Abyssinian Lovebird
Characteristics
Length: 15-16.5 cm (about 6 – 6 1/2 inches). Green with a red forehead and a red eye ring. Eyes brown, beak red, legs gray. The female lacks the red coloring on the head. Sometimes the small underwing coverts are greenish or brownish-black in color; in the male they are always black.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots, including lovebirds, need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a lovebird should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
The female lays 3-6 eggs which are incubated and hatch in about 24 days. The male takes care fo feeding the hen on the nest. Once the young have hatched, the male feeds first the female, and she in turn feeds the youngsters. The young are about 6 – 7 weeks old when they leave the nest box (25 x 20 x 18 cm; 5 cm diameter entrance). Breeding results are obtained when each pair is housed separately, as other birds species and even fellow species are chased and attacked.
Health
All parakeets and parrots, including lovebirds, should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots, including lovebirds, have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
