Misconceptions Surrounding One Of The Most Popular Pet Parot Animals

That lovebirds are parrots may surprise a lot of people but there are several myths and misconceptions surrounding one of the most popular pet parrot species, according to Alyson Kalhagen, writing for the Spruce.

Lovebirds got their names from their tendency to form monogamous bonds that last their lifetimes. Inasmuch as they can imitate human sounds, they cannot be categorized as talking birds because they rarely speak and they can only reproduce simple sounds such as whistles, doorbells, and microwaves. Experts do not know why some lovebirds are more likely to imitate human speech but it is speculated that those who do it have been taught at a very young age.

There are nine separate lovebird sub-species like the Masked Lovebird, Black-cheeked

Their small sizes have made lovebirds popular with people living in apartments and other small dwellings.

It is not true that lovebirds should be kept in pairs and that they will die from depression if kept alone. But the truth is that lovebirds breed readily in captivity, and raising a family of parrots can pose a problem to bird owners. Also, birds raised as pairs tend to bond with each other and avoid human interaction. Birds should be kept by themselves if they are to be affectionate and willing to be handled by humans.

Lovebirds are also very active birds that need plenty of exercise to keep themselves healthy. Owners should be willing to give their lovebirds a safe place to play outside their cages for several hours a day. This will allow the birds to have as much exercise and mental stimulation as they need. Besides being active, lovebirds are curious, playful, and very social birds that bond easily with their owners. But they can become territorial, aggressive, and jealous if not tamed and handled properly from a very early age. Female lovebirds are more jealous and territorial than the males, according to some

Good quality pellets should form the basis of their daily diets that should be supplemented by fresh foods and seeds. The seeds should constitute just 25 percent of their everyday diets and the fresh foods given to them should be rotated periodically.

The minimum enclosure for lovebirds should be at least two feet in length, width, and height but bigger cages are better. Bigger cages should be longer than they are tall so that these birds can stretch their wings and fly across the cages. Bar spacings should not be more than one-half to five-eighths of an inch and should be oriented horizontally so that birds can climb the sides of the cages. Round cages should be avoided because they damage tail feathers. A variety of perches should be installed inside the cages so that their feet remain healthy and strong.

Toys given to lovebirds should be chosen carefully because they are aggressive chewers. The toys selected should have no small parts that can be chewed off and swallowed by these birds. Clips, small parts, and loose strings that can damage their beaks or trap their heads or feet should also be avoided. Wood, sisal, leather, acrylic, rawhide toys, bells, and ladders are safe for lovebirds to play with. Household items such as discarded cardboard tubes from paper towels, paper cups, ink-free cardboard and dried pasta shapes can also be repurposed as bird toys. All toys should also be lead and zinc-free