BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds lovebird questions

I would like to get a couple of lovebirds...but am unsure of what type...I'd prefer the black mask blues but someone told me they are harder to keep as tame birds than the peach faced variety. Also...just wondering how often each year lovebirds produce clutches when in captivity in regular size cages, in the house? thanks for your reply

If you are wanting to get a pair of lovebirds and will be breeding them, it is unlikely that they will remain tame unless you are going to be spending a LOT of time with them individually. If you do spend enough time with them, it really doesn't matter which type you have as both can be kept tame (although the female Peach Faced might not remain so).

I don't know what you are referring to as a regular size cage as I'm sure you know that I recommend the largest cage that you can afford that will fit in the space you have. I do not recommend a minimum size cage. Lovebirds can lay eggs continuously, but should be restricted to 2 clutches every 6 months or so (6 months after the previous clutch was weaned). Anything more than that could result in the illness or death of the female (due to eggbinding).

It is said that peachface lovebirds are more outgoing and much easier to tame than some of the other lovebird species, but as I only have peachies, I can't really help you there. But I do know that masks are tameable.

Do not ever let your birds continually breed, as this is very hard on both birds. Doing so will deplete the hen of important nutrients, is extremely tiring, and she will not live as long as she is supposed to. Think of yourself continuously being pregnant. So do not let your birds breed more than twice a year. Giving them a longer break is even better.

The cage, as Mauvis has said, should be the largest you can afford, and what fits into your designated space. The cage should be longer than it is wide, so that the birds will be able to use their wings more productively. They should be able to flap their wings without hitting anything in the cage, in any direction. I believe most of my cages are something like 32"x20"x20". Remember that the more birds you keep in a cage, the bigger it should be.

Never breed your lovbirds if they are under one year of age. One year is the MINIMUM age of breeding this species, although it is best to wait until they are a year and a half. That way, you know that they are fully grown. If you breed them when they are too young, a multiple number of things can happen: the hen may become eggbound because the egg is too big to pass because she isn't fully developed; the parents are still babies themselves, and will not be ready to take responsibility of a clutch etc. Please do extensive research before you get into breeding. Also read up on handfeeding (I do not recommend beginners to hand feed, unless it is vital), assisted hatching, preventing splay legs. Just do some research!

One last thing: you should not be breeding birds that are on an all seed diet. Your birds should be eating ample veggies, some pellets if you choose, fruits, the ocassional egg, wheatgrass is also great, along with the seed. But then again, all birds shouldn't be on a seed only diet.