BUYING LOVEBIRDS

By Darren Montesin
www.brisbanelovebirds.com

When buying Lovebirds, It is very important to first plan exactly what you want and when you want it. It is very easy these days to rush into something and then regret it later. These are living things and need to be catered for properly.

First decide if you have enough room to house your new birds, and if you have already got birds, will they be compatible with the new ones? Housing different lovebird species in the same aviary can sometimes be fatal. It is also not recommended to do so if you intend to breed as this will only lead to producing hybrid birds and corruption of the Lovebird species here in Australia. Be careful too when buying young birds and then introducing them into an aviary of adult birds, especially if they are breeding, as this will result in the young birds being attacked and even killed.

Where to Buy Your Birds From

Try buying your birds from someone you know. You will feel more comfortable when asking about the birds on offer and you will be able to get a breeding history on the bird. Some breeders will let you into their homes to view the birds and the parents. This way you will be able to see where the birds have come from and how well they have been looked after. Ask the breeder what their daily routine is with the birds and you will then get an insight on what the birds are feeding on and their general health and well being.

If you intend on buying a few birds, if possible, it is better to buy from 2 or more different breeders. This will ensure a better bloodline when breeding and will give you bigger and healthier young. If you buy all your birds from the one breeder, you are more likely to end up with smaller inferior young birds as the gene pool will be small. It is becoming more common in Australia today for people to buy birds from different states to ensure a better gene pool. Air freighting birds in Australia is becoming more popular and generally is not as expensive as you think.

If you are buying new mutations, check with their origin and ancestry, as you still may be buying birds that have originated from the 1 pair. If this is the case, then try investing in some pure normal birds(split to nothing) and outcross the mutations. This will produce normal’s split for their appropriate mutation, which can then be put back with the parents, giving you better quality birds in the long run.

Choosing Your Birds

Always try and handle the bird yourself before buying. Feel the breast bone. If the bird is light(skinny) and you can feel the breast bone as though it is going to stick through the skin, then chances are the bird is sick and the stress of moving it to a new home will probably kill it and even introduce new diseases to your existing flock. If it is a young bird, then it may be skinny simply due to the fact that it has not put on enough weight after leaving the nest, and this doesn’t mean that the bird is sick. A Lovebird’s eyes should be fully open and round . If the bird give’s the appearance in which its eyes are partially closed, then it may be sick. Never buy a bird that is sleeping during the day or can be found to have its head under its wing and its feathers ruffled, as this is a sign that something is wrong with it. Check for battle scars. A bird with a damaged beak may not be able to feed its young. A bird with damaged feet and toes may not be able to grip the perches properly when mating which would result in infertile eggs. Birds that appear to be in molt may in fact have a feather problem and may stay that way for the rest of its life. Always try and buy the bigger healthier looking birds, but be careful in this regard. Lovebird hens are generally bigger than cock birds, so buying the bigger birds may result in having all hens.

Most reputable breeders will ring their birds with year rings, which will give you an estimate of their age. I would not buy birds older than 5 years old as their breeding days are coming to an end. Older birds can have an advantage of being hardier and more resistant to disease. But ask the breeder why they are selling an older bird. Sometimes it can be that it has failed in breeding (small clutches, Infertile eggs, bad parenting etc).

Be prepared to say no if you are not sure about buying a bird. Be polite, and remember that you are in someone else’s home, but don’t just buy a bird because you don’t want to insult the breeder. Ask them before you visit their property if there is any obligation to buy. Most reputable breeders will not(and should not) put pressure on you to buy. Ask if you can come back at a later date if what you want is not available and get an estimate on when the birds you want will be available.

Be fussy, but not too fussy. Remember, a good breeder will always keep their best birds for themselves!!!

Getting Your Birds Home

Try and buy your birds in the morning as this will allow them extra time when you introduce them to their new home and for them to get used to their surroundings and find food and water dishes. It may be necessary to provide extra food and water dishes for them to use until they feel comfortable with their new surroundings. Make sure that you have more nest boxes than you have pairs. I provide 5 nest boxes for every 3 pairs and this will help stop fighting between the birds. When it is cold, I sometimes provide extra Sunflower, Hulled Oats and Multigrain Bread. This gives the birds some extra fats and carbohydrates in the first few days to reduce the effects of possible weight loss due to the stress of moving.

As exciting as it can be buying new birds, try and give them a bit of peace and avoid any unnecessary contact with people, dogs, cats etc. Most Lovebirds in Australia suffer from Mega Bacteria. They can happily live a full life with it, but in times of stress, it can overpower the bird and kill it. For this reason, it is also recommended that you consider quarantining your bird for 6 weeks before introducing it to your existing flock. If possible, give your bird ‘Spark Electrovet’(made by Vetapharm) or some sort of probotic 3 days before and after transport. This will reduce the effects of stress on the birds.

Happy Bird Buying!!!

Darren