**~~Lovebird problems~~**

[Nani]

Hi everyone,

I have a couple questions on behalf of a friend.
She obtained a lovebird from a breeder about a week ago...now this breeder I had mentioned (provided the link to his website...)

Anyways...she has been asking me questions, she says her lovebird slams itself against the cage and is frantic to get out and wants to be with them all the time. Even after she has spent hours with him, she says he is not eating his seeds but only millet and isn't touching the pellet food or any veggies or fruits even though the breeder supposedly told her all his birds were used to eating veggies and fruits etc.

I suggested she spend time with him and to take him out when he is quiet and calmed down, also to get a chick hideout to put in the cage so that he could hide out there when scared...i also suggested she get a cage with a square top..she said his cage has a concave top-i suggested she put some water in his pellet food so its easier to eat and t sprinkle some millet ontop to entice him to eat.

however, i thought the baby lovebird was about 10 weeks old..as she told me he was born in january-as per breeder-but she just told me he is 7-8 weeks old....
isn't that too young? I thought lovebirds weaned at about 10 weeks old.

Help please..what coould I tell her?

Also I apologize for the grammer errors and spelling errors..sometimes the keys get stuck -eek!

TIA!

[Hezz]

BudgiesBuddy is the resident love-bird expert, so hopefully this will flag for him to get back to you.

[BudgiesBuddy]

The chick is too young and apparently is afraid alone. I remove Lovebird chicks from parents cage after they are at least 70 days old, sometimes even more as every chick is different. 10 weeks old is minimum for me.

The chick will eat whatever he was eating with parents. He will only try new things once he is settled properly in his new environment. He might not have started eating by himself completely as some chicks are late in weaning, and he is still young to do so. The emphasis now should be to keep him full with whatever he eats and not to worry about not eating other things at the moment.

Lovebirds roost in the nest boxes throughout the year so providing him with a small nest box where he can sleep during night is necessary.

Keeping him close and providing him company all the time is required too at this stage.

Getting him a cage similar to his parents cage would calm him too.

This is unfortunate that the breeder sold a chick so young. Lovebirds chicks should only be given to a new home once they have settled outside their parents cage for a few weeks. I just feel for this little one.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Here is a thread with more information about Lovebirds.

My Lovebirds Breeding

[Nani]

Thank you so much Marianne and many many thanks to you BB! I hoped you would see the thread.

I thought the little guy was too too young...I am disappointed in the breeder.

I'll let my friend know. XOXO!

[Hezz]

You're welcome.

[roryo]

Lovebirds are crazy. they dont like to be alone at all and are nothing like budgies, i think thta the budgie nand the lovebird come from 2 different continents

[stace]

Mar 24, 2013 3:06:21 GMT roryo said:

Lovebirds are crazy. they dont like to be alone at all and are nothing like budgies, i think thta the budgie nand the lovebird come from 2 different continents

Budgies are Aussie birds, so they are naturally pretty laid back and hardy souls.