There are a number of birds around us. Who have again loads of species and kinds that are then evolved from their ancestors! So every bird has a family they belong to. No bird can survive alone. It is the rule of nature that binds us together in a herd of animals or group of people. As mentioned earlier in Charles Darwin’s theory – survival of the fittest. You have to hang around with your family to be safe and sound. And you must have heard the saying that, ‘birds of same feather flocks together.’
So basically birds are usually seen in pairs or flocks.
Love birds are scientifically known as Agapornis. It is one of the nine species of the genus. They are a small extension of the parrot family, extremely miniature type of creatures. Lovebirds can grow up to 13 to 17 cms in length and weigh up to 40 to 60 grams. They are characterised by their long beak in comparison with their body structure. The wild type of Lovebirds comes in different colours, depending on their species. But usually the bottom half is green. It’s the upper half that varies in colour.
People taking these birds though call them love birds, never know why it is called so! Well, the obvious reason can be predicted by their being in a pair policy. Not only this that these birds just can’t be separated. But also because they eat together, sleep together, play and do all other chores n pairs. They like being in close serenity to each other. Thus, they are called as LOVEBIRS.
Lovebirds are exceptionally social and make quite good pets. They are one of the most demanded species in parrots as a pet. But as we know it is never easy having a pet, irrespective of its size. So though lovebirds are extremely small birds they need the same amount of care as the big ones. Here are some pointers one must remember while petting lovebirds.
- A CAGE HOME:Lovebirds are a kind that requires lot of space to move up and down for their daily exercise. So make sure your cage is spacious and have lots of perches. It should be at least 20 inches wide and 26 inches long. This are the dimensions required for one bird. As they are mostly taken in pairs, it should be much bigger. The material used for the cage should be cleanable and nontoxic. No health hazards should be caused. Your cage decides a lot of behavioural changes in the bird. The bird should feel home. It should have all the necessary things in the cage. The water dish regularly checked, filled and washed. The food dish too. Do not try to accessorize it more than necessary. It looks artificial and extravagant.
- WHERE TO BUY THEM FROM?– Usually the ideal place to look for love birds will be the pet stores. But not all pet stores are ideal. You should be careful that lovebirds you choose are coming from a healthy background and clean surroundings. Make sure the person you buying it from are enough educated about the bird, in order to help you with it in times of emergency.
- WHICH LOVEBIRDS ARE BETTER?– There are two types of lovebirds. The tamed that are hand raised and the one that are raised by their mother. The tamed birds make more delightful pets as they are more exposed to people and are familiar to humans. The non-tamed birds are not that a headache. But they take a little more time to get along with their owners in comparison.
- SINGLE OR IN PAIRS! – Lovebirds are most commonly seen in pairs. But there can be exceptions in cases. Like if your lovebird is tamed or hand raised, it is suggestible to buy a single bird. Such birds get along with their keeper nicely. But you should be able to spend more and more time with him. But if they are not hand raised, it is better to buy them in pairs. As they are on good terms with their fellow mates. If you don’t want your lovebirds to breed, make sure you buy either two males or two females.
- WHAT DO BIRDS EAT?– The regular diet of the birds usually includes the seeds, grains. But it is okay to feed them with fresh cut fruits and vegetables few days a week. Remember to wash the vegetables before feeding, so that the birds are not in taking pesticides. Cuttlebones for calcium should be given regularly. Even millet sprays can be given as treats.
Bird care is not as simple as it seems. These were some of the important things one must never forget in case of a lovebird keeper. They are extremely fragile and tiny creatures. So they require additional care than other birds. But if kept properly, they make very good, entertaining pets. They can be noisy at times, so do not opt for lovebirds if you already have tormenting neighbours.