Breeding Love Birds

How to choose lovebirds to breed

Lovebirds are birds full of activity and vitality, and they are among the most common types of ornamental birds that are raised in homes , but before choosing lovebirds for breeding, some things should be taken into account, the most prominent of which are the following:

Species selection

Lovebirds are divided into three known types, which are as follows:

Peach-faced lovebirds

It is the most common type in breeding, and its body color is usually green, with a pink to red color for the face and neck from below, blue tail feathers, and a dark beak. It is the largest type of lovebird, and the peach-faced lovebird is less aggressive than the rest of the other species. It is recommended to raise them, especially in homes where there are children.

Fisher lovebirds

They are smaller than the peach-faced lovebirds, but more aggressive than them, but if the Fisher lovebirds get used to the place and people, they will be very calm, social and comfortable.

It has a green body, dark orange face, green tail, and red beak, with white rings around its eyes.

Masked lovebirds

They are smaller birds than the peach-faced lovebirds as well, and they tend to be aggressive like the Fisher birds, so the Masked Birds and Fisher Birds need a longer time to tame them, although they can become social over time.

Masked lovebirds are distinguished by their green body, black head, white rings around their eyes, yellow necks, red beaks, and a green tail, which may be blue in some species.

Determine the sex and number of birds

Here are the rules for choosing lovebirds based on their gender and number:

Choosing a male lovebird, regardless of the type, males are more comfortable than females who tend to be aggressive and usually restless.
Buying one lovebird when you want to bond with it and get used to it, but that requires additional effort to pet it and interact with it constantly, and on the contrary, the bird will become aggressive, and it can hurt itself, or get sick and depressed as a result of its neglect.
In the event that only one bird is acquired from the beginning, another bird cannot be added to it at a later time, then the bird is accustomed to the unit, which may lead it to kill the new bird.
Buying a pair of lovebirds when there is no time or desire to communicate with one bird, and a pair can be chosen from two different types of lovebirds, or of the same type, and their bond will often be strong with each other.
Introducing lovebirds to other types of birds gradually. When trying to put lovebirds in the same cage with other birds, there may not be compatibility between them at all, and different birds rarely accept each other, so it is better to put lovebirds in a separate cage from other birds, if any. .

Lovebird dwelling

Lovebirds are very lively, so suitable cages must be provided for them, and in the following are the most important conditions that must be met in the homes of lovebirds, and other matters related to these homes:

Each pair of lovebirds needs a minimum cage 50 cm long, 50 cm wide, and 80 cm high.
Each pair of lovebirds needs about 4 perches to climb on, clean food and water dishes, and wide bathing dishes.
Try to place the perches away from food and water dishes, so as not to contaminate them with droppings.
Avoid using plastic perches, as the bird won’t break or swallow them.
Place hanging boxes to provide resting places for birds.
Exposing the inner cage to light and fresh air constantly.
Protect the outer cage from cold or heat.
Maintaining bird housing and accessories clean and good, and this requires cleaning them daily, and sterilizing them weekly.

Feeding lovebirds

One lovebird needs between 60-45 grams of feed per day, and the food for lovebirds consists of nutritional supplements, vitamins, vegetables and fruits, and the most prominent of these foods are:

apple.
berries.
grapes.
kiwi.
the banana.
carrots.
Maize.
Nut.
nut.

It is worth noting that you should avoid offering avocados to lovebirds, as it may cause poisoning.

Many love birds

The lovebirds are monogamous ; That is, the bird can be associated with its partner throughout its life, and when it is lost, it may enter into a state of depression, mourning it, and before starting to multiply lovebirds, it must first know how to do so, and among the most prominent steps that help in this process are the following:

Providing a suitable home for the birds, and placing all the accessories in it, so that the birds feel comfortable and safe, and can reproduce successfully.
Choose a pair of lovebirds suitable for breeding, and avoid trying to breed lovebirds with other birds that do not belong to their kind.
Checking with the veterinarian or a specialist that the pair consists of a male and a female.
Choosing healthy birds, to maintain the health of the breed, and among the things that must be taken into account to choose healthy birds:
Round body shape.
- The bird’s ability to stand and walk well.
- Rounded chest.
- broad head.
- wide face
- Big strong eyes.
- Strong, clean feet.
- The large, clean, flawless beak.
Examine the birds with a veterinarian, to ensure their health, and to inquire about any questions related to the mating process.
He put the lovebirds in cages next to each other, then moved them to one cage after two days.
placing nesting material in the cage; To stimulate birds to build a nest.
Separate the birds if they do not accept each other, or one of them shows hostility to the other.
Providing suitable and sufficient food for the birds, and avoiding offering them only seeds, and suitable foods to feed them; Brown rice, apple, and toast.
Check the nest every morning to make sure there are eggs, and this is the only way to verify that mating has taken place. Usually, the female lays the first egg 10 days after mating, and after laying the second egg she incubates them together, and the number of lovebird eggs may reach 5-6 eggs . .
Ensure that the eggs are fertilized after 10 days of incubation, by holding them gently and placing them in front of a light source, such as a flashlight, and looking for a membrane inside them, which indicates fertilization, and the eggs need about 21-26 days to hatch.
Not dealing with the young after the eggs hatch, during the first 6-8 weeks, as the mother will take care of feeding her young and taking care of them during this period.
Get rid of any eggs that haven’t hatched, or young that have died.

Tips for caring for and training lovebirds

Since lovebirds are active and full of vitality, they need daily interaction and special attention. Among the most important tips for caring for and training lovebirds are the following:

Avoid offering chocolate, fruit seeds, caffeine, or alcohol to lovebirds, as they are dangerous to their health. You should also avoid feeding them sweets rich in fat and sugar.
Always provide fresh food and water, and get rid of fruits and vegetables that have not been eaten within several hours.
Lovebirds are acclimated to room temperature, but it should not exceed 27 degrees Celsius, and birds should be protected from cold weather.
Provide chew toys. Lovebirds love to chew, and toys are an important brain booster.
Provide clean, chlorine-free water for bathing lovebirds, twice a week, and birds can be sprayed with water instead of bathing.
Bird health monitoring, as follows:
- If she is in good condition, she will be active, alert, sociable, eat and drink all day long, and her outward appearance will be normal and healthy.
- If she is sick, her beak will be swollen, her feathers will be dirty, she will sit on the floor a lot, she will cough or wheez, she will lose her appetite, and she will prefer to stand on one foot.
Give the new lovebirds time to get used to their new home. Pets need about 7-14 days to adjust to their new place. During this period, you should spend several minutes throughout the day next to the cage, and talk to the birds calmly and friendly.
Dedicate at least 10 minutes a day to petting the birds, and the longer this period increases, the stronger the relationship between the owner and his birds.
Holding the bird and touching it gently when petting it or taking it out of the cage, and being careful not to deal with it harshly or forcefully.
Allow the bird to eat some seeds or fruits from the palm of the hand, so that it feels more comfortable with its owner.
Allow the bird to stand on the hand or finger, and avoid yelling at it, until it feels safe.
Be patient when training lovebirds, as it may take some time for the bird to gain confidence and get used to its owner.