Peach Faced LOVE BIRDS

A trio of peach-faced lovebirds. The left one has a standard "peach-face" crest, the middle one is a peach-face and a fischeri hybrid (as indicated by the two-colored beak and smaller body size) and the right one is a color mutation aptly named as "orange-faced" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My Peach Faced lovebirds are pint-sized bundles of joy. They have the full personality of parrots while being easy to house because of their size. My birds are little clowns, playing for hours at a time. They love to hang from toys, spin them around, and dance on your shoulder. I have had to watch my buttons! They love to pull them off my clothes! Such loving little birds: they love to snuggle and preen.

Many people believe lovebirds must be kept in pairs. This is simply not true. A single lovebird makes a better pet because it bonds to you rather than to another lovebird. While it is easy to keep a pair of lovebirds tame if you plan on spending lots of time with your bird you can keep it alone. However, if you work long hours and don't think you'll have a lot of time for your love bird, I recommend you get him/her a companion. This will keep your lovebirds happy and prevent boredom. It is important to realize that while lovebirds are a small parrot, they have the intelligence and abilities of some of the largest parrots.

They never stop amazing me with their ability to escape their own cages. I have to put copper wire on the cage doors to keep them in, and sometimes they figure out how to untwist the wire and open the door!

Lovebirds will sometimes try to become the little bosses of the household. I recommend using the same type of gentle dominance training that is used for larger parrots.

Are you looking for a bird that you can teach to talk? Lovebirds can learn to mimic sounds and speech on occasion. However, I don't recommend that you buy any species of bird only because of the expectation that it will speak; even the famous African Greys sometimes don't learn to speak. So, if that is your only reason for buying a bird, I'd seriously urge you to reconsider as the bird could end up abandoned because of your own disappointment.

In my opinion, love birds and parrots both make great pets even if they never utter a word. We have both in our home. The lovebirds chatter away all day, never making a sound that anyone can understand, except as being simply 'noisy chatter.' However, our Double Yellow Head parrot makes up for it; his vocabulary is very long, extensive and he is constantly talking.

If you decide to breed love birds just remember they are prolific breeders. You may soon, as we did, find our home overrun with lovebirds! And, as a word of caution, "do not" put bark chips in the nest of the baby birds. Though the odor is pleasant to humans and is good for older birds it is too strong for baby lovebirds. I must admit I learned the hard way and had casualties on my hands! Paper is the best thing to put in the nest along with some alfalfa. Do not get powdered alfalfa, rather dried alfalfa blades. If you decide to use paper, do cut the paper (newspaper is best) in long strips and put it beside the nest. Mama will take it into the nest. And, remember if mama snaps at you she is only protecting her nest!

My favorite lovebird is Lucky, so named as it was our first clutch and she was the only one, of six, that survived when I put the bark chips in the nest.

We do not have an aviary breeder, rather, our lovebirds are paired off in separate cages. The best way to tame babies quickly is to remove the babies from the next when they are about two weeks old and hand feeds them. This way, the birds get the best of both worlds: the immunity conferred from their parents and the tameness that comes from being handled by humans.

Our lovebirds are abundance weaned so that they are happy, well-adjusted birds. We feed them pellets, a good seed mix, alfalfa, wheat grass, quinoa, sprouted beans, and other veggies and fruits. And, oh yes! Lovebirds love to not only eat grapes but to toss them around also. In short, lovebirds love playing. They keep us entertained for hours. If you decide to get a lovebird for a pet, you will have made an excellent choice!

By Ms CiCi - Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

The Distinctive and Vibrant VIOLET LOVEBIRD

Photo by raider of gin

Among the very stunning mutations of the lovebird comes in the most desired shade or color which is the violet. This color dominates and is seen in the lovely violet lovebird. With the effervescence of violet, it grows to be a greatly admired color on the lovebirds, particularly in African lovebirds. The mutation was initially developed in Denmark and is not spreading around the world. The presence of the violet color usually creates a vivid lovebird color pleasing to look at especially that the violet color usually dominates the body of the bird.

You will see that in a violet lovebird, its rump color transforms from turquoise to purple. The violet mutation is known as semi-dominant, meaning a lovebird that inherited the violet from equal parents may exhibit more vivid violet color. This is referred to as the double factor violet. Meanwhile, a bird that inherited violet from one parent has a single factor violet. On the other hand, not all double factor lovebirds can show the intensity of violet since the mutation can vary in birds.

Violet lovebird breeders believe that the purple tint displays best when combined with a white-face blue mutation. Various white-faced blue lovebirds can appear as violet lovebirds along with a silky white face and remarkable violet rump, thus proving as a striking arrangement. The occurrence of a single dark factor likewise picks up the influence of the violet tinge all over a lovebird's body.

More lovebird raisers and breeders have become attracted to the effervescent violet lovebird. There are numerous kinds of the purple lovebirds and a number of them illustrate a modest peach trace on the forehead while others display green and blue colors. Such colors which are also very pleasing and pretty to look at when mixed with the violet color.

It could be difficult to tell the difference between the single purple with a single dark factor. It is also called medium from the double purple with a dark factor. Single parent lovebirds with double factor purple, when harmonized with a non-violent lovebird, will result to entirely single violet baby lovebirds.

Violet lovebird is a peach-faced lovebird mutation. In whiteface lovebirds, you will see the presence of vast variations in the color of their bodies, ranging from a single hue of violet to other purple hues. The violet rump shows that these African lovebirds carry the purple factor. The whiteface varieties also differ with an intense apricot band in their forehead.

By Elise Gonzalez Elise Gonzalez is a lovebird expert. Do You Want To Know How To Take Care Of Your Lovebird & Build Great Friendship With Your Bird? Discover more information about Violet Lovebird, visit Lovebirds Care. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

A Beginner's Guide to LOVEBIRDS

Photo  by BékiPe 

Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close to each other, not because they are in love with each other. Lovebirds can and do mate for life, but it doesn't happen every time.

Lovebirds are social birds and should be kept in pairs. They are very active and curious birds and can even be quite aggressive at times. They can chatter all day long with a sometimes very shrill sound. Lovebirds are native to Africa and a few nearby islands. In their native habitat, they are found usually in small flocks of 10 to 20 pairs.

Lovebirds are of the class Aves, the genus Agapornis and members of the Psittaciformes, or family of parrots. Agapornis comes from the Greek words: Agape meaning love, and ornis meaning bird.

Lovebirds typically live from 10 to 15 years depending on a great deal on the care they are given, some lovebirds have been known to live to be 20 in captivity. There are 9 species of lovebirds, of which 8 are available as pets. They are not related to the South American parrotlets.

Sexually Dimorphic

1. Abyssinian Lovebird

2. Redfaced Lovebird

3. Madagascar Lovebird (Grayheaded)

Sexually Monomorphic (Similar)

1. Black cheeked Lovebired (Blackfaced)

2. Fischer's Lovebird

3. Masked Lovebird (Black Masked or Yellow collared)

4. Nyasa Lovebird (Lilian's)

5. Peachfaced Lovebird (Rosyfaced)

Characterized by Eye Rings:

Without Eye Rings:

1. Madagascar

2. Redfaced

3. Peachfaced

4. Abyssinian

With Eye Rings

1. Masked

2. Fischers

3. Nyasa

4. Black cheeked

What To Look For In A Healthy Lovebird

1. Active, alert and curious disposition

2. 4 well formed toes, 2 forward and 2 backward, nails must be complete

3. Bright, round eyes

4. Nostrils clear of discharge

5. Feathers lay tight against the body

6. Smooth beak that closes completely

What To Avoid In A Healthy Lovebird

1. A bird that sits huddled in a corner or on the floor

2. A bird with feathers fluffed up

3. Deformed toes

4. Vent fouled with feces or badly stained

5. Signs of weeping or runny eyes

6. Excessive plucking or excessive missing of feathers

7. Bald spots

8. A squeak, wheezing or other abnormality when breathing

9. Nervous behavior

10. Lethargic behavior

11. Dull or lifeless feathers

12. A bird too large for it's normal size (birds can and do get fat)

13. Nasal discharge

If you are a first time or novice lovebird owner, don't choose a bird that you think may be sick, choose the healthiest bird you can find. Many sicknesses can be cured, but better to leave these birds for experienced owners. Don't buy a sick lovebird because you feel sorry for it. If possible get a certificate of health from the breeder or pet shop guaranteeing that a replacement will be made if the

lovebird becomes sick or won't breed.

Lovebirds are not rare, there are a lot of them around to choose from. So take your time and select only birds that you really like the coloring and personality of.

Keeping Lovebirds as Pets

Lovebirds should be kept in pairs, one female and one male. They very much enjoy each others company, although don't be alarmed if they have occasional spats with each other. If a pair of lovebirds constantly fights, then it's best to find each of them another mate. If you're buying birds from

a breeder, make sure the breeder will exchange birds if they are not compatible.

As a general rule, only one pair of birds should be kept per cage. Keep one or more cages far enough apart from each other so they do not allow birds to be able to peck at each other.

When introducing new birds to a home with pre-existing birds, the new birds may not always be welcomed readily.

Lovebird Behavior

Lovebirds need exercise out of their cages daily. Remember: Birds Love to Fly Being cooped up in a cage all the time is not healthy for them, physically or emotionally. Birds kept in a cage will often sit on a perch and flap their wings incessantly.

Lovebirds need between 10 to 12 hours of rest a night. Do not keep your birds in rooms with televisions or other noisy devices when it's time for the birds to roost. Total darkness is not advised either, use a small 7-watt bulb in the room to provide enough night light for the bird to find it's perch and drink or feed if needed.

Keep all electrical wires, extension cords, etc, completely hidden and unavailable to the birds. Never use Kerosene or similar type heaters that give off fumes. Coal and wood stoves are no-nos. No matter how hard you may' try, a wood burner will emit fumes and smoke into your home that may kill your lovebird. If you have a home with a wood burner completely isolate a room only for your birds and use an infrared or electric heater. A fairly constant 80 degrees Fahrenheit temperature is about right for lovebirds.

It's not a good idea to keep finches, cockatiels, rosellas, or budgies with lovebirds.

By Dave Cole - Copyright (C) For more really cool info on all aspects of Pet & Wild Bird Care: visit Petey, Petunia & Tweet Tweet's site and take advantage of their extensive library of free avian care tips & fun info.  - http://petcaretips.net/bird_care.html Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

LOVEBIRD Care - Few Crucial Tips to Keep Your LOVEBIRD Healthy For Years

Photo  by BékiPe 

Lovebird's care isn't a simple achievement. You must keep in mind the things they require, to keep them healthy and in good condition. They deserve to be supplied with correct nourishment, with the most healthy foods, cages, toys, and allocated special time to bond with their owner.

They adore interaction for their socially active creatures. Without social interaction either with a human or another Lovebird or not having diversions, Lovebirds can be bored and stressed that might result in a behavior problem. Certainly, you as a Lovebird owner do not want that. This makes an important addition to your Lovebirds care list.

Do not get inexpensive feed for your Lovebirds. This may be listed in your Lovebirds care list, inexpensive, cheap seed mix or pellets regularly do not have enough nutrients your Lovebirds need to keep them healthy, but they can also be used, if and only if you provide fresh foods for your Lovebirds. Try and give them fresh foods at least 3 to 4 times per week.

Lovebirds love fruits except for avocados, don't give them those for they're deadly - add this to your Lovebird's care list. Just ensure you have washed it from the insecticides and pesticides utilized by plant growers. Another addition in your Lovebirds care list - remove all uneaten fresh foods from your Lovebirds cage before they're ruined.

Another addition to your Lovebird's care list is that you want to supply a dish of water for your Lovebirds, they're dependent on water, and they adore to wash. This also helps keep their feathers in good shape. You must also take into account, the weather, Lovebirds shouldn't be exposed to freezing conditions (add to your Lovebird's care list).

There are lots of perils coaxing around the corner you may not know. A number of them that you may want to put in your Lovebird's care list are blue-green algae, chocolate, dog and cat spit, household cleaners and detergents and Teflon. When Teflon is heated and gets too hot it gives off smoke that is deadly to your Lovebirds.

It's also best to get a good vet before any bad conditions arise. You can try for suggestions, because there are vets who see few cases of bird health issues, and don't have much experience in diagnosing and treating them.

One thing more you need to put on the list for your Lovebird care is the cage. Plenty of things can become a difficulty if you do not have the right cage for your Lovebirds and the right place to put it. You must ensure the cage is of suitable size. Lovebirds like to fly around, so you should confirm it is sufficiently big enough for them to be in a position to enjoy flying. Also, you need to place your Lovebirds cage in a spot where there's good daylight. Lovebirds like to get warm under the sun after showering.

Having this information about Lovebird care, you know how the how's and why's of keeping a Lovebird. Good luck.

By Elise Gonzalez - Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Fischer`s LOVEBIRD - Agapornis fischeri

Fischer`s Lovebird - Agapornis fischeri

---

---

BELIZE - A Destined Location For The Newlywed LOVEBIRDS

Great Blue Hole, Coast of Belize (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After a tiring and hectic wedding ceremony, the newlywed couples need a romantic and secluded location to spend some intimate moments together. The honeymoon is a perfect time to know your love of life and spend some memorable moments together. In order to make your honeymoon a success, you need to choose an ideal honeymoon destination. Out of innumerable destinations spread evenly all around the globe, Belize is considered to be the destined spot for the lovebirds. The former colony of British Honduras, Belize is the only country in the entire Central American Land without any shoreline on the Pacific Ocean. The only shoreline is located on the Caribbean Sea on the east. This amazing land is located amid Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south and the west.

With a long Caribbean coastline, this amazing destination is similar to the primitive British island Colonies. Being located in the tropical region, Belize experiences a hot and humid climate. The months of May to November are known for their long duration rains, whereas, the dry season can be experienced from the months of February to May. So, you need to plan your trip after considering the above stated climatic conditions. The remains of the Mayan culture are one of the main highlights of this destination. The couples can explore the Mayan ruins in order to make their trip more exciting and memorable.

Belize can be easily accessed through airways or waterways. Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is the main international gateway to this amazing honeymoon spot. You can also board quite a number of Caribbean cruises in order to reach this location. Honeymoon in Belize is not just about tropical forests, luxurious beach resorts, and pristine beaches. There is a lot more to explore and innumerable activities to enjoy in the region including wildlife, trekking, scuba diving, cave exploration tours, kayaking, horse riding, canoeing, swimming, manatee watching and much more.

Apart from all these, there are quite a number of romantic resorts and hotels available for the honeymoon couples. Seven Seas Resort, Ruby's Hotel, Blue Reef Island Resort, Tradewinds Paradise Villas, Belizean Cove Estates, Belize Beach Suites, La Perla del Caribe, Exotic Caye Beach Resort and Ambergris Caye Luxury Resorts are some of the main places to accommodate in the Belizean Land. You can spend your intimate honeymoon moments at these hotels and resorts and make your trip worth remembering for a lifetime.

So, if you are looking forward to a perfect honeymoon destination, then visiting Belize is a perfect option for you.

By Carolyn Henerson Looking forward to spending some intimate moments with your love of life at an ideal honeymoon location? If yes, then there are quite a number of honeymoon destinations waiting for you. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Finally, Our Female LOVEBIRD Laid Eggs

Photo: Publicdomainpictures.net

Do you intend to keep and breed lovebirds? If you do, there are things that you need to consider before you buy a couple of lovebirds to breed. As a beginner in keeping this type of bird, you need to know many things before you decide to buy them. If you want to see them breed, you have to be sure that the couple consists of a real female and a real male lovebird. Failing in determining their sexes will result in failure in breeding because homosexual birds will not result in infertile eggs to produce lovebird's chicks. 

Another thing that you need to know is the age of the couple. If you do not want to wait too long for the couple to breed, you have to be sure that the lovebird couple that you buy are fully grown a couple. Because lovebirds reach maturity in the age range of 8 to 12 months old and are ready for breeding when they are between 12 to 15 months old. Lovebirds have a long lifespan if they are well taken care of. So, you have to prepare a good home for them to stay and breed for a long period of time.

What makes people interested in lovebirds? It is hard to deny that lovebirds have special ways of attracting pet lovers. First of all, lovebirds are cute with their colorful feathers and parrot's look. The lovebird couple invokes their keeper's love with their attractive look and nice and loving behaviors. The most interesting behavior that can be demonstrated by a lovebird couple is their loving behavior. They demonstrate their loving for each other every moment of the day even if it is not their mating season. The most frequent behavior demonstrated by them is feeding each other. Possibly, this behavior equals to kissing in humans. Lovebirds are also known for their intelligence and playfulness. 

So, in addition to equipping their cage with several perches and a nest box for breeding, you need to provide them with several toys for them to play with. At first, you may think that a lovebird which bites its perch, cage bars, and toys does it for nothing. In fact, it has a purpose with its bites. You need to learn why it bites. Many things about these birds will amaze you at first, however, if you love them you will learn about the things that amaze you. You can find these new lessons from other lovebirds' keepers who share their experiences on the net.

Being inexperienced in keeping lovebirds, we had to wait very long for the female of our lovebird couple to lay its first eggs. The reason was that we were unable to detect the age of the female bird when we bought the couple. We just trusted the former owner who said that we would not wait for long to see the bird breed. Now we realized that the female bird that we bought was about 4 to 5 months old at the time we bought the couple. 

And it took us more than 8 months to see it mating and laying eggs. However, we are lucky that the couple consists of a true female and a true male, so we finally could see the female lay its first eggs. Now we are waiting for the couple's first chicks to hatch. My son has already prepared a new cage for the chicks when they are able to live independent of their parents.

By Majelis Abu Hamid Majelis is a librarian, an English teacher, and a translator working at the Library of Graduate Program of Sriwijaya University (Pascasarjana Unsri), Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia.  Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

BLACK LOVEBIRD - Fascinating Facts and Care Tips For Black Lovebirds

 Black-cheeked Lovebird - "Agapornis nigrigenis - head and shoulders" by Simon Redwood  - Licensed via Wikimedia Commons.

There are 3 sorts of Black Lovebird, the Black-cheeked Lovebird, the Black-Masked Lovebird and the Black-collared Lovebird. They're labelled as Black Lovebirds for their different traits.

One of these Black Lovebirds is the Black-cheeked Lovebird it is especially green and has a brown head, red beak, and white eye rings. It is commonly regarded as a race of Lilian's Lovebird. This species of Black Lovebird is found in a comparatively small range of Zambia and is exposed to habitat loss.

Adults of this kind of Black Lovebird have bright red beaks, while minors of the species are similar but with a more orange bill. They are loud, which are similar to those of other Lovebirds. The Black-cheeked kind of Black Lovebird inhabits in deciduous woodland as it desires daily access to water. It is where the surface water exists and with permanent supply. It is listed as an exposed species of Black Lovebird since it's got a tiny population which is declining due to continuing habitat loss, especially due to gentle dehydration of the water bodies.

This kind of Black Lovebird which is the Black-Masked Lovebird has an overall black head and the true feather colour is green with a yellow collar. Another consistent characteristic of the Black-Masked bird is its white ring around both eyes. They can be discovered on inland plateaus in northwest Tanzania, where they dwell in light brushwood and trees.

Friendly and companionable naturally, Black-Masked, Black Lovebird is one of the most well-liked Black Lovebird that's kept as pets. They're commonly kept in captivity as a couple and give much attention to their partner. They usually breed between 10 months and 5 to six years, at this time they can produce many clutches in the year. In purchasing a Black-Masked ensure they're young birds. This kind of Black Lovebird can be simply recognized by a giant dark patch on the higher beak, which isn't as bright as the red beak of the older ones.

Through the years, many colour mutations have been made from this kind of Lovebird and Black-Masked is now available in many colours. Traditionally, they've been fed only seed mixes, while they can survive for an extended time period on such a diet, they fall into poor health. They shell their seeds so vitamins added to the outside are dropped.

Also, they are straightforward to reproduce species. They are frequently in a rush to start with another clutch that it may result in abuse to the chicks by pushing them out of the nest. Chicks should be removed and hand-fed.

Another sort of Lovebird is the Black-collared Lovebird or sometimes called Swindern's Lovebird. A tiny long parrot, local in Africa, this kind of Lovebird is generally green with a black collar or band at the rear of its neck. It is infrequently kept in captivity due to its dietary need for a local fig, so they do not breed well. Without this urgent diet requirement, they're going to die inside a few days.

There are 3 subspecies of this kind of Lovebird. It is distributed in a large range in equatorial Africa. They hide high in the forest shade and are characterized as being awfully shy. The range is huge that the population of this sort of Black Lovebird is tough to guess but it was made certain that it isn't under significant threat.

By Elise Gonzalez Elise Gonzalez is a lovebird expert. Do You Want To Know How To Take Care Of Your Lovebird & Build Great Friendship With Your Bird? Discover more information about Black Lovebird, visit http://www.lovebirdscaresecrets.com. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Breeding LOVEBIRDS (Part Three)

Lovebirds (Agapornis) at Zapari zoo, Tel Aviv, Israel
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The quality of food that you give your breeding pair of lovebirds will have a direct impact on their health, ability to fertilize their eggs, and on the health of their young. This is not a situation where you can rely on parrot mix, and your parrots need plenty of fresh healthy greens and fruits. Of course, seeds will also remain an important part of the diet.

The mating act itself will be conducted by your lovebirds on their perch, and to facilitate the process you will need to provide a steady perch that the birds can comfortably grip whilst they engage in the act of mating.

Once your bird has laid a clutch of eggs you will be eagerly awaiting the hatching process. Do not be surprised if all the eggs do not hatch as this is common. The next most common problem after un-hatched eggs is when young chicks do not have the ability to walk well and suffer splayed legs. To avoid this make sure that the nest box flooring is of a suitable flooring that the parrots can walk on.

An experienced breeder will manage these two issues and keep a watchful eye on the parents as they manage the feeding of their young by regurgitating food and giving it to them. To help this process you need to provide foods that are easy to process and regurgitate and ample supplies of water.

Of course, the areas covered in this three-part series have been quite basic and we encourage you to do a lot more research before starting on the exciting journey of breeding parrots.

Danny Oakes has articles on all aspects of parrot care, and is a great read for those that keep parrots as pets. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

---

Breeding LOVEBIRDS (Part Two)

Domesticated lovebirds in an aviary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is the second article in a series looking at breeding those loveable small parrots known as lovebirds. In the first article, we looked at the importance of diet and maintaining clean conditions, and noted that scientific sexing is usually required to identify a breeding pair.

Once you have your pair you will need to cage them either in an aviary or breeding cages. Some breeders will have groups of pairs in an aviary and successfully breed, but the easiest way to put a pair in a dedicated breeding cage. It must be a large enough cage to allow your birds freedom to exercise and have a variety of perches and toys. The minimum diameter of any cage is twice the parrot's wingspan and twice its height, with two parrots in a shared cage it must be larger still.

A nesting box must be provided. It is advisable to have a ledge that provides entry to the nestbox so that the lovebirds don't fly directly in and damage the eggs, furthermore, you should make sure that it has easy access for you to inspect the eggs. Suitable nesting materials include dried grass and eucalyptus leaves. 

Some of the materials should be damp as this is important for successful nesting. Another option is just to pop along to your local pet store and purchase special nesting material.

In the next article in this series on breeding lovebirds, we will look at diet in more detail and the process of raising a young parrot.

By Danny Oakes Danny Oakes writes on http://parrotcare.tropicalpets.com/ about all aspects of parrot care, for those that keep parrots as pets. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Breeding LOVEBIRDS (Part One)

Masked Lovebird (Agapornis personata) at Auckland Zoo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lovebirds are especially affectionate parrots. There are nine species of lovebird, eight from Africa and one from Madagascar:

• Madagascar Lovebird
• Abyssinian Lovebird
• Red-headed Lovebird
• Peach-faced Lovebird
• Masked Lovebird
• Fischer's Lovebird
• Lilian's Lovebird
• Black-cheeked Lovebird

It is the long monogamous relationships that these birds have that gave rise to the name lovebird.

Their precise scientific classification is:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Psittaciformes
• Family: Psittacidae
• Subfamily: Psittacinae
• Tribe: Psittaculini
• Genus: Agapornis

It is hard to describe the color of lovebirds because they have been bred in so many different colors, but basically, they are mostly green with different colors on their upper body. They are really small birds which grow up to seventeen centimeters in height and sixty grams in weight - along with budgies they are some of the smallest parrots. On average they live for up to fifteen years.

In this three-part series, we take a look at what is involved in breeding these lovebirds.

Caring for parrots takes on a higher level of involvement when you make the decision to start breeding. You need to have very healthy specimens, kept on a special diet, and kept in very clean conditions. Of all of these factors, the most important is the diet, because not only is this important for fertility, but also for ensuring that the young a very healthy.

The first step to breeding lovebirds is getting a male and female, no easy task since these birds are sexually dimorphic and require scientific sexing to tell the male and female apart.

In the next article, we will discuss what special steps owners need to take for successful breeding

By Danny Oakes. Danny Oakes writes on http://parrotcare.tropicalpets.com/ about all aspects of parrot care, for those that keep parrots as pets. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Baby LOVEBIRDS

The blue mutant of the Masked Lovebird Agapornis personata.
This variety is called blue Masked Lovebird. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Exotic birds can come in many various colors; the number of different colors they have can't be determined by just examining one individual. Every different individual bird can have their own unique pattern and colors relevant to their species.

* Exotic birds are available in all sizes and shapes to ensure that you are able to determine on which kind of bird you should have from the cage you are able to afford. Most of these birds are really big and have big wings whilst other birds could be extremely tiny. A small cage could be spacious enough to let it even fly inside it.

* Even if you are not there to exercise the pet or keep it challenged throughout the day, a few toys would be sufficient to keep the animal occupied throughout the day. Just like children they adore playing by themselves and watching them play can be really the treat.

* Some species of parrots try to discover how to speak for themselves. You can discover your parrot trying to mimic the sounds it is hearing through the course of the day. This would be a good sign which means you could attempt training it to speak much more and much more.

* Most species of exotic birds like parrots and Macaws are very lively animals which are extremely playful and are active all day. You can anticipate hrs of fun playing with them without tiring them out.

* Birds are some of the most lovable pets around the world due to their playful nature and natural beauty. Getting a bird can be so much enjoyable whilst it teaches the owner to become responsible and care for the pet.

* A nicely groomed and loved pet bird can turn out to be very lovable and it can turn out to be extremely loyal to you. It could usually be about you look out for you if someone comes too close they might even attack that individual.

* Exotic birds can be groomed to be very clean simply because it is feasible to bath them every day. Some birds will adore bathing every day and even like to play with water. This tends to make certain you have a clean pet that likes water and is simple to bathe.

About The Author  Galen Goodwin Lovebirds, Lovebird Lovebirds adore to play and they are comical to look at whether or not they are playing alone splashing in their water dish or having fun with your hair and sneaking into your collar. Lovebirds make wonderful pets. Lovebirds, Lovebird The author invites you to visit: http://www.articlecity.com

---

---

---

A Few Good Species of LOVEBIRDS Kept in our Homes as Pets

Lovebirds - Photo by Nita J Y

Lovebirds are intelligent birds that kept as pets in most homes. If we ask a person what a lovebird is, then the most common answer you are likely to get is that. Lovebirds are friendly, energetic birds from the parrot family which is kept as pets by many people. These birds are tiny that look like the parrots. However, these birds come in many different colors. Their faces are big with strong beaks and the color of the face is generally brighter than the rest of the body. There are many different kinds of species and their color also varies accordingly. Most often, young lovebirds have a black band on top of their bill and this fades away as they grow older.

Lovebirds belong to the genus called the Agapornis, which is derived from the Greek word ‘agape’ which means love and ‘ornis’ means bird. There are nine kinds of species in love birds and all of these belong to the native of Africa, except one. The Grey-headed lovebird is the only one which comes from the island of Madagascar. The black-collared lovebird is the only forest-dwelling bird. Apart from this, all the other kinds live near the equator in the dry Savannah regions. The lovebirds like most birds also live in flocks that range from a few to more than eight hundred birds. Larger flocks are formed around areas where there are food and water available during the dry seasons. They eat a wide range of foods from the wind like leaves, fruits, nuts, twigs, seeds, and occasionally insects and small animals as well.

Out of the nine species three of them are kept as pets. However, it is very difficult to differentiate male and female in this species. However, both of them can make up to be very good pets. Three species which can be kept in our homes are Fishers Lovebird, Masked Lovebird, and Peach-Faced Lovebird. The Fishers Lovebird has a bright white circle round his eye making him one of the ‘eye ring’ species. His wings are dark green in color although he has a light green color body. Its beak is orangey red in color with a piercing voice.

The Masked Lovebird is also one of the ‘eye ring’ species. It has a black color face and head making it look like a mask. The body and wings are green in color while its chest and neck are yellow. This is a very playful and affectionate pet for many. The peach-faced lovebird is the most commonly kept lovebird. It has green wings with a blue color on edges of its feathers and tail. The color of the face and neck are a variant peach to pink color and a pale pinkish tan beak. This bird is also an energetic and devoted lovebird.

However, there is a wide variety of lovebirds found by the pet industry and from the breeders. Some of them are Abyssinian Lovebird, Albino Lovebird, Black Masked Lovebird, Dutch Blue Lovebird, Fischer’s Lovebird, Lutino Lovebird and Peach-faced Lovebird. The breeders also provide guidelines and best ways to keep your birds healthy. Also, today you find different kinds of housing facilities available for your birds depending on the space required.  These are also named differently like a bird cage, bird perch, bird hide or nest box, Aviary. My friend Cody has an Aviary just in front of his house where he breeds about 50 lovebirds. He spends most of his day with them. When I tried entering into it, an alarm went off and discovered that he had attached the birds' nest to the ADT Security Systems installed in his house. I was very Inspired by the varieties of lovebirds that Cody had in his aviary.

---

---

---

LOVEBIRD Cages - Choose the Best Cage For Your Lovebird

Two pet domesticated lovebirds in a cage watched by a large dog. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most vital things you need to remember in keeping Lovebirds is the Lovebird cages. The birdhouse should be with suitable and proper size for your loved Lovebirds. Your Lovebird cages should have sufficient room for your Lovebirds to fly openly. A cage 2 feet by 2 feet is sufficiently big for a single Lovebird, but you should purchase a larger one that's even better.

Ensure that the Lovebird cages you are purchasing are those that have bars that are close together. These cuties can occasionally be like Houdini who can squeeze themselves out of the cage, and voila, they fly away, rejoicing the taste of liberty. Also ensure that the door latches are well secured, picking locks is another one of their specialty. As you already know, Lovebirds like to fly round and round, they also like to climb backward and forwards in their cages.

It might be a good idea to provide your Lovebird cages with nice cozy perches. Good perches are a vital component in a lovebird's cage as they spend a heap of time standing on their feet. You may need to avoid choosing unvarying diameters of perches in your Lovebird cages for they may lead to injuries, the foot gets held up in the same position, and they get nearly no exercise and always have pressure points in the same location. You need to have at least 2 perches in your Lovebird cages with varying diameter.Swinging perches could be a nice option, for your Lovebirds will enjoy them. Swings, ladders and interlocked bamboos are a favorite.

Cleaning your cages can initially be a tedious responsibility. Having so many bars, cracks, and openings to clean, it can be tough for new Lovebird owners to work out where to begin. The crevices and cracks provide a perfect place for germs to swarm and as a Lovebird owner, you do not want germs prospering in your cages.

Setting and sticking to a cleaning schedule for your cages is crucial to holding down your job as simple as possible. Breaking down the method into easy jobs each day, week, and month not only saves your resources but makes sure that your bird always has a clean and comfy cage to live in.

Cleaning must be done to attenuate your Lovebird's likelihood of infection. Obviously, grimy Lovebird cages can end up in a large number of significant health problems in your Lovebirds. 

You've got to wash the liners, clean the food and water dishes, wipe down surfaces, including bars, perches, and toys, change the perches and revolve the toys, when washing the cage parts confirm it is totally dried. Wet surfaces on your Lovebird cages can wet your Lovebirds and they easily catch a cold.

Maintaining a clean environment for your pet takes just a couple of minutes a day, but can potentially add years to your Lovebird's life. Do your part to make certain that your beloved pets stay ecstatic and comfortable by keeping their Lovebird cages fresh, clean, and in shipshape.

By Elise Gonzalez Elise Gonzalez is a lovebird expert. Do You Want To Know How To Take Care Of Your Lovebird & Build Great Friendship With Your Bird? Discover more information about Lovebird Cages, visit http://www.lovebirdscaresecrets.com. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

---

LOVEBIRDS - What Does it Take to Care For These Special Pet Birds?

Lovebirds for wedding present - Photo by eeekkgirl 

You’ve probably seen these gorgeous birds in your local pet store. They are the miniature green parrots with the big expressive eyes. Love Birds are a good choice for someone who wants a parrot but doesn’t want the commitment that a large parrot requires. A large parrot such as a Macaw can live for 60 or more years, while a Love Bird seldom lives more than 15 years.

Before you go out to buy a Lovebird, you should be aware of what you’re getting into. Lovebirds, like all parrots, are relatively high maintenance pets and therefore require a dedicated and special type of pet owner. Here are some important factors to keep in mind.

Companionship

Love Birds, like all parrots, are extremely social creatures and crave the company of others. If you don’t have a few hours to spend with him every day, then you’ll need to buy another lovebird to keep him company. Without the companionship of humans or another bird, your bird is likely to exhibit problem behavior such as extreme aggression, excessive preening, and constant squawking.

Choosing The Right Lovebird

An ideal lovebird will be 6 to 10 weeks old and hand–fed. A young, hand–fed bird is much easier to tame and train than an older, parent–fed lovebird. The most commonly available species are:

• Peach Face - This species is usually green, with a peach head, face, and neck.
• Fischer’s Lovebird - This bird has a green body with shades of yellow and orange on their head and neck.
• Masked Lovebird - This bird has a green body, with a dark brown colored brown mask around their face and neck. Just below this mask is a yellow band of feathers.

Housing

Lovebirds require a large cage with plenty of room to stretch out their wings and play — obviously, a pair will require a larger cage than a single bird. The majority of the cage bars should be horizontal and there need to be a few perches located at varying levels. Place plenty of toys in their cage to keep them stimulated.

Health

Love Birds require daily exercise to keep them healthy. This means you should let them out to fly every day in a safe room. Make sure there are no open windows or predators (such as dogs or cats) in this room.

You should feed your lovebird a quality parrot seed mix and plenty of fresh, clean fruits and vegetables that are bird–safe. This will give them a good variety that matches what they might find in the wild. You’ll need to remove any uneaten food every day.

By Jennifer Manning - Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---