Is it good to separate the pair of lovebirds?

This situation arises with my friend. One of the lovebird always shouting like anything to call the birds outside from his home. The other lovebird that is silent started to shout once the other one shout. He tried to separate these two by giving one to his friend. Do you think this will solve this lovebirds care problem? I don't think so!

I feel its much better to keep them together. I asked him whether he tried any alternatives? I adviced him to change the cage position as well as rearranging furniture so to act as sound barriers.

The major reason for the birds are louder are as follows-

1. when they may be bored. So give them new toys, things to destroy, chew on etc.

2. Go outside and see how loud they really are. Ask neighbors also...

3. Try to get a new home.

It is not at all advisable to separate them. Separation will definitely worsen the situation as the remaining bird will call for it's mate.

Get to Know about Masked Lovebirds

The pet owners just love the lovebirds like anything. One should not get fooled by their size. Lovebirds are true parrots. As these birds are very small in size, their accommodation can be small as well; hence the expense is very much less compared to the full size parrots. Lovebirds care is utmost important for a pet bird owner

Most of the species of lovebirds are native of Africa and Madagascar. As the name suggests these birds love their partner very much and remain close to each other hours together. These love birds do fight savagely with their own species at the time of breeding. Though these birds are small, they can adjust with most climates. As these lovebirds are quiet and good breeders in captivity, these birds are ideal aviary birds. The lovebirds can not talk but are very intelligent creatures. These lovebirds can survive up to ten years and no longer than that.

The lovebirds are very popular exhibition birds. There are more numbers bird club in United States of America which is very much interested in love birds. Peach faced, Fischers and masked love birds are bred by many. The other species are generally termed as rare as they are unknown to aviary. They are nyasal love bird, Madagascar love bird, black cheeked love bird, Abyssinian love bird, red faced love birds,black collared love bird, and black masked love birds.

The head of the black masked love bird is black and plumage colour is green. The collar will be yellow in colour. The other important characteristic of this species is white ring that encircles both the eyes. In addition to traditional green, so many other colour morphs are also noted in few birds. Blue morph is the most popular in western hemisphere. The first mutation is the blue mutation that came in existence from the wild stock. Albinos, pastel blue, and cinnamon pied are the other colour mutations that are bred in United States of America. Pastel blue is a mixture of dilute green and blue.

The Black masked lovebirds are native of Africa. These love birds can also be found on the islands of north east Tanzania. These love birds are hardy species and the Australian breeders, most of them propagate these birds in colony system. The masked love birds tend to dip pieces of their nesting material in the water in order to soften them and to retain the humidity in their nest

Understanding Lovebirds Care

The love birds are affectionate pet. As these birds are very small, these birds can be maintained with ease. You won’t be requiring more space to have them in house. Love birds are very tough birds and are resistant to many diseases that threaten the larger parrots and cockatiels. These love birds are welcome in any house as these birds are cheerful and have gorgeous coloring. Love birds are good breeders and the breeding is very simple without much complication.

The love birds are easy to care. But it is the duty of the pet owner to get the much needed details about the birds from the breeder. The breeder should spell out the health guarantees and the kind of feed required for that particular type of love bird. The seed feeding should be avoided as much as possible. Formulated diets such as Hagen tropican granules are considered best as they contain vitamins and minerals that are required for the birds. It is hard to balance the diet with seeds as love birds are fussy eaters. The love birds can be fed fruits, fresh greens and vegetables. These food stuffs can be chopped and fed to the love birds. The wet food should be removed as and when noticed in order to avoid spoilage. Fresh corn is the most favorite food for most of the love birds.

The love birds should be taken to the avian specialist within the first week of the purchase. The vet will test the birds for psittacosis. Psittacosis can be transmitted to human beings too and hence one should be careful about it. The good news is that psittacosis is not common in love birds.

The numbers of love birds that can be purchased totally depend on the pet owner. There is no restriction on the numbers love birds to be kept as pet. If the owner has the time, money, space in the house, he or she can go in for any number of love birds. In general people buy the love birds in pairs as they can be bred in future. Besides the love birds will be happy with a partner. Identifying the sex is not all that easy in love birds as both male and female resemble closely. The pet retailer should provide the information about the sex of the love birds.

The new arrival should be kept in separate cage for a period of 30 days in case there were birds already in the house. The new arrival should be provided clean cage in the quite corner of the house.

How to Stop Lovebird Biting?

The love birds are very small birds; there is no doubt about it. But their bite is very painful. Those who got the bite are simply shocked, betrayed and dismayed. Biting is not rare, and is one of the few common problems one has to face while rearing the love birds. Let us discuss about the love bird biting and few tips to sort the issue out

Babies and beaks

Like any other species the love birds baby too will explore with its beak. The beaks of the baby love bird will be very sensitive. Hence one should never play with it any time. The flicking or pulling the beak will be highly dangerous and hence discouraged in total. The baby love birds may use the beak for grip purpose. You should never mistake this as bite. The beak for the love bird is almost like the hand for them. The love bird’s babies who are on the formula feed should not be permitted to explore their beak. Once the birds are weaned and are socializing, the bird is permitted to explore the beak.

Nibbling juvenile

The love birds start using their beak for nibbling before biting. If you find the love birds biting the finger all of a sudden without any provocation, then you should enquire the owner about the birds. They will invariably tell you that their birds has been nibbling their finger for long time.
Hence, if you are first time love bird owner, then please be informed that the nibbling activity should be discouraged from the beginning. The birds should be admonished as NO BITING firmly and the birds should be getting rid of the shoulder or ear where she is sitting at the time of biting. Few birds will not obey and correct their behaviour immediately. One should not get tired and should continue the practice till the birds start behaving well.

Distraction method

Distracting the bird is the best method to stop nibbling. Unscented Kleenex or untanned leather will be enough to distract the love birds from biting the finger. At times the love birds may be wary of the thing that you offer to them. One need to play with the item as if it is the toy and the love bird that is watching this will attempt to bite it and will soon forget biting your finger by shear distraction.

Holding the beak

If the love bird is not stopping the habit of biting even after your best efforts, one can think of holding the beak method. As per this method the love bird beak should be held between the thumb and finger gently and NO BITING should be shouted. Make sure the beak is not damaged in the process.

Time out

Some birds may not change the biting habit that easily. For such birds time out cage method will be of immense help. Time out cage is a small cage which is used commonly to teach a lesson. If the love bird is biting you in spite of the reminders, then take the love bird out and give him no bite command. Let the birds be kept in time out cage for few minutes let us say five minutes. This time out cage will have only a cup of water and no toys in it. When the love bird is in the time out cage, then there should not be any talking, scolding or discussion with the bird.

How to train lovebirds- the first step to successfully train a love bird

Are you the first time love bird owner? Do you want to know the ways and means of training a love bird? There are few steps one need to follow to train the love birds. Here is little information about the love bird training.

Gain trust

Gaining the love birds trust is first and fore most things in training the love bird. This is very much required if the love birds has not handled by anyone already. If the love bird is having any unwanted behaviour, then gaining the trust of the need of the hour. Biting is one such unwanted behaviour. Gaining the trust is easy. All one needs is little patience. The process should be started slowly.

To start with the love bird can be made to touch the tip of a small object like pencil or small stick. If the love bird can do that successfully, the birds should be treated or praised. Every time the bird responds positively, treat it again and again. Then proceed to touch command. For touch command one should use the finger or hand. The bird will slowly start trusting you. You also there after will handle the love bird with confidence. Gaining the trust of the love bird is the most crucial aspect in training the love birds as discussed already. Once that part is crossed, the rest of the thing will be easy.

Rewarding the love bird often

Once the trust is gained then one can move on to other new skill development. Stopping the unwanted sounds, coming to the owner as and when called, mimicking the sounds made by the owner etc are some of the new skills that can be taught to the love birds. Every time the bird obeys your command, the love bird needs to be rewarded with its favourite food or toy.

The key in love bird training is positive reinforcement. One should be aware of the love bird treat and one should have them in hand in sufficient quantity always. Nuts, millets, sun flower seeds etc are the treats that are liked by most of the love birds. Some love birds will prefer the love of the owner more than anything. Each love birds should treated as per its liking if they respond to the training well.

Perfect one skill at a time

The love birds are tiny little birds and hence do not try to teach them so many thing at a time. One should start with one skill at a time and the training should continue till the bird perfects it. Once the bird has perfected the skill, and then the other skill training should be attempted. Putting a ball in the loop, waving and turning around are some of the skills that can be taught to the love birds which will make them busy and chase away their boredom. If one tries to teach so many tricks at a time, then the bird will get confused and may not pick up anything and hence such practice should be avoided.