Getting a pair of lovebirds advice please

**sally1974** · 01-20-2012, 09:54 AM

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and have a few questions if you don't mind. I am getting two lovebirds next week. I have never had them before. I currently have 2 budgies. I am really excited but have been doing alot of reading on here and several people say they are quite aggressive. I am starting to wonder if I am doing the right thing. They are black mask lovebirds and will be in their own cage not with any other birds. Can anyone give me any advice of what I should know about them before they come? Obviously I can research but I really wanted personal advice and for someone to tell me they are not as bad as some people make out

**aobecksy** · 01-20-2012, 10:56 AM

I also just got two love birds. A male breeder and a 3 mo old chick. Maybe the age difference helped but they had no aggression towards each other from the moment they were on the counter to leave in travel cages. I am going to give them a few days beofre I let them into their larger cage so they can trust me and I them. Too much over stimulation I read is bad. I cover them too for breaks-- I was told they are only anxious about what they can see.

I have opened their travel cages mouth to mouth and they readily choose to hang out together. Next I am going to offer treats in the other cage so they get use to going back and forth. The cage is huge so I intend to leave the little cages in there open so they can perch and hang out there.

**sally1974** · 01-20-2012, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by aobecksy

I also just got two love birds. A male breeder and a 3 mo old chick. Maybe the age difference helped but they had no aggression towards each other from the moment they were on the counter to leave in travel cages. I am going to give them a few days beofre I let them into their larger cage so they can trust me and I them. Too much over stimulation I read is bad. I cover them too for breaks, they are only anxious about what they can see.

Thank you for the advice, my only other concern is how noisy are they? I keep hearing different things. It is kind of putting me off them.

**mask** · 01-20-2012, 01:19 PM

They are parrots, they are noisy! How bad is the noise? Well that depends who is listening. For me it's not a problem I love it, the wife on the other hand hates it.

Here's a video of my birds, get an idea of the pitch and noise of a masked lovebird. There's 45 birds in that room though, you will only have 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me5C5...eature=related

Are they aggressive? They can be yes, especially a pair. Whether or not they will be able to hang out with the budgies is questionable, probably not though, time will tell. Having said all that, they are full of character, spunk and can be really cheeky - there's a reason so many people are mad about lovebirds

If you have a pair - no nestboxes, no huts/tents or any of that. Nothing to shred or chew up and nothing to nest it. Keep the diet simple and feed them enough to maintain a healthy weight and condition. Good luck!

**sally1974** · 01-20-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by mask

They are parrots, they are noisy! How bad is the noise? Well that depends who is listening. For me it's not a problem I love it, the wife on the other hand hates it.

Here's a video of my birds, get an idea of the pitch and noise of a masked lovebird. There's 45 birds in that room though, you will only have 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me5C5...eature=related

Are they aggressive? They can be yes, especially a pair. Whether or not they will be able to hang out with the budgies is questionable, probably not though, time will tell. Having said all that, they are full of character, spunk and can be really cheeky - there's a reason so many people are mad about lovebirds

If you have a pair - no nestboxes, no huts/tents or any of that. Nothing to shred or chew up and nothing to nest it. Keep the diet simple and feed them enough to maintain a healthy weight and condition. Good luck!

Thank you for all the advice, love the video, you have some beautiful birds

I am thinking about keeping them in my insulated shed. Will they do ok in there? Thanks again.

**rainonfire** · 01-20-2012, 05:56 PM

mask, great video.. but those are black-masked.. They're SUPER quiet compared to peachfaced lovebirds.. LOL My Fischer's and Black-Masked are mouse quiet compared to the screeching of my peachfaces..

They are beautiful though.

**mask** · 01-20-2012, 06:10 PM

Rainonfire - She's getting a pair of masked, not peachfaced.

Sally, they would be okay in a shed as long as it's warm enough that water don't freeze. If the temperature gets low enough to freeze water, it's too cold for the birds. They would need to be acclimatised aswell, if they are currently heated. If they do go in a shed, then more fattier foods and space to fly would be needed. Add a little sunflower seed to the daily seed mix. In the cold they need the higher fat content.

**victoria stiles** · 01-21-2012, 04:00 AM

It is a personal choice how many lovebirds you want. But having a pair of love birds is a very nice idea. Thay are really very cute.

**sally1974** · 01-21-2012, 06:26 AM

Thanks so much everyone for your help. I am super excited about getting my pair next week :-)

**rainonfire** · 01-21-2012, 12:00 PM

Ohh.. My mistake. I didn't see that.

**olivesmum** · 02-18-2012, 01:51 AM

I have jut one but I wanted him to bond to me so I could have a companion as Im getting divorced and didn't want to be completly slone...Best choice I ever made...but its all a personal choice