indoor birds. In the order Parrots they form a separate genus.

Each of the nine species of parakeets has a stocky body, decorated with plumage of predominantly bright grassy colors. However, some subspecies have feathers of blue, pink, green, red or yellow. The beak of these birds is thick and strongly curved. It, depending on the type, can be straw or bright red. In size, lovebirds are similar to sparrows or bullfinches.

Their very name confirms that birds forming one pair are distinguished by a special affection for each other. These parrots are always close to each other, but the idea that one of them dies after the death of its partner is erroneous.

Lifestyle

For those who want to decorate their leisure time with birds such as lovebirds, it is recommended to study the care and maintenance of these birds in advance. It is necessary to know what the lifestyle of these birds is like in the wild.

In their homeland, which is the territories of Madagascar and Africa, lovebirds stay in small flocks, living close to water. Such parrots fly quickly, emitting sharp cries in the air. The diet of lovebirds includes small seeds and various berries, which they find on trees, in bushes or directly on the ground. Birds feed on animal food in the form of insects and larvae, which makes it possible to feed them, when kept at home, with mealworm pupae and

Lovebirds prefer forests and savannas, in the territory of which they settle between the roots of trees or in hollows, as well as in the bases of the nests of large birds (storks, herons, etc.), arranging “separate apartments” there. The construction of the home is carried out by the female. She is also responsible for hatching the eggs. Males take care of feeding the females and chicks. A parrot's clutch contains from 4 to 6 eggs. After 19-21 days of incubation, chicks are born.

Parrots at home

Caged lovebirds can live for 20 years. Maintaining and caring for them is easy. Birds are undemanding not only to the conditions created for them, but also to the composition of the feed. Lovebirds living in cages or enclosures can be successfully bred. The best seasons for this are autumn and spring, when it is not yet hot, but the daylight hours are already quite long.

If you have lovebirds living in a cage (we are looking at care and maintenance), keep in mind that these birds do not get along with other birds. This one is aggressive and can destroy even those birds that are larger in size.

Types of lovebirds

From the genus of these parrots, two subgroups are distinguished. The first of them includes lovebirds that have a white periorbital ring. The second group contains birds that do not have such coloring.

There are nine in total, including Fisher's lovebird and grey-headed, black-cheeked and strawberry-headed, orange-headed and masked, green-winged, pink-cheeked and black-winged.

Parrot cages

If you like lovebirds, the maintenance and care of which you decide to carry out in your home, then a number of questions will certainly arise, the answers to which you can find in this article. First of all, you need to think about what room the cage with the birds will be in. It is worth keeping in mind that this should be a room with good ventilation, bright, warm and dry, without drafts.

City residents most often keep lovebirds in their apartments or build enclosures for them in the attic. Anyone who has a personal plot in the warm season places the birds directly in the open air, and in winter they move them to a warm room.

Where else can lovebirds be placed? These parrots are also kept and cared for in cages made of synthetic materials (getinax, organic glass, etc.). Such structures are hygienic, beautiful and not susceptible to chemicals. However, they are flammable and are also afraid of high temperatures and hot water. But in general, they are quite comfortable for caring for and maintaining birds, which are lovebirds. Reviews from the owners of these birds confirm that their strong beaks are not capable of destroying such materials.

Cage equipment

What should be provided in a building where lovebirds are kept? Care and maintenance must be carried out in cages with trays (pull-out bottom). This design will greatly facilitate the work of cleaning the home for birds. It is best if the pallet is made of iron or sheet aluminum. The plywood bottom will quickly rot from the water thrown by the parrots.

There should also be a feeder and a drinker in the cage. They should not be placed next to each other to avoid wetting the food, or under the perches, since in this case bird droppings may get into the contents of the containers. Various containers can be used for drinking bowls and feeders (jars, salt shakers, cuvettes for photographs, etc.).

At the bottom of the cage there must be sawdust or a layer of clean river sand. You should not put newspapers on it, because printing ink is harmful to birds. Ordinary lovebirds will not be suitable for these purposes and will very quickly tear it into small pieces.

Cell location

Where in the room should there be a structure in which lovebirds will live? Care and maintenance will be optimal if the cage is placed at eye level. This should be a place near the wall. Only in this case will the birds have a feeling of security. The cage should be installed away from batteries, refrigerators, monitors and televisions, computers and microwave ovens. All these devices can cause harm to the bird.

Ensuring healthy sleep

If there are lovebirds in your apartment, care and maintenance at home will require creating comfortable conditions for them in the dark. To do this, the cage with the parrots needs to be covered. This will allow lovebirds not to shy away from sudden light, for example, from the headlights of a car passing under the windows.

Owners of parrots should know that birds need to sleep 10 hours in the summer, and 12 in the winter. People need less time to rest at night, so by covering the cage, you can safely continue watching TV.

If, despite all precautions, something frightens the lovebirds at night, then you need to turn on the light, open the blanket and wait until the bird calms down.

Sunbathing

What measures should be taken to ensure that the lovebirds living in your home are healthy? Care and maintenance (see photo below) must be carried out by taking the cage with them to the balcony or outside in good weather.

The sun's rays falling on the bird contribute to the production of vitamin D in its body. During this procedure, part of the cage should be covered with a blanket. This will give your feathered friend the opportunity to hide in the shadows if desired. When parrots sunbathe, it is necessary to protect them from contact with wild birds, which can become sources of infectious diseases for pets.

Bathing

Lovebirds can take water treatments as much as they want. You just need to make sure that while the birds are bathing, the room is warm and there are no drafts. Parrots can also be taken to the bathroom. They will happily run around under a gentle shower pressure.

Nutrition

The usual food for lovebirds is 2-3 teaspoons of grain mixture, which is given to the birds throughout the day. It is worth remembering that young parrots eat more, but you need to make sure that they do not overeat. Their portion should not exceed four teaspoons per day. To feed the birds in the cage, you can hang millet ears or honey crackers. In this case, the volume of the mixture will need to be reduced.
In addition to the main grain food, lovebirds are recommended to be given fruits and vegetables. They are grated on a large grater, hung in the form of garlands, attached to a cage with a clothespin, etc.

It is recommended to offer lovebirds porridge made from millet and buckwheat, pearl barley and rice. They are boiled in water without adding sugar or salt. You can add a little grated carrots, honey, vegetable or fruit puree to the porridge. Legumes are beneficial for birds due to their rich protein content. However, they must first be soaked in several waters and boiled for an hour.

Parrots can get all the necessary vitamins, minerals and fiber from fresh greens, which should also be present in the diet. Birds enjoy eating spinach and young nettle leaves, dandelion and lettuce. Lovebirds can also be given shoots of woodlice, which grows in damp places. Parrots need only high-quality food that is free of dust and foreign impurities.

Breeding

Lovebirds (we describe the care and maintenance, breeding of these birds) are amazingly beautiful birds. Experienced and persistent fanciers can even try to breed new varieties of them, distinguished by unusual feather coloring.

The rosy-cheeked species of parrots reproduces most successfully in cages. It is more difficult to achieve this from masked parrots and According to reviews of bird lovers, it is most difficult to obtain offspring from other species of these parrots. But in any case, the bird owner needs to know what kind of care and maintenance lovebirds require.

Reproduction of birds occurs subject to certain conditions:

Careful preparation for the nesting period;
- choosing the right pair;
- providing nesting sites;
- showing attention and care to parrots while hatching eggs and feeding chicks;
- compliance with all rules for caring for offspring.

Diseases of lovebirds

It is quite difficult to rid a parrot of an illness. Treatment of birds is complicated by the fact that the symptoms of the pathology do not appear immediately, but only when it is already too late. Due to the fact that lovebird diseases are fleeting, the bird dies. That is why it is so important to provide proper care and maintenance, which will prevent many pathologies.

Two cute little parrots cuddled up to each other and gently fingered their feathers. Of course, you probably observed this picture, if not in a pet store or at a poultry market, then definitely with friends. Interest in Lovebirds is growing every day, but few people know the peculiarities of keeping these birds, and indeed the information they have in general. Unscrupulous sellers assure many that at home they differ little from ordinary budgies and thereby mislead people. If you want to find out the whole truth about these birds, then take a fascinating journey into the world of Lovebirds with us.

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Characteristic

Lovebirds are small parrots that are similar in size to a bullfinch. They live en masse in the nature of Africa and on the island of Madagascar. They got their beautiful name thanks to a very rare feature in the world of birds - choosing one mate for life. These are very faithful parrots, so even they have such a legend that they cannot live without their mate. They say that if one dies, the second bird also dies from melancholy.

In the wild, as well as at home, you can often observe lovebirds sitting in a nest, huddled close to each other. Males are very attentive “husbands”, so they often clean their wife’s feathers and feed from their beaks.

In the wild, these birds live in tropical forests, but there are also mountain and even steppe species. They prefer to live in large flocks and often conflict with other groups over territorial possessions. In nature, there are quite a few species, but in captivity, as a rule, only three main species are bred: Rosy-cheeked, Masked and Black-cheeked. These parrots are easy to tame.

Appearance

Lovebirds have an attractive appearance, they are small, on average about 12-15 cm in length, and their weight rarely exceeds 50 grams. They have a fairly large head and a compact body, the tail is short and slightly rounded. The beak is very strong and strong, and can cause serious wounds. The legs, although short, are also strong, so parrots run and climb trees well. The main color of the feathers is green, but individual parts of the body, for example, the head, neck, chest, may have a different color depending on the species.

• that Lovebirds die after the death of a couple is only partly true; it has been proven that many species can live alone or create a good family for the second time;
• nests are made in tree hollows, so to breed birds at home you need to make artificial hollows;
• in some species, nests are built by males, and in others by females;
• some species of Lovebirds carry nesting material in their beaks, like all birds, and some tuck branches and blades of grass under their feathers, for example, on their chest or under their wing feathers;
• Lovebirds are easy to tame if you handle them with care and attentive care.

Species features of exotic birds

Today, quite a lot of species of these parrots have been artificially bred. They all differ both in color and in the presence of certain decorations (tufts) and feathers. When choosing a type, you need to take into account not only external features, but also the subtleties of care and maintenance. Many species differ in individual requirements and character.

In total, the genus of these birds includes nine species. In our country, the most popular are the Masked Lovebird, Fischer's and Rosy-cheeked. The rest are so far found only among breeders and special connoisseurs of exotic parrots.

Kinds

Name	Photo	a brief description of
Rosy-cheeked		The most unpretentious to care for, that’s why it is the rosy-cheeked Lovebird that is most often bred in captivity. Its homeland is Southwestern Africa. The species was first bred in Europe in 1869. They are distinguished by some red markings on the forehead, as well as orange-pink markings on the cheeks and throat. Judging by the reviews, they are very conflict-ridden and pugnacious birds, so you can only keep one or a couple in a separate cage.
Masked		The Masked Lovebird is also very popular due to its coloration. They live in Mozambique and Zambia, settling in the steppes. They came to Europe late - only in 1927, but to Russia only in the 50s. As you can see in the photo, the color of their feathers is different, there are dark brown markings. And around the eyes there are some areas without feathers, which creates the illusion of a mask. The female and male are practically no different.
Fisher's lovebird		Fischer's lovebird is one of the Masked subspecies, brought from Tanzania in 1927. In captivity, they reproduce difficultly and build a nest poorly. They are distinguished by dark green plumage with colored markings. Around the eyes, like the masked lovebird, these birds have white rings. Females are slightly larger in size than males.
Grey-headed		This species lives in Madagascar and also in Africa. Known in Europe since 1872. This is the smallest species of all Lovebirds, the body length does not exceed 14 cm. As can be seen in the photo, their head, neck and chest are gray, for which the birds got their name. In captivity they almost never breed and do not build a nest.
Blackwing		The Black-winged Lovebird lives in the highland forests of Ethiopia and easily tolerates harsh climates. In our country, the species is known only recently and is not very popular. It is distinguished by its discreet color. Of all the species, the Black-winged Lovebird is the largest.
Black-cheeked		Another subspecies of Masked, which lives in Zambia. In captivity they live and reproduce well. They have dark plumage and bright markings, as well as glasses around the eyes.
Strawberryhead		Also a subspecies of the Masked Lovebird, it does not reproduce well in captivity, although it is popular. They are distinguished by their small size and red markings on the head and neck. They also have wide white rings around the eyes.

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Keeping and breeding at home

Although lovebirds are unpretentious parrots, they also require certain knowledge in care and maintenance at home. An inept approach can lead to many diseases of birds and their death. Perhaps the most important rule will be the correct selection of birds and the choice of housing for them.

Cells

The main rule in keeping Lovebirds at home is to provide them with the necessary space. Many people mistakenly think that a small cage is quite suitable for a small bird. However, it is not. Despite their size, Lovebirds are very mobile and active birds, so they need space. They can be kept either in a cage or an aviary, but the minimum size of the house for one pair should be at least 60x40x50 cm.

Lack of space causes obesity in parrots and causes many diseases. Even if you are on a diet, as reviews say, this does not help improve the condition of the birds.

Another very important point is proper lighting. It is worth remembering that Lovebirds come from warm countries where daylight hours are very long. Therefore, they need to be kept in open enclosures or open mesh cages with additional artificial lighting. A regular 15-25 W lamp is perfect. You can place the cage near a window with a curtain, just make sure there are no drafts. However, if you are interested in breeding Lovebirds, then a necessary condition for successfully raising chicks will be the presence of an ultraviolet lamp.

As for the cage itself, an all-metal version of a rectangular shape with a retractable bottom would be ideal. However, it is important to remember that Lovebirds do not need to be cooped up all the time, they need to get plenty of exercise. Several times a day you can let them fly around the room without closing the cage door. Equipment you will need is a bathtub, a drinking bowl, two bowl-shaped feeders (for dry and wet food), and perches for sitting. As toys, bring the birds pine cones, young twigs, pieces of tree bark, you can hang a rocker or a bell.

Singing

Lovebirds, judging by reviews, are very vocal birds, and their singing is mesmerizing with its musicality. If you want to see this for yourself, then feel free to enjoy our audio recordings. Many people say that the singing of these parrots is reminiscent of being in a tropical jungle. If you tame birds, they can sing when they see their owner.

Feeding

Digestion in parrots is quite intense, so Lovebirds need to be fed all the time. Even short-term fasting can lead to the death of a bird. However, birds are prone to obesity, so it is necessary to choose the right diet and its balance.

Plant food

Plant food is the basis of lovebirds' diet. This group can be divided into two components: juicy and grain. Up to 70% of the entire diet should be grain, while grain is mandatory and necessary, without which the parrots will get sick. You can also feed millet without hulls, oats, corn, wheat, peas, and sunflower seeds. Succulent foods include leaves, grasses, roots and fruits.

It is important not only to choose the right diet and prepare the food correctly. For example, it is good to cook crumbly porridge with carrots and beets from millet. It is best to germinate wheat, grind corn and add it to the grain mixture in an amount of 20%, steam or boil peas. Among delicacies, Lovebirds are very fond of hemp and flax seeds, boiled potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and apples.

All juicy fruits and vegetables are given either grated or in small slices. It can also be a puree from a different mixture. Additional ingredients in the diet can be greens, cottage cheese, eggs, and mineral supplements. Birds should be fed on time, but grain mixture and mineral feed should always be in the cage.

Reproduction

For successful breeding, birds aged one year and older are allowed. It is very important to prepare the couple to get healthy offspring. It is important to create all the conditions for the birds to build a nest and for the female to lay eggs. As a rule, if the procedure is carried out correctly, 5-6 eggs appear in the nest, the female sits on the clutch for 19 to 22 days, and incubates well. Read more about parrot breeding and nest preparation in our next publications.

Photo gallery

Video " Parrots Lovebirds»

In this video we invite you to find out more information about feathered friends from the zoo program.

Lovebirds- small birds, like a tit or a bullfinch, but the body is stockier and the head is larger. The color of the plumage in all species is bright; the beak can be red or straw-yellow. Watching a couple of lovebirds at home is a pleasure. They have a mischievous nature and sometimes behave almost like humans. They quarrel loudly, and after a few minutes they are already sitting on the perch again, huddled closely together.

Communication

Home-fed lovebirds They quickly get used to their owner and become completely tame. It is better to take chicks up to 3.5 months. After this age, parrots are reluctant to be tamed. Parrots that constantly communicate with their own kind have no interest in human conversations. But if you set yourself such a goal and train your bird every day, perhaps it will remember a few words.

Lovebirds should not be kept in the same cage with other parrots. They can be very aggressive, provoking fights and even killing a bird larger than themselves.

Despite the widespread legend, lovebirds can live alone at home. But if you are often not at home, it is better to keep the birds in pairs so that they do not get bored. A lonely lovebird without communication can become depressed and pluck out its feathers.

For one lovebird, a cage the size of 80x30x40 cm, for two 100x40x50, but the larger the cage, the more comfortable it is for the pets. The bottom can be covered with white paper or covered with clean calcined sand. Once a week, the cage should be washed with a non-chlorine disinfectant. The drinking bowl and feeder should be washed daily and filled only with fresh food and settled water. Once or twice a week, you can arrange a bath for the parrot himself.

The cage should have several perches 2-2.5 cm thick. The best material for them is fruit trees or willow. If there are always a lot of wooden toys in the cage, The parrot will not have problems with its beak and claws being worn down. The perches should not be located above the feeder and drinker so that droppings do not accidentally fall into them.

Feeding

The basis of the diet of lovebirds at home should be a grain mixture. You can purchase a ready-made mixture at the store or prepare it yourself. To do this, mix in equal proportions different types of millet, whole and split oats, canary and hemp seeds, weed seeds (vitamin seeds), raw sunflower seeds, watermelon, pumpkin. It is useful to give your parrots fresh fruits, herbs, almost any vegetables, unroasted nuts, fresh and dried berries. There should always be a mineral stone in the cage.

Parrots are very fond of milky or boiled corn. During molting or feeding chicks, it is especially useful to give sprouted grains (wheat, oats, barley, canary seed).

remember, that many foods from the human table can be dangerous for your pets. Salt, sugar, fatty, fried, pickled, and spicy foods should not be given to parrots.

Breeding

Lovebirds at home They reproduce quite easily. The optimal age for mating is from one to three years. Lovebirds choose one partner for life. To obtain healthy offspring, it is necessary to take birds of the same species. Chicks obtained by interspecific crossing are infertile as a result of genetic abnormalities.