Lovebirds

[Peace]

Ok i'll be buying two lovebirds soon (So cute!) and i'm reading about all of this stuff that like if their beeks or claws get too big, etc, I will need to go to the vet to get them fixed. I'm just wondering, does it cost alot to do this? I know that if you can get good stands and toys for the Bird to use it won't be common to happen, but just to take precaution. Also, at most vets there are people that are trained with loveBirds right?

Another question I have is, is it better to get just one or two? I see some that say with one its better because you are spending one on one time with it, and you can bond better. But I also heard that it can get lonely and will want another bird/companion to be there with. So, which is better? I don't want my bird to get any illness like depression or whatever, lol. Thankfully i'm doing my homework before I buy one.

The third question I have is, are smoking appliances (Weed, etc) bad to a bird? I know that fumes are and such but I have a few smokers in my house. My room however does not smell of smoke as for that my door is always closed and the window is usually open all day during the summer.

Thanks for the help.

[lovechick]

1)Theyre claws and beaks grow like any other birds, their beaks look a bit long but its how they look. You should not have any problems with beaks unless your birds has some kinds of disease which causes an overgrown beak. Claws can be trimmed with some nail clippers, hold the bird in a towel and make sure he is not twiching so you wont cut his leg, always have some styptic powder in hand in case there will be some bleeding. I dont trim ny birds claws that often, maybe every couple months or so, theyre a pain.
Its best if you find a certified avian vet, since regular vets or even vets who say they treat birds are not the best ones out there, they have not had the proper studies and in a lot of cases will give improper treatment to the bird, so keep in mind the 2 key words " certified and avian".

2) its up to you whether you'd like a pair or one bird, the pair is likely to bond with each other and have little interest in the owner but there are always exceptions in that case, but if you do get just 1 bird, its vital to spend quality time with a the bird outside of cage every day. Also get some interactive fun toys so the bird wont ger bored in the cage alone, lovebirds love rope/sisal perches, and rope and leather toys.

3) Smoking and other fumes is a BIG NO-NO. Birds especially are very susceptible to all sort of health issue due to fumes like smoke, burning teflon, perfumes, hair sprays, plug in oils, scented candles, etc. Please do talk to the people in the house about not smoking inside, even though the smell may seem minimal to you, it can be a death sentence to birds lungs.

Hope this helps :meditate:

[Peace]

Thank you lovechick for the helpful information. To make there less spam I will post another question I have here:

I went to the pet store today to see the lovebirds and the person said they wont bond with me or I couldnt hold them if they are in a pair. So, I was thinking of getting one. However, is it possible to add any other birds to the cage with them? The more the marier :D

[Peace]

Also I want to be able to take the other bird out of the cage aswell and hold it so, yeah hehe

[lovechick]

Honestly the pet store is one of the worst places to get a bird, I cant tell you how many sick and frightened birds I see at almost every store, its sad. Most of the birds if you notice are terrified of humans and its very hard to tame an adult bird that has been so mistreated. My best advice is, find a bird breeder in your area, look in newspaper classifieds and ask if they have " hand-fed" not parent raised babies, if a bird was raised by a human, it percieves them as a parent and will always have a special bond, and chances are the bird will be very much tame and loving. Not all breeders are alike, find a reputable and caring one, when you come to see the birds, check for basic things, like if the birds are properly cared for and if the owner seems loving towards them.
As far as other birds, sometimes other species of birds may bond with lovebirds, but I strongly advice against keeping them in a same cage, lovebirds tend to get agressive especially maturing birds and females. So if you plan on getting another bird, keep him in a seperate cage, even if they do get along, and they like spending itme outside the cage, I would still keep and eye on them.
here are couple pics of my lovebird George and budgie Paulie, they are really affectionate towards each other, but there have been instances where George wants to play rough and tries to nip Paulie, thats why I always keep my eyes open.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/vikachica/luv2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/vikachica/lovies1.jpg
Hope this helped!

[lovechick]

Here are few breeders in canada, I'm sure you can find more if you search on google:

1) cockatiels, lovebirds- (403) 238- 0242
e-mail: lovebird@telusplanet.net

2) home-raised hand fed babies- ontario- (888) 276- 0031
website: www.exoticwings.com

3) large selection of hand raised babies; (905) 473- 1735
website ; www.milkwoodaviaries.com