Monthly Archives: May 2011

This topic is probably one of the most misunderstood things about lovebirds. The myth is you must have 2 when in reality, if you want a tame lovebird, you should really just get 1. There are so many more options than that though and to figure out how many lovebirds you should get, you first have to decide what exactly you want from having a lovebird.

A tame lovebird that loves you immensely and worships the ground you walk on? Get one hand raised and properly socialized lovebird.This is a pet that will require a lot of time and attention from you. Love birds will really only be thriving when they have a bond with another and all the interaction that comes with it, so for a lovebird to be alone is like a prison sentence. So know up front a single tame lovebird is a commitment, it needs you terribly and will love you immensely.

If you opt for a lovebird that was parent raised and intend to tame it, you will want only one lovebird. If you get a baby and give it lots of time and attention, taming it can be a quick process, but only if there is only the one. Take a lovebird and put it in new surroundings and give it the option of another lovebird to love or a strange human to love, they’ll pick the bird every time. This goes for tame babies, too. Immediately after weaning, when tame babies go to their new homes, it’s a little scary and they don’t know you yet. Let them have another bird to bond with or, for that matter, neglect giving them the attention they need, and they can go wild very quickly.

Want a pair to watch together and love? There’s nothing wrong with that. If you want one of them to be tame and you know you can get a male handraised baby, then get it, but make sure the female is parent raised. Hand raised female lovebirds that are allowed to become part of a bonded pair can and will become very vicious. They don’t have any fear of humans, and when they get hormonal they will get territorial and protective, and it can be oh so painful, they will make it impossible to even take care of the cage. Parent raised females, while they will learn to trust you, will still fear you somewhat, they won’t come out at you beak open, to take apart your hand from the very core, they’ll allow you space.

Want a perfectly tame pair? That is possible! It is going to be a commitment, though. You will need 2 handraised male lovebirds and you will need to house them separately for quite some time. Each bird will need to develop a bond with you on an individual basis. Male lovebirds are so different from females! They are sweet and can remain friendly and attentive even after becoming bonded to a female. it’s entirely possible you could get 2 males and house them together from the beginning and have them remain tame, they are going to need a lot of attention though.

Avoid having 2 females together at all costs. 2 mature females can and will kill each other fighting over a nesting place, or just plain space.

There are options to how many lovebirds you can or should have, and they’re all gong to have their own requirement as far as commitment goes. Tame lovebirds need a lot of attention, a wild pair will be the easiest to take care of. It’s important to think about why you want a lovebird and what type of interaction you think you will enjoy. I think they all have merits, there’s nothing like the love of a tame lovebird but I cannot express how much I enjoy watching a pair play and interact with each other, it’s a sight to behold.

Pair of Lovebirds

One thing to add….every rule is made to be broken and that definitely means anything to do with lovebirds. When I give advice about something, it’s because I know what the likely outcomes are. What I also know is you can get out of your lovebirds what you put into them. Not every baby lovebird goes wild when given a friend and not every handraised female becomes evil, but those instances that broke the rules? Those were uncommon and those lovebirds were given top priority in their homes. I know folks who keep their lovebirds out nearly 24/7, that’s a home that can break the rules and that’s what I mean by you get out of them what you put into them. Time and attention, that’s what they need =)