If you are planning to adopt a baby lovebird, or if you own one. You might have one question for sure. How much time should I give to my little bingo?
Lovebirds(Agapornis) are one of the most popular categories of aviary birds. About six out of the eight species are available to bird breeders. This immense popularity of these small and compact size birds lead to 250 mutations in the past 20-30 years.
Attention to lovebirds is justified due to their tremendous energy and lovable nature.
A little lack of attention can lead to loneliness, boredom, and self-destructive behaviors. The average recommended time would be between 2 to 6 hours per day. It not only keeps them happy but also increases their lifespan.
Below are some of the must-know answers to queries related to “how much attention do your lovebird need”.
Do they need a lot of attention?
Lovebirds generally require a lot more love and care than other breeds. This is because they are very passionate, affectionate, and love to socialize. This becomes more imperative in the case of a bird. So if you have a busy life then you should be very careful in choosing the birds.
They demand a lot of attention and company. They love to play and spend a lot of time with their keeper. You should be 100% sure about providing them quality time. In the event of prolonged isolation, they may develop behavioral problems such as feather plucking, depressed head nodding, and biting.
Sometimes we have no choice but to leave home due to family or work commitments. If this situation occurs, you should have someone behind your back to take care of your birds. It would be even better if your birds are familiar with the person. Always keep an eye on them when caged.
If you must leave the lovebirds alone, be sure to return after 12 hours. This is more difficult when no other human or bird interactions are available to a single bird. Provide them with a quality environment and healthy food. Spend time playing, talking and holding them on your shoulder.
How to raise a baby lovebird?
Three types of lovebirds can be raised as pets
- Peach-faced
- Masked
- Fischer’s
Baby birds are quite easy to wean. Lovebirds usually wean when they get 7 weeks of age. Even a beginner can feed a baby bird after taking a lesson from a breeder or shop personnel. This feeding and weaning process leads to strong bonding.
Feeding habit should be, 4 times a day at age 4 weeks and 3 times a day at age 5-6 weeks.
Baby lovebirds love to poke around in shirt pockets, so it’s best to collect all shirts with large pockets beforehand before taking the baby home. Baby lovebirds feel comfortable when they are close to you. Place them in a cardboard box with a clean towel while you sleep.
Babies are introduced to the weaning cage to allow independence and a new home experience. When they are tired, they return to the box.
Set strong rules about chewing and biting in teens. Use good words, if you want to stop them from doing certain activities. This calm and loving tone makes for a loving bird through daily practice. You will be delighted with your choice of pet bird. Although you can’t kill the curiosity of cute birds.
Lovebirds are busy friends. They like to bathe with lukewarm water. If you have more than one cute bird as a pet, be prepared to be annoyed by their chirping.
Do toys help to keep them busy?
Lovebirds are very active and energetic. They wake up at dawn and spend time chatting, eating, playing with toys and grooming themselves. They are social animals and love to play. You can spend time playing with them. But if you don’t have enough time then toys can be a great choice in your absence.
Lovebirds enjoy playing with toys, chewing on them, and rolling in and out. Toys are a good option when it comes to pet birds because of their unusually energetic lifestyle. They love to show their acrobatic skills with different toys. It provides a wonderful entertainment environment for them. You are delighted and amused by their sneaky (in a positive way) activities.
It becomes difficult to pay regular attention to these little creatures. They are highly intelligent and intelligent. If neglected, they become bored. But work commitments and other reasons force us to leave home. Toys are a good option if you are confused about their health and well-being.
Provide a variety of toys and large spaces to amuse them and satisfy their instincts. The size of the cage should be sufficient to accommodate all the toys in it. But before implementing this decision, do some thinking.
What type of toys are helpful?
Lovebirds are very active birds and of course they love toys. They should have at least four to five types of toys to play with. Lovebirds love noisy toys, wooden toys, and travel toys.
They also love swings and stairs. Therefore, the toys in your cage should be rotated weekly. New toys should be added monthly as they get bored with the same toys.
Lovebirds are highly intelligent, so they benefit from puzzle toys and feeding toys. As for the sheets, they will be of natural wood. Because they sometimes chew them. They tend to fight and then they can get stuck and confused which is not a good situation to be in at all.
Always keep an eye on them to avoid accidental situations. You can also make toys from individual parts. It not only builds a bond with your beloved bird but also increases variety in toys. Lovebirds love toys that make sounds so a bell can help you bond. Be sure to provide them with non-toxic plastic toys.
When birds are taken out of their cage, they are more interested in exploring new things than playing with toys. Make sure your beloved bird’s playroom is free of any open doors or windows. There should be no water pots and hot stoves. Always supervise your pet bird when outside the cage to ensure safety.
How to entertain a lovebird?
Lovebirds are very social and love chatter. Life in a cage is harder to fight boredom than in the wild. So it is our duty to try our best to entertain them. Think smart about a mix of fun activities to keep them busy. It not only helps to relieve boredom but also improves their overall health and well-being.
Catch them daily and walk around the house. This holding and handling gives your little friend positive mental satisfaction. It also improves and maintains the bond between you and your beloved bird. This activity enables you to fully monitor the mental and physical health issues of your beloved bird.
Provide them with a variety of toys and after a couple of weeks move around. It not only keeps them busy but also helps them deal with stress and boredom. Birds love to play and chew on toys. Make a list of toys to offer your beloved bird on a planned schedule. Make sure toys are safe for potential bird hazards. Hiding food in toys provides a fun activity for your bird.
Teach them different ways to play with toys. Reward them when they perform well. Keep adding new recipes to keep the process going. You will enjoy spending time with cute birds. You’ll be so proud to show friends and family what a smart pet you have!
Lovebirds naturally like a variety of sounds so a radio or television helps them relax in the cage. Provide them with enough food options to keep them interested. As lovebirds feed on a variety of food options in the wild. The same old food can make them bored.
Should we introduce another lovebird?
The question whether we choose two lovebirds or a single one depends only on your choice. Lovebirds are very social and demand a lot of time. Before making any choices, make sure you can meet their social needs or your busy lifestyle.
Lovebirds usually live in flocks of 10-20 birds. Considering that it is better to have a pair rather than a single bird. But be careful in choosing another partner for your lovebird. They are sometimes very aggressive and territorial, especially the females. Bonded pairs must be selected. Who can spend good time with each other and love.
Lovebirds love to socialize. It doesn’t matter if it will be their species or another non-aviary pet/animal, such as a fish in an aquarium. Keep them in the room so they don’t feel lonely.
That doesn’t mean you can’t own a cute bird. It depends on your work schedule and family commitments. If you give them enough time, it will really be a wonderful experience to have a bonding lovebird. It depends on your dedication of time and attention, otherwise, the birds show signs of poor health and unhealthy behavior.
Do lovebirds get attached?
Lovebirds form stronger bonds with their keepers than other parrots. If you give it enough time and attention, they can become good companions. You will really enjoy spending time with them. Although this is not as profound as with other furry birds because humans cannot replace their mates.
A pair of well-bonded lovebirds understand each other’s needs. They spend time grooming each other. Sometimes they immerse themselves so deeply that they become angry at human intervention.
If you want to have a healthy and active relationship with your beloved bird, you need to invest enough time each day. The more time you invest, the stronger your relationship will be as a result. Then there is less chance that your beloved bird will get bored.
Related Questions
Do lovebirds like to be alone?
Not at all, lovebirds are social creatures. They want plenty of time for loving and playing with them. Although you lovebirds should be resilient enough to deal with a few chunks of loneliness as per their nature, they love company. You’re your lovebird’s flock, it’s your responsibility to be there to provide company and attention.
How do I know if my lovebird is happy?
How to know a lovebird is feeling good in caged life compared to the freedom of the wild? This question might intrigue you but the plain answer is that it depends on living conditions and the owner’s attention.
They spend their entire day actively singing, chirping, and playing. In case of loneliness, they show signs of low appetite, lack of interest in routine activities, and strange behavior.
In short, a lovebird’s happiness is directly linked to the level of attention they get from their keeper.
How to handle a lovebird in aggression?
Always approach your lovebird calmly and soothingly. Never yell at your lovebird, no matter how frustrated you are. Assure her safety and feeling of love to neutralize emotions. As lovebirds are very emotional and touchy. Build your trust with patience by practicing for a long time.
How to handle lovebirds when their mate dies?
It is difficult for you to handle your lovebird when he is mourning for his mate. But for recovery, you must be patient. Try to make him happy by providing extra care and attention. Better give him a tour outside. You can’t replace his mate but try to give him a feeling of love and attachment. Encourage him to eat even though he’s not willing to do that.
After trying your best, if you think there is no option then bring him a new mate. Carefully monitor your lovebird and help him in making a bond with a new bird.
Conclusion
Choose lovebird carefully after analyzing your work schedule and other commitments. Once you made a decision then dedicate yourself at least 2 hours a day to caring and petting your lovebird. It’s better if you buy a pair instead of a single lovebird.
Get in touch with us for the latest tips and tricks for handling your lovebirds. Mention your queries in the comment section below.
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