Lovebirds Conjuctivitis

Do you know there is 30% mortality among lovebirds due to conjuctivitis? (Source:Science direct) So it is mandatory get to know about the disease conjuctivitis in lovebirds. The main symptoms of conjuctivitis in lovebirds include lacrimation, whitish thick mass at the corner of the eye, anorexia and ruffled feathers. In severe cases, red, swollen, watery, or crusty eyes; sometimes the eyes are so swollen or crusted over that the birds.

Causes for Lovebird Conjunctivitis

The main causative factors for this condition includes protozoa, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and injuries. You can confirm the cause for the conjunctivitis only by performing diagnostic tests.

How To Cure?

Don't go for any natural remedies to cure this disease in lovebirds because Chances are the bird would be dead before they could take effect. Enrofloxacin, Doxycyclin, or erythromycin are the best drug of choice for treating this condition. But consulting an avian vet to treat your lovebirds is highly recommended.

After giving antibiotics it is always being advised to give after any antibiotic treatment for control lovebirds conjunctivitis.

How To Control Feather Plucking in Lovebirds?

Have you ever noticed few missing feathers in the crests of wings or breasts of your lovebirds? Then, you should keenly watch your lovebirds for feather plucking. Although this falls under behavior and health, you should be carefully analyze the reason for feather plucking in lovebirds.

Initially feather plucking might have started innocently. But you should nib this problem in the bud itself. Otherwise it will cause your lovebirds complete bald. Then it is really difficult to bring back the colored feathers.

Feather picking among breeding pairs is a common phenomena. A hen lovebird will often clear few hairs on her belly, which is called as brood spot and also pluck few feathers from her mate's head as a mark of mating behavior among themselves.

The other reason for feather picking is hormonal issue. Lovebird pyoderma is the condition which occurs due to hormonal imbalance. If you're having a single lovebird, this is a major problem because it has no outlet for his/her energies.

Rule out the skin infection by examining the skin scraping on microscope. If they suffer from any skin infection- bacteria or fungus, immediately contact your avian veternarian to treat the condition.
Anxiety, frustration and boredom may also lead to feather plucking in lovebirds. There was lovebird which started to pluck its feather after fixing a photograph just in front of her cage. Removing the photograph solved the problem. Who knows what made that poor creature to get more anxious after seeing that particular photograph.

Treatment

Find out the cause for the feather plucking and remove the same at the earliest possible time. Don't use styptic powder in the wound as it would aggravate the condition. Do use diluted betadine solution to clean the wound. More over, don't treat the lovebird on your own. Please do seek an appointment form your avian vet to completely get rid of this problem. ALL THE BEST!!!

A Myth About Lovebirds Exposed

Today one of my friend asked after reading so many articles in this blog- "I read most of the articles in your blog. You have never exposed the fact that if one of the lovebird dies, other will either die of loneliness or wither off. Please write about this in your next post. " Then only I researched a lot whether this fact is true or false. This is absolutely FALSE!

I have seen so many lovebirds in my cage, after death of its mate, the lovebird tried to bond with other bird. Some of them are succeeded too. If they can't find a mate, immediately they will try to squawking continuously due to boredom.

If I remove this lovebird and maintained in a separate cage, the lovebird tries to bond with me and also considering me as its mate. (What the hell!). After few days, she cuddle and chirp at me she loves me as I am her mate.

So I came to conclusion that this theory of lovebird will die once its mate was separated due to varied reason is really a MYTH. If anyone tell this story, immediately defer their statement and you should act as an eye opener to them.

Advantages of training Lovebirds

"What the advantages lovebirds have over the larger species of parrot especially in case of lovebirds training?" is the question asked by most of the lovebird breeders. As the lovebirds are small and easy to handle, they can be trained at all ages.

You should tame your lovebird before giving training to the same.

Lovebirds are cute and highly sociable bird. It is easy to train a lovebird because-

1. They are so intelligent

2. Handling them to train is so easy.

You can train the lovebirds to learn different techniques such as perching on your hand, to perform different tricks and to talk also.

Whether your lovebird is a squawker? Don't worry! You should find out the reason why your lovebird is squawking. He/she may be disturbed by anything including a fly or T.V., get bored, or want your attention. If you want to control this act of squawking, you should ask him/her- "What's all the noise for?, Wanna play with me?, What are you doing?" in an excited and happy tone. That's all!!! Your lovebird will be more happy and immediately stop squawking. This simple training of lovebirds will help you to build more confidence on you.

Happy Training!!!

Why Do Lovebirds Chew?

Most of the lovebirds owners know that lovebirds are so keen on chewing something. Yes!!! Chewing is a normal behavior of a lovebird. Lovebirds like to chew because it not only feels fun and good for them, but also help them to maintain their beak properly.

If you see uncontrollable chewing, then proper lovebird care should be ensured. Sometimes, if you allow the lovebird to move freely in your home, it will start chewing your personal items including furniture, clothing, or toys. If they tend to chew each and everything, it would be really dangerous because they will try to chew on, anything from toxic materials to live wire.

How To Prevent Lovebird Chewing?

You cannot watch your lovebird all the time through out the day. The best remedy is to remove all the tempting items out of range. Provide plenty of access to things he can peck on.

There are few toys available in the market to prevent bird chewing. Cosmic crunch toy is the most preferred one. You can get this from your local store. If not, browse the net to find suitable one. Some of the toys contain bird safe beads, blocks, rope, and exercise material for the lovebirds beak.

Some of the lovebird owners prefer to go for natural methods to prevent bird chewing. They will offer treats o their lovebirds viz., uncooked pasta or shell. You can buy the treat cage with toys and The Jungle Joy treats from local stores also.

Hope you'll prevent the lovebirds chewing activity by following the discussed simple lovebirds care above. ALL THE BEST!!!

Tips For Traveling With Lovebirds

Lovebirds are one of the most difficult birds for a person to bring with them on a trip because they are very easily startled. If you want to travel by air, they don't necessarily work well. Traveling will definitely made the lovebirds more excited and also sparks their curiosity. Even some of the lovebirds suffer from separation anxiety.

You can make the traveling with lovebirds more easy, if you follow the simple tips discussed below-

You should know the daily routine of the bird and if they have the same pattern while traveling, you need not worry. If you are carrying young birds, then it is very easy task because they can adjust easily for the change in surroundings. But the adult birds would have a certain pattern of living, which they don't want to change.

You should ask yourself the following questions before start of your journey-

• Is it legal to traveling with lovebirds into the state or country?
• Upon arrival, when will I have time for them?
• How much time they will feel comfortable within the cage?
  

If you get answers for these questions, your trip won't get ruined by the lovebirds. An important step to be carried out with your lovebird is vaccinate the bird against any dreadful diseases prevailing in the area of visit. Happy Journey!!!

Things To Avoid Feeding Lovebirds

You should not feed your lovebirds with rhubarb, avocado and chocolate. In addition to this, you should not provide any beverages containing alcohol or caffeine. Some of the lovebird owners are ready to give foods rich in monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites, nitrites, or nitrates. Avoid feeding processed meat also! Apple seeds, fruit pits, fava and navy beans, sprouted lima, and onions should not be given as a feeding stuff.

It is always advisable to avoid any foods high in sugar, salt or fat and junk foods. Lovebirds are suffering from lactose intolerant, so milk and milk products should be avoided. But you can give little quantity of yogurt and hard cheese.

As a prestigious lovebird owner, I can give a valuable suggestion to avoid feeding peanuts in the shell as they might be contaminated with Aspergillus fungus - a precursor for respiratory distress. This fungus produces a toxin called aflatoxin, which will damage the liver. Good quality human grade peanuts are advisable to feed the lovebirds than a mold infected peanuts. Blanched (unsalted) and shelled peanut are highly advisable.

What is The Best Feed For Lovebirds?

All food with no signs of mold are highly appreciated to feed the lovebirds because feeding plays an important role in lovebirds care. All the Best!!!

How To Deal Broken Bones In Lovebirds?

Spontaneous veterinary intervention is needed when your lovebird get injured leg or wing by crashing into a wall. Place your lovebird in makeshift brooder, which is the most comfortable place for a broken bone lovebirds.

Don't allow any frightened lovebird to fly freely within your home. This will lead to get injured his/her wings or legs. Then it would be permanent injury. Sometimes, these lovebirds will injure their neck, which will ultimately lead to death of the lovebird - hemorrhage in the brain.

Broken leg bones are really challenging task for a vet because these lovebirds will always try to remove the cast by pecking through out their daytime.

Do perform a regular visit your vet's office until the leg heals completely. Don't ignore the possible broken bone in lovebirds!!! Otherwise, this condition will cause a permanent injury to your lovebird. Hence lovebirds care during this period is important to avoid improper set of leg bones as well as permanent, crippling effect.

Lovebirds Diet - What it prefers much?

Lovebirds care is an important aspect of keeping your Lovebirds safe. As a Lovebird owner, you should know what a lovebird will love to eat and also what should you to provide them?

Lovebirds should be provided with a good basic seed mix or pellet food, in addition to fresh fruits or veggies and fresh water. Don't give only seeds to eat!

do you know the lovebirds lifespan purely depends on its food? So, you should provide a clean and healthy food for this cute little lovebirds.

Good care and balanced diet will make your pet lovebird a shiny and bright bird.

Courting Behavior of Lovebirds

Have you ever noticed the courting behavior of lovebirds? It is very rare. They will stick their noses in every other bird's business without hesitation. Normally the female lovebird opened its wing wide apart and raised its tail. It will scratch its beak with its leg. Then the male will mount on it.

If both of them will be same sex. The female behavior will be exhibited by both of them.

When to Consult your Avian Vet?

As a lovebird owner, you should know when to fix an appointment with your avian vet. Hence I have pooled some of the important disease symptoms of lovebirds below. If you have noticed any of the symptoms, you ought to contact your vet immediately-

1. head, tail or wings drooping
2. vent soiling
3. More thirst, which will lead more water consumption
4. disorientation
5. Change in normal activities- Preening playing with toys, different perching areas etc.
6. abnormal sleep pattern
7. Picking of feathers or falling of feathers in excess amount
8. Untidy and fluffed up appearance
9. Head circling
10. Loss of appetite

Lovebirds- Are they really Lovable?

I love my lovebirds like anything. In spite of my initial problems with these birds, I didn't get any problem from these lovable creatures. I am going to discus about the problems encountered with my lovebirds while I have started to rear.

Once upon a time, I was a disgruntled lovebird owner because I bought my hand-fed baby lovebird from a pet store and that poor creature had bitten my fingers. Moreover, it was acting in such a way that it was going to be murdered when I finally caught it and also refuses to come out of the cage. These worst habits of a lovebird made me to think twice- Is it necessary to rear this bird? Moreover I was in an undeserved reputation about these unfriendly wild parrots.

I researched a lot to made my lovable lovebirds really lovely one. I read that lovebirds purchased from pet stores will behave like this only because these pet stores won't concentrate on these tiny creatures when they are housing both large parrots and tiny lovebirds. Once lovebirds haven't got human interaction at least for a week, then they would become as a wild.

Initially I didn't loose my heart. I spoke daily with this tiny lovebird. I spent nearly 30 minutes to speak with this fella morning and evening. It became normal within 15 days. Now I will finish my breakfast with my lovebirds in my shoulder.

The lesson I learnt is - "lovebird babies need to be stroked, talked to, played with, and reassured. These babies will make the best pets." So don't worry!!! You also adore your lovebirds within couple of weeks, if you have bought the same just few days back. Don't loose your heart and think that you have selected a worst pet in the world. ALL THE BEST!!!