Animal Stories - People Talking About Lovebirds



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Latest Animal Stories on Lovebirds (340)

Karen K - 2013-06-15
My dutch blue just passed, and his hatch date was 6/5/1993.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-06-17
That was a long lived parakeet!. It must have had a wonderful home:) But I'm sorry to hear Karen, it is hard to have such a long time friend pass on. Wishing you all the best.

Joyce Glatfelter - 2013-06-07
You stated that the longest recorded lovebird lifespan was 17 years. I bought my lovebird in December, 1994 and she is still alive. She will be 19 this Christmas.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-06-08
Congratulations on keeping your lovebird so well. What a joy your pet must be:) Yes, 17 is the recorded age, but you are not alone in having a lovebird that is longer lived. Just like you there have been a number of people tell us about their lovebird exceeding that age, with one person stating theirs lived for 25 years! WOW... now that was one well cared for bird:)

amanda - 2013-05-28
I have a dutch blue male and a green original female and i have had 9 young from them since early last year and all are doing fine. I have pick up a new peach face that i think is female. She has an orange head and yellow body starting at the neck and progressing to lime green down the body. The wings have grey edging and she also has a deep red beck and red just above the beck. What i am trying to find out is if can i put her into the aviary with the dutch blue male and the green female. She also has a white ring around the eyes. Will this cause problems with the other birds as there is 3 nesting boxes and the green peach face has another egg in one of them and the 4 babies are now out and about feeding themselves and playing. Could someone let me know what i have got and are they compatible together, as i love my birds and don't want them fighting. thanks. . . .? ? ?

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-31
It sounds like you have obtained a member of the 'eye-ring group' of African Lovebirds. This group is made up of four separate and distinct species: the Masked Lovebirds (Agapornis personata), the Fischer's Lovebirds (Agapornis fischeri), the Black-cheeked Lovebirds (Agapornis nigrigenis) and the Nyasa Lovebirds (Agapornis lilianae).

The 'eye-ring group' has distinct characteristics that make them similar in appearance to each other, but distinct from the others such as your Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis). These characteristics are an eye-ring, a red beak, and a green body. I would suggest you look at the Fishcher's lovebird for identification of you new friend, as it doesn't sound like yours has a mask and the Fishcher's is a fairly common species in the trade.

You have an established Peach-faced pair, plus another 4 (or 9?) offspring in the aviary. Though introducing this species into the aviary with the Peach-faced family may work, there could be fights. As an aside... these two species have been known to interbreed but it is frowned upon. Also it is said that the resulting offspring will not reproduce and are unable to build a proper nest.

Unnikrishnan - 2013-04-30
I have got a pair of lutino fischer and Fischer.My Lutino Fischer pair and Fischer pair laid their first egg around 27 Mar 13. They are incubating the eggs all the time and both are cutting the paper and dipping in water and taking to the cage. In this lutino was layed her last egg at 06 Apr 13. But today 30 Apr 13. No egg is hatched. what might be the problem what may the colour of the egg when it is going to be hatched(1 or 2 day before chicks come out). Lutino was mating every day upto last egg layed.In this both lutino's are always in the cage. Hardly in rotation they are coming to take food,bath or tear paper. Today I noticed the fischer's butt is bulged like when it started laying egg.Kindly advice I am a starter in this issues. I clearly sea yesterday 1 of my lutiono's egg is light blackish and 2 have got some bubbles on it and rest 3 are normal.Earlier all 6 are look same.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-01
Lovebirds are very good at taking care of their eggs and their young. It the eggs aren't going to hatch, then the female will simply abandon them. The eggs, if fertile, will take about 28 days to hatch.

When breeding there are a few things to consider. Do not disturb the cage when they are breeding or after the eggs are laid. Just feed the birds during this time and make sure they have fresh water. Usually the first few attempts are unsuccessful, and the eggs won't hatch. Also female Fischer lovebirds ares very prone to egg binding, so they must be given plenty of calcium in their diet during breeding and afterwards. Young birds should be discouraged from breeding.
Suraj Sadasivan - 2013-05-02
Thank a lot for your kind attention to my post and give reply to my Beginner’s curiosity. That means still hope are there for hatching. Both not abandonded the cage. Last egg was laid around 06 Apr 13.
Unnikrishnan - 2013-05-02
Thanks a lot for your kind attention to my post and give reply to my Beginner’s curiosity. That means still hope are there for hatching. Both not abandonded the cage. Last egg was laid around 06 Apr 13.
Clarice Brough - 2013-05-02
I understand how concerned each little thing can be, and glad they are still doing okay, maybe there will be babies. If not this time, maybe soon:)
Unnikrishnan - 2013-05-20
Today after 54 days also my lutino is incubating the eggs.What should I do now. Today I checked the fischer's nest. There is 15 eggs in that(including the old 5). What should I do now.
Unnikrishnan - 2013-05-21
As per ur advice nest of both lutino as well as Fischer has been removed. All 6 eggs of lutino has been candled found all infertile. Surprisingly in Fischer's nest there were 18 eggs. Positioned 9 each and different places.We never see Fischer's are mating. But lutinos are mating frequently.All 18 eggs were candled but none is fertile. As here we doesn't have any DNA testing facility. Is there any way to differentiate male Fischer and Female fischer.We confirmed that our both Fischer's are female. We want to buy two male. Kindly help us to find out which is male and which is female.Thanks for ur all support and kind advice
Clarice Brough - 2013-05-20
With that many eggs, it sounds like you may have two females. A normal clutch is 4-6 eggs and the incubation period for Lovebirds is 21 to 26 days. Eggs that are 54 days old are infertile. To check to see if the eggs are fertile you can candle them. Hold the eggs gently near a bright light. If you can clearly see a dark spot surrounded by blood vessels, the egg is fertile.

Be aware that successive egg laying takes take a toll on females which can cause them to become eggbound. An eggbound female will require immediate vet care, and can still die. Your best bet may be to take down the nest box and not encourage breeding.
Clarice Brough - 2013-05-21
So glad to know that helped and you could determine if the eggs were fertile. As far as sexing, these birds are very difficult to sex so it's best to work with an experienced breeder. But some things that can help to indicate differences are: when you feel the pelvic bones on the females they will be wider apart than on the males. Also in behavior, when the birds are undisturbed... (like they don't know they are being watched), females will tend to hunch down more on their perches while males tend to stand more upright. Still, its \difficult to tell. Good luck to you guys, and let me know how it goes!

ananya - 2013-05-20
hi,can i colony-breed 3 pairs of lovebirds housed in an aviary?there are 1 lutino pair,1 blue-masked pair and 1 peach faced pair. thanks to anyone who comments!

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-20
Most Lovebird species are colony breeders, with the exception of Abyssinian Lovebirds and Madagascar Lovebirds. However Lovebirds are best breed in colonies of the same species. Masked Lovebirds can be very aggressive towards other birds in an aviary setting, so you may have problems mixing them with the Peach Faced Lovebirds ((Lutino's are Peach-faced mutations).

Isela - 2013-05-19
My peach face lovebirds will be parents soon and I heard that you can feed the chicks baby food? Is this true? What kind? This is all new to me HELP !!

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-20
There is baby bird handfeeding formula, I've used Kaytee and it is great. However the parents are usually really good parents. It isn't usually necessary to hand feed the babies unless the parents are inexperienced and not able to do the job. To handfeed, there are many things that can go wrong. Besides having the right food, it takes a rigorous schedule and having an experienced person show how to do it is really important.

Anna Rega of Virginia - 2011-07-11
Some friends grew tired of their lovebird, and offered him to me, first week of December 2009. His name is Rainbow and they said he was appox 5yrs old. I wasn't sure what to do with him, knowing very little about LoveBirds. I knew he had lived in a small cage for most of those 5yrs. He was always very quiet in his former owners house. Today! Rainbow (aka) Rambo is sitting on my shoulder. He is the "ruler of my home". He is my loyal companion and "my boss". He has bitten my daughter and grandkids as how dare they sit on his couches next to me his queen!(when family visits I place him in his cage, safe for everyone) I open his cage door first thing in the morning and he flys to his *hat* does his little male bird eek eek and then he comes to me. From drinking water from my hand to taking shower/baths with me...falling into the washing mechine ...flying off my shoulder on my front porch to the wide blue yander and then coming back to my head (I almost had heartfailure) to bitting my lip and flapping his wings in my face when I try to nap. He steps up on my hand when it's time for him to go nite nite. He has even put himself to bed when I was on the computer too long. I love this little, funny and demanding bird. What a gift from God he was.

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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-11
The right bird with the right owner is a wonderous thing. I so wish more would/could have the experience.
karen kopchak - 2013-05-12
I adopted Ziggy, now 2yrs old from my daughter. He is just like your Rambo. I accidently knocked him into the dryer while getting clothes and he now flies into the refridgerator. Got pictures! And he is a cuddler. The not-so-nice behavior her exhibits also. Little stinker gave me a fat lip from a nip. Try telling yours friends that one. He also likes to ride the oscillating fan in my room and the ceiling fan in my girlfriends house. I move, and he's on me in a flash. In many ways, Ziggy is like having a flying two year old in the house. Helping out my daughter turned out to be the gift that just keeps on giving.
joanie - 2013-05-17
My Tweedy boy was the love of my life, my best friend gave him to me also in June 2009, for my Birthday. She said she thought he might be 4 or 5 years old. he took to me as if he knew me forever, We brushed our teeth and beak every morning, then we would have breakfast. Tweedy didn't care men to much, he'd give them a got bit, tweet's as I called him love the dogs if they bark he would try and do the same. He loved to play basket ball with his water bowels. we were enjoying then evening TV watching and play time, I put him to bed, I woke the next morning to find him with his rubber pet pup, he had passed away. MY heart is broken still don't know why he dead? I don't no if I should get another one I hurt so bad, don't want another to take his place or just get a different bird altogether? LOVED YOU TWEEDY SO MUCH. THANKS TO ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME GO ON.

sabby - 2013-05-16
can a peach face and lutino produce okay babys?

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-16
The Lutino Peachface Lovebird is the same species as the normal Peachface Lovebird. The same species of lovebird can breed just fine, but if you are breeding for a particular mutation, then you want to look at the genetics.

jayashree - 2013-04-02
Hi, I'm going to get a grey cockatiel he is around 6 months old. Can I train and attach with him? Already I am having a 6 month old Alexandria. She came to me when she was 3 weeks. I hand fed her and she is very much attached with me and my family. Is it good to get a cockatiel or not? Or I have to go 4 Alex? Will Alex move with cockatiel? Expecting your responses.

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-04-03
Yes cockatiels are friendly and easy-to-tame birds. I am not sure if your Alexandrian will get along with a cockatiel. You may want to keep them separated for a while and see how they react to each other.

Lorraine - 2013-03-30
My son came home from work the other day and when he opened the front door to walk in, a peach-faced lovebird landed on his shoulder. We have it in a cage in a room, because we have 8 cats. I do rescue & fostering. I've been doing some reading up on these types of birds and have some concerns about him/her. He seems to be scratching around his neck a lot and will put his paw on top of his head to scratch also. I don't know if this is normal or not, but the end of his beak seems like a black color and he keeps rubbing it on things in the room. Tonight we bought him a banana flavored cuttle bone to see if that will help. The first 2 days he seemed to be okay, but tonight he seems very agitated. By this I mean that he just kept flying from one place to another squawking his head off. Even when we put him back in his cage around 9:00 p.m. he just can't seem to settle down. Should I be worried about this? We are waiting to see if someone will put a lost ad in the paper. If after a week, there is nothing, then we will have to place him somewhere else, because of the cats. They are upset that they can't go into the room that they are accustomed to. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I should also mention that he is friendly by coming on your shoulder and finger, but will try to bite now and then.

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Lorraine - 2013-04-01
Wow, I just noticed the last post is from 2011 and nothing since. Well I guess I won't hold my breath waiting for a reply then. LOL!!!!!
Brian - 2013-04-01
One of our birds recently had an allergic reaction to one of the toys we gave her. She scratched all over constantly like she felt bugs crawling all over her. She was flicking her wings a lot and it seemed she was standing on hot coals. Very agitated. Does this sound like what she is doing?
Lynnette - 2013-04-02
Lorraine, The behavior sounds like a molting lovebird. Lovebirds can be moody but also can be the sweetest birds, When they are molting they are itchy and that will make them cranky. Try to see if the little guy will let you spritz him/her with a spray bottle of clean water. This dampens the feathers and helps them with preening. If the bird has been outside for some time (and I do not know where you are located) it can pick up mites (wild birds usually have them). That is another issue and an avian vet could check for that. (but that will cost, unless the vet will do it gratis and help you find a home for the little guy, should the owner not appear.)

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Animal Stories - People Talking About Lovebirds

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