Their average life span is between 10-12 years with some living even longer. The oldest recorded lovebird lived 17 years.
Signs of an aging bird are the feathers that are faded and losing their luster. Delayed molting can also result in feather depigmentation.
Taming a scared or older lovebird is a lot harder than taming a young one, especially if you don't know what they went through. It is important to realize that it takes time, months even. You shouldn't give up halfway through. Take the slow route.
There are many good books in pet stores or the library to explain about other available types. I have found the best time to pur- chase handfed lovebirds is before they are weaned, between four and six weeks of age, the earlier the better. Lovebirds wean about seven weeks of age.
They are mostly known for their affectionate behavior towards their “chosen mate.” They love nothing more than “hanging out” with their bonded mate (which can be his or her owner, or another bird). These little birds are truly devoted to their owners.
Lovebirds need approximately 12 hours of sleep and just like people, a lovebird devoid of sleep can be cranky!
Even in pairs, captive lovebirds should not be left for longer than 12 hours at a time and they demand a great deal of social interaction.
Lovebirds are very active birds, so a cage best suited to adequately house them must provide a lot of space. Remember, they are extremely active birds. A minimum of 32” x 20” x 20” (81 x 50 x 50 cm) per pair of birds is recommended with about four perches, feed and water dishes and an area for a bath.
Look at the bird's feathers for an indication if they suffering stress lines. Aggression – If your bird suddenly has a change in their demeanour and becomes aggressive, this could be a sign of stress. Biting, hissing, lunging, and excessive screaming are all signs to watch out for.
In fact, a solitary lovebird will bond deeply with a person who invests time and patience in its care and training. Lovebirds can be quite affectionate with the person who handles them.
While they can live into their early 20's, most lovebirds only live 10-12 years. Most likely his heart just gave out. I've known many elderly birds who died suddenly like Snuggles. Birds have a very high metabolism, so if the bird is really old, sudden organ failure can cause nearly instant death.
Lovebirds are another bird that likes to sleep hanging from the side of the cage. In the wild, they sleep in tall trees, and in captivity, they tend to prefer a high perch or they hang from a high point in the cage. I do not recommend the bird huts or tents.
It is a widely purported myth that you should never own a solitary lovebird and that if they are not kept in pairs, they will die of depression. While it is true that they are extremely social birds who thrive on interaction and must be socially stimulated, in many cases, bird owners should keep single lovebirds.
As long as a dark, quiet and somewhat secluded area is provided for a bird to sleep in, most will be fine without being covered at night. Remember, however, that sleep is vital to a bird's well-being. If you are in doubt about your pet's reaction to being uncovered, play it safe and resume covering the cage at night.
Using the same example above of a medium-sized songbird, we can estimate that a typical bird, with 10% of its bodyweight being composed of fat, will survive 1 to 3 days. However, if that bird has no body fat, its survival time could be less than a single day.
If your bird happens to fly over your house, they may see you and return on their own accord. Many captive birds will fly back to their owners if they find them. Many don't want to remain in the unknown and scary outside. But your bird can't find you if you're in the house.
But a good rule of thumb is to provide 2 hours of playtime outside the cage for tiny birds and 3 hours for larger species. It should be enough to exercise, play, and explore the environment but not too long to make them feel homesick.
How often do lovebirds need to bathe? Lovebirds need to take a bath at least once a week in winter and daily (if possible) in summer.
Offer a wide variety of foods and note down what they eat and seem to enjoy the most. Don't overfeed lovebirds with certain foods just because they appear to like them - they need a diverse diet consisting primarily of seeds. Here are some popular fruits for lovebirds: Bananas.
Let them sleep as long as they can. Unless their bird cages are covered, birds usually awaken when the sun comes up. Keep in mind that your bird should have at least 10 hours of darkness, so if the sun rises at 6:30 a.m., you should not keep your bird up past 8:30 p.m. the night before.