Help please!

[Casper]

Hi all,

we just got a love bird, it is a long story on another thread! Any way I was wondering if all of the people who are owned by their lovebirds could shed some light on this little guy.

First of all, is there anything I shouldn't feed him, at the moment he is on the diet I give my cockatiel, a mix of pellets, seeds, some nuts and fruit and veggies. He loves apple and broccoli but was unsure of the orange.

Second, what sort of cage is best, I bought a huge cage with him in it, to move him I put him in a smaller cage, now when my oh tried to put the big cage back together he made this awful racket, as soon as we took the big cage away, he calmed down! So it looks like we will buy him another cage, but what is best!

Third, toys, what sort and how many? Can they be really destructive?

Fourth, when he is excited, he does this little bouncy thing, it is sort of like dancing, is this normal?

Lastly, should I get him a companion? At the moment he seems to have bonded with my oh but is that going to be enough?


sorry about all the questions, normally when I am looking for a bird I will do heaps of research, long chats with breeders etc but that just didn't happen this time.

Thanks

cas

 

[CeciliaZ]

I don't have much experience with lovebirds - I have one lovebird and 4 tiels. I find the lovebird can be very destructive with her shreddable toys - she loves those and also toys that have bells. I have had her in several sizes of cages - she seems to prefer the flight cage the most. She loves her snuggle hut and swings. she also loves to bathe in her water dish, the tiels prefer to be sprayed. Good luck with him!

 

[Birdbabe]

He sounds perfectly normal to me, I feed my lovebird the same thing I feed my tiels. He likes scrambled eggs and cooked pasta too. My Squeak is very animated, he never stops. He bounces around everywhere. I wouldnt rush in getting hima freind, let him settle in and see how it goes, they can be very territorial and bossy sometimes. He probably has bad memories of that old cage, poor litle guy. As for toys, Squeak plays with the tiel toys, tissues, little boxes, millet stems,,,,anything. Like I said, he never runs out of energy. Good luck, and we need pics!!!!

 

[Marc]

Hi Cassie,
glad to hear you have gotten a lovie
As for first question, I can say to you that the tiel diet is currently ok, but just you can, you have to buy the specific seeds for agapornis (I prefer the mix without sunflower).
As for second question I can tell you that wider and wider the cage is, happier he will be;
there is not limit for the cage sizes .
As for the toys, I have understood that it is preferable to find the toys that keep busy his mind just as the toys where he is compelled to find the food; (I would not like the toys which the birds can shred them; especially the females can become very aggressive during the hormonal phase)
As for the Fourth point, I would tell that it's is enough normal.
As for the last point, I would like to say YES!! you have to buy another friend, but if you can already assure to your feathered friend a lot of time, then you can avoid to buy another bird.
good luck.

 

[65sunnyday]

Hi, Cass--I would suggest feeding a wide variety of fresh veggies--he's in a mood to try everything now--it'll be harder to get him to eat a wide variety of food once he settles down & feels more at home. Try things like sweet red pepper strips or chunks, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, romaine lettuce, sweet potatoes (cooked), blueberries, blackberries, etc.
Agree w/Birdbabe, he probably wants nothing to do w/his old cage (maybe sell it on CL, to help pay for new cage.) A new cage could be an inexpensive flight cage, like Kathie sells on MSBS. I bought one of these for my Green Singing Finch pair, & they love it & spend the whole day flying back & forth.
I think easily destroyed toys are probably what a lovie would enjoy most, but I also agree w/Marc--some shredables (like paper) should not be encouraged, as they could encourage nestiness
Being a dancing, happy birdie is what it sounds like your lovie is doing!

EDIT Just remembered, you're in Australia, so CL is out, but I know you have something similar....

 

[Naiera]

Just thought I'd add that whatever cage you get you want to make sure the bar spacing isn't too wide. They can fit through amazingly small spaces. 1/2" or less is typically recommended for lovebirds. Here we have the HQ/A&E flight cages - they have 1/2" bar spacing and the birds seem to be very capable of being able to grasp it and climb, but cannot squeeze out

Also in respect to adding a second lovebird. Just know that while the name "lovebird" implies a certain aptitude for companionship, it's not uncommon for two lovebirds to not get along well enough to live together. Not saying that would be the case, but it's something to think about before making the jump!

 

[Casper]

Thank you all,

I am feeling a lot better after a little research and a really expensive trip to Pet stock!

We got a lovely cage, it is very different from the former cage and he had no problem making himself at home. His previous cage was white, this one is black, it has a deep tray in the bottom and an external bathing area, it also has large doors to make access easier.

we also bought him a variety of toys, my cockatiel has not really been into toys for a while so we didn't have many toys around.

We got a basket weave chew toy, a couple of coloured wooden hangers, a snuggle tent, a cuddle toy, a bath, some millet and some new bowls! I hate the plastic bowls that come with cages! When we got home we cut some applewood perches, and proceeded to make a play area in one corner of the cage, a sleep area at the other! he has room to fly between the two and stretch his wings!

Not that he seems to be spending much time in his cage! My OH seems to always have him out!

 

[65sunnyday]

Cassie, you seem to be doing so well by your new lovie; I swear, he must think he's in heaven now! Got any pics of him yet?

 

[CeddysMum]

Such a lucky, lucky birdie! He sounds so happy already!

 

[Stormcloud]

Cassie you can get a wide variety of well-made toys from the Parrot Rescue Centre Shop in QLD. The also have a variety of toy hardware and toy parts so you can make your own if you wish. I sometimes get some hardware from there when I'm making some of my own and your hard-earned goes to a good cause. Parrot Toys - Parrot Rescue Centre

 

[Casper]

I have only one comment to make about lovebirds.....how can something so small and cute make such an awful noise!!!!

 

[Stormcloud]

I have only one comment to make about lovebirds.....how can something so small and cute make such an awful noise!!!!

That's why I keep Grass Parrots. That high-pitched screech just goes right through you...a bit like that kid at school that loved to watch everyone else cringe when they ran their fingernails down the blackboard.

 

[Welshanne]

So love to read this story and you all sound so happy together.
How did the little doggie fair as well? Would so love an update on the whole story.
Your new little friend has gone from one extreme to the other and must think he is in seventh heaven right now! good luck.

 

[Casper]

So love to read this story and you all sound so happy together.
How did the little doggie fair as well? Would so love an update on the whole story.
Your new little friend has gone from one extreme to the other and must think he is in seventh heaven right now! good luck.

Unifortunately the little dog didn't make it!

 

[SunUp]

If he is happy with you and your husband's companionship, and it certainly sounds like he and your oh are hitting it off, I wouldn't worry at all about getting another lovebird. As long as he gets plenty of attention, he'll be just fine. And as others have said, there is o guarantee Bobby and a new lovie will hit it off...they could just as well be foes! Or you could end up with a lovie of the opposite gender, which brings a whole 'nother set of issues. Single lovies can be awesome, happy pets.

 

[65sunnyday]

So sorry the little doggie didn't make it--at least you provided him a gentle passing. Personally, I would let That Woman know that her carelessness resulted in an innocent creature's death.

 

[Milo]

I have only one comment to make about lovebirds.....how can something so small and cute make such an awful noise!!!! ​

I feel your pain! I had a similar experience when I brought Bartleby home I'd say the diet you're feeding is great! Bartleby loves to shred and stainless steel toys he can bang against the cage... it feels like he loves anything he can make noise with!​