Under the name “Inseparables” (Agaporniden) are several species of African parrots of the genus To Agaporn summary. The species most commonly held in private hands are:
- blackhead (Agapornis impersonated)
- sooty head (A. nigrigenis)
- rose head (A. roseicollis)
- peach heads (A. fishermen)
Lovebirds are lively housemates that you can enjoy for a long time thanks to their long life expectancy. Before you buy the lovebirds, consider whether you can meet the animals’ needs in terms of animal-friendly husbandry (e.g. with sufficient flight possibilities), cleanliness commitment and possible noise level and whether all other family members are also OK with it.
I wait
The species of the genus To Agaporn they are mainly characterized by their colorful plumage. The basic colors of the body plumage are predominantly green and yellow-green, although the heads of the different species are colored differently. The peach head, as its name suggests, has a rather gray head, while the forehead, cheek and throat of the peach head have a red-orange color. There are mainly blue parts in the tail feathers. However, there are also animals in different shades of blue or almost white. Breeding has produced numerous variations here. Some species have a white ring around the eyes, such as the black-headed, sooty-headed and peach-headed. The beak is also different. Peach-colored and black-headed beaks have red beaks, while pink-headed beaks are horn-colored. Depending on the species, lovebirds reach a height of approximately 13 to 18 cm and weigh from 45 to 60 grams. Life expectancy is 10-15 years.
Original distribution and lifestyle
Lovebirds originally come from Africa. Depending on the species, they populate different areas. For example, the distribution range of the blackhead is mainly found in Tanzania, the southwestern Zambezi and Kenya, while the pinkhead comes from southwestern Africa. They live together in small groups, but can also form larger flocks
Leer mas
Chihuahua pregnancy: everything on schedule – Russel only
Lovebirds live in small groups in the wild.
For lovebirds (also called “love birds”), the name says it all. Intelligent, diurnal and flight-loving birds form a couple that then remains together for life and engage intensely with each other (grooming, cuddling, sleeping together, etc.). This pair bond is part of the natural behavior of animals and must be able to be experienced.
Animal-friendly breeding
Accommodation
Animals should never be kept individually, but always at least in pairs or in a group with an even number of animals so that everyone can find a partner. If an animal’s partner dies, a new one should be found. Most promising, however, is the socialization of young animals. In adult animals, getting used to each other can be more difficult and take longer. It is best for the animals to first get to know each other at a distance in two separate cages, but with eye contact and within earshot.
Important: Lovebirds are very “talkative” birds that can also be very noisy. Depending on your living situation, your immediate neighbors should tolerate this. Please keep this in mind before purchasing! It is advisable to observe the animals “in action” several times beforehand, e.g. B. at a lovebird breeder or at our zoo in Kölle. This way you can get a better picture of the animals and evaluate their volume.
Leer mas
Steckbrief Spanish greyhound | Is a Galgo Español right for me? How should it be held?
There are several options for keeping lovebirds.
- A bird room with a “sleeping cage”: To have space to fly, it is recommended to keep birds in a bird room with a “sleeping cage”. This is where animals can best satisfy their great need for movement.
- To keep one to three pairs in an aviary, it must have a surface area of at least 200cm x 60cm and a height of at least 150cm (Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare). With this type of husbandry you should definitely offer your birds free flight for several hours every day. Despite free flight, the aviary should be set up in such a way that the animals have the opportunity to fly there
- It is possible to keep them outdoors all year round if the animals have access to a sufficiently large shelter protected from frost.
Your birds feel comfortable at a temperature between 18 and 25°C and a relative humidity above 60%. If you keep your birds indoors, offer them selective lighting with UV light (UVA and UVB). Your birds need UV light for certain metabolic processes and bone health. Plus, your birds’ feathers «glow» under UV light in a way unique to each lovebird. This means that the respective partner can be recognized even better (UV vision). Since window glass largely “blocks” natural UV light, a UV lamp is essential. For fluorescent tubes you need to use a ballast to ensure they don’t flicker. Unlike us humans, lovebirds can sense flickering, which is very unpleasant for animals. The same goes for televisions and computers.
You can cover the floor of the enclosure with dust-free hemp bedding. To install it, perches with different diameters are needed. Natural branches are ideal because they provide soft springs during landing and are therefore gentle on your birds’ joints. If you get very dirty, you can easily replace the branches. Since lovebirds love to gnaw on wood, natural branches are also suitable as activity material (e.g. untreated fruit trees, willows, hazelnuts).
Wider boards (wide enough to fit two birds side by side) are suitable for sitting and sleeping and should definitely be offered. Birds also appreciate the chance to bathe. Animals should have a cave to hide and sleep in. This should be open at the front to prevent breeding. If kept in groups, each pair needs their own cave for sleeping.
Does surgery or health insurance for rabbits make sense?
Lovebirds need about 12 hours of light each day. In the evening the rooms used by people must be adequately darkened. In completely dark rooms it is advisable to leave a weak light for orientation.
employment
Keeping your intelligent and active birds busy is very important to prevent them from getting bored. Here are some suggestions:
- Let your birds work for their food. Don’t just put fresh food in the food bowl, but stick, for example, fruit and vegetables on branches in different places in the enclosure or hide the food in holes in the branches. This means that your animals can search for food and live out their natural instincts.
- Spruce up the fence regularly. You can vary for example with different natural branches, offer softer and harder wood, provide cardboard tubes for gnawing, etc. Here there are (almost) no limits to your imagination. The material offered must be exclusively non-toxic.
- Regularly provide your animals with different natural materials, such as hay, straw, cork, etc.
- Play as an interior designer and make the aviary as exciting as possible for the animals, for example with ladders, swings, large branches or thick ropes. Make sure there is still enough free space to fly.
- Of course you can also actively participate in the work. This also has the advantage that your birds will become tamer. How about clicker and/or target stick training?
Like almost all birds, lovebirds are happy with a birdbath, which should be available to them all year round.
Nutrition
In addition to a grain mixture for lovebirds, the animals also willingly eat millet and fresh food. Various non-flatulent vegetables are suitable as fresh food, such as e.g. cucumber, carrot, pepper and courgette. Herbs and seedlings are also welcome. Fruits like You can also feed apples, bananas, pears and grapes. You should remove uneaten fresh food every day to prevent mold from forming in your bird’s enclosure. Your lovebirds need grit to be able to break down the grains they eat in their stomachs. This is the only way they can properly digest grains. Cuttlefish shells guarantee a balanced supply of minerals. Offer your birds animal proteins during moulting, e.g. B. in the form of egg food to facilitate the change of plumage.
Leer mas
Helps with black poop on your dog
Health
If raised properly, lovebirds are not very susceptible to disease and can live to a ripe old age. The basis for a long and healthy life are animal-friendly nutrition, sufficient movement (free flight), the company of other animals and employment opportunities. With birds it is important to react quickly to signs of illness, so you should keep an eye on your animals.
Many «bird diseases» are caused at home and can be traced back to feeding or husbandry errors. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity, metabolic disorders and muscle problems. Unsuitable perches, such as those covered in sandpaper or plastic, or all of the same diameter so that the birds always have to «hold on» in the same way, can cause painful ulcers on the plant pads. Lack of light and too dry air can cause plumage and breathing problems and promote aspergillosis. Keeping lovebirds alone has a particularly fatal effect: the result is psychological deterioration with behavioral disorders such as self-harm (feather plucking) and diseases.
Questions and answers about lovebirds
Who are lovebirds suitable for?
Lovebirds are ideal roommates for people who want daytime, intelligent, active and “talkative” roommates to spend intense time with. With a life expectancy of 10 – 12 years (in exceptional cases even 20 years), your lovebirds will make you happy for a long time! However, you should keep in mind that lovebirds do not become domesticated like cockatiels or parrots, for example.
Are lovebirds noisy?
Lovebirds are very “talkative” birds that communicate a lot with each other. Their cries can be very high-pitched and loud. We therefore recommend that you speak to your landlord and any neighbors who may be sensitive to your hearing before purchasing agapornis.
Can lovebirds live alone?
The “Lovebirds” got their German name due to their extremely close pair bonds. Once a couple has met, they are literally “inseparable”. As a rule, the pair bond lasts a lifetime. For this reason, lovebirds should never be kept alone. They would suffer greatly from loneliness and wither away.
How much care do lovebirds need?
You should allow 20 – 30 minutes for basic daily care of your birds (health checks, feeding, cleaning the enclosure and furniture). Furthermore, a weekly time investment of 1 – 2 hours is expected for a more thorough cleaning of the structure and closed environments.
What do lovebirds particularly like to do?
Lovebirds like to take a bath. You should therefore always have access to adequate beach facilities. Of course they also need as much free flight as possible. Like most parrots, they love to gnaw a lot, which is why they should always have suitable materials available such as natural branches, cork, etc.
Do you need documents for lovebirds?
With the exception of rose heads, proof of origin is required for the species mentioned, but there is no obligation to declare. Rose heads require no proof or reporting!
latest posts published
Belgian Malinois: characteristics of the dog breed
Norwegian Buhund: characteristics of the dog breed
Caring for the Chinese Water Dragon
The best brushes for cats
How to choose the best chew toys and treats for your dog
How to train your puppy to walk on a leash
Czech Terrier (Cesky Terrier): characteristics of the dog breed
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: characteristics of the dog breed
The best bags for carrying cats
woh I like your posts, saved to fav! .
Thankyou for helping out, fantastic info .