Cgae help please?

[hazelson]

Our two lovies laid four eggs this time - and three of them actually hatched (so I guess I have a real pair lol). But with the babies that's five all together - so we will have an "odd bird out". We plan on keeping these ones - can't part with our first grandchildren VBG. The question is - do I need another bird so we have three pairs? I don't want them for breeding so I will pull any future eggs, but need info on housing. We are thinking of building a large aviary - as the birds have their own room (empty nesters that we are - kids are all grown up - sort of- and figure they can't move back in if the room is full lol). Can we put them all together? Can I put the babies back in with the folks after they are weaned or do I need a separate cage so they can have visitation? Do they have any concept that these are their kids - or is it just like introducing a new one? Also - anyone with aviary plans out there - we would like to build out of glass or plexiglas. Thanks for your help - TTFN Jennifer

[Shirley]

Our two lovies laid four eggs this time - and three of them actually hatched (so I guess I have a real pair lol). But with the babies that's five all together - so we will have an "odd bird out". We plan on keeping these ones - can't part with our first grandchildren VBG. The question is - do I need another bird so we have three pairs?

No. you'll have a singleton or you can get it another.


I don't want them for breeding so I will pull any future eggs, but need info on housing. We are thinking of building a large aviary - as the birds have their own room (empty nesters that we are - kids are all grown up - sort of- and figure they can't move back in if the room is full lol). Can we put them all together?

Likely not. They are very territorial, and unless they have a huge aviary, will fight and injure or kill each other ONCE they are grown. This is very true of Parrotlets, and Lovebirds are not much different.

Can I put the babies back in with the folks after they are weaned or do I need a separate cage so they can have visitation? Do they have any concept that these are their kids - or is it just like introducing a new one?

They will have no concept these are their children once weaned, and visitation is an invitation for the father to kill the boys and breed the girls, and the mother to kill the boys and the girls. She wants only one mate and no competition.


Also - anyone with aviary plans out there - we would like to build out of glass or plexiglas. Thanks for your help - TTFN Jennifer

Backyard aviaries (http://www.backyardaviary.com/)

Do a search on Lovebirds for further info on putting them together.

With parrotlets, you cannot pair up two females or two males. They will kill each other, even if raised together from birth. You cannot pair up opposite sex and expect them to get along, either. They might, but they might not.

:)

[Jean]

Shirley, the pics of backyard aviaries are beautiful. To dream for!!!

[LK_doggie]

Shirley!!! those pics were way cool but I have twi Q's one is: what kinds or birds are those and how big is that aviarie?

[Shirley]

The site is not mine... I linked someone's "Backyard Aviary" how to build your backyard aviary site.

[babyika]

I have black mask lovebirds and also peachfaces.

I have the masks in an avairy (3 pairs) and they are all fine together. They have their little tiffs but are generally good, these birds are generally busy bodies. The thing is when you have babies coming through when they come out of the nests they tend to get confused and may end up trying to enter another pairs nesting box. This as you can gather is not liked very much and the babies will be told very strongly that they have the WRONG box. The father is more tolerant to the babies once fledged but the mother isn't.

Peachfaces can be dominent too and i had 2 pairs in the cage but had to take 1 pair out as they were not being allowed to eat.

I know other people that have LOADS of lovebirds in one cage with no problems.