I have been doing a lot of research on lovebirds as I have decided that a lovey would be the perfect addition to my family. I was debating between a lovebird and a parrotlet and it was a hard choice!
I will be getting either a peachface, peachface mutation, or a black masked lovebird. (Is there a certain one you recommend?) I already have a cage, and a few toys, but I need to get more toys, better perches, and better food dishes.
Although I do not have any lovebird experience, I have four years experience with budgies.
I was just wondering if you could tell me about about what it is like to be owned by a lovebird, eating habits, personality, etc. Do your lovebirds use a water dish or a water bottle? What type of lovebird do you have and does he/she used a playstand? I have read that cockatiel sized toys are good for lovebirds. Is that what you use? Do lovebirds eat things like Beak Appetit? Do they bathe in a bowl or under running water from a sink?
I'm sorry for bombarding you like this, but I do not how else to ask these questions.
Like I said, I have been doing a lot of research, but I'd love to hear from those who share their lives with these little ones.
A typical day for my future lovebird will be something like this:
Weekdays:
6:00 am: I will uncover the cage and he/she will have a little while to wake up before eating a breakfast of healthy foods.
7:00 am: He/she will be returned to cage. The blinds on the windows will be raised and cage left uncovered. I leave for school
3:15: I return home from school and take him/her out of cage and either place him/her on top of cage or on stand. Then, I will replenish food as needed and take him/her with me as I clean water dish/bottle and replenish. The rest is playtime!
4:30/5:00: He/she will recieve a dinner of healthy foods and share bits of my own dinner. After dinner is playtime.
7:30/8:00: Bedtime! Cage will be covered, if TV in room (my bedroom) is on, it will be turned off, and I will vacate the room until later when I sneak into bed. (I will have a nightlight on once the cage is covered but only until I am in bed.)
Weekends will vary due to my work schedule but not by much, and I do not work on weekdays. Fridays will be cleaning day. Because of the budgies, we do not have any nonstick cookware. We have candles but do not light them, and there is sometimes a fire in the fireplace, but the glass doors are always closed to keep everything out of the house. He/she will not be allowed in the furnished basement because there is an air freshener, cat, and pelletstove down there.
Out of the cage time will consist of one on one time with me, socialization with my parents (and other guests if there are any), and some time on top of cage or on a playstand if lovebirds use them. Also, there might be some time where he/she is in the cage with the door open and freedom to do as he/she pleases. Diet will consist of specially made fresh foods, some of what I eat (healthy, of course), and pellets that will be in the cage at all times along with fresh water. Bathtime will vary between before and after dinner. Which would be better?
There is a vet office about ten minutes from my house that my family has known them for years. None of the pets we have ever owned have ever been to a different vet. Both of the main vets (the only ones we see) are certified avian.
It will be a single love bird so is all of this acceptable? Any tips?
Sorry about the long post! I wanted to give you a good picture of what life will be like for the little one, but I think I went a little overboard.
I am looking forward to the day I bring my fid home, but I am not going to do so until I am completely ready. It is so hard to wait! He/she is going to be completely spoiled!
