Kristina
02-13-2008, 07:04 AM
I read that lovebirds get about 10-12 hours sleep a day. I haven't really measured Fenway's sleep, but he usually is pooped by 9pm and sleeps until around 8 or 9am, which is when I take him out. If I take him out after 9 pm, he usually just cuddles OR if he sees his play basket, he goes to pig out (another question will follow regarding this). He is definitely not a morning bird yet, because when he first comes out of his cage, he is a little groggy (just like his Mom, LOL). He also takes naps during the day. He is most active in the afternoon, between 2-5 pm.
How much should he be sleeping? I know he's still a baby (a little more than 1/3 of his beak is still black). Is he like any other baby and sleeps more? Should I be worried? He is still eating (A LOT, it seems, LOL) and coming out of his cage. He will often take a nap on top of his play basket or on the back of my neck. When he's tired, he isn't really grumpy, but he knows that he wants to sleep. He's kind of like his Mommy. LOL.
Also, during the day, his cage is uncovered (well, the blanket is still on the back of his cage, but full light goes into his cage).
I've recently discovered that he LOVES to eat. I've been mixing his pellets with some seed (maybe about a 1/4 of the food is seed). He spends a lot of time eating. I've been offering him apple this week, which he turns his nose up to (but I kind of expected that because everything I've read said lovebirds are somewhat picky). If I go out today, I'm going to buy some cornmeal to make some bird bread. Should I limit what he eats? I've been chalking up the eating and sleeping to him being a baby. Babies sleep alllll the time. When they aren't sleeping, they're eating. I didn't know if it is different for birds.
He is otherwise "normal". He has his really active time when he chirps happily and gets into trouble. Yesterday, when I was putting a toy in his cage, I knew he was going to try to fly out. I told him, "No sir, Mister! You will not fly out of this cage" because we were getting ready to eat dinner. Yeah, he definitely flew out of his cage. My husband laughed and said that even the bird is defiant. No one listens to the Mom! LOL.
The other question I had was about wing clipping. Do you keep your bird's wings clipped? When we bought him, the woman said their wings had been clipped. I think they are only partially clipped because he can fly clear across a room. The other night, he was playing with my hair and then flew from my neck all the way (about 10 feet) to the TV. I thought he was going to hit it! He landed on top of the cable box, which is the same height I am while sitting. So, he didn't lose any height while flying. All the birds I've had before had their wings clipped (the conure I had also had NO interest in flying, he was content to be carried around like a King, LOL). I just don't want him to get hurt.
My husband says I'm being a bird hypochondriac. He could be right. LOL.
How much should he be sleeping? I know he's still a baby (a little more than 1/3 of his beak is still black). Is he like any other baby and sleeps more? Should I be worried? He is still eating (A LOT, it seems, LOL) and coming out of his cage. He will often take a nap on top of his play basket or on the back of my neck. When he's tired, he isn't really grumpy, but he knows that he wants to sleep. He's kind of like his Mommy. LOL.
Also, during the day, his cage is uncovered (well, the blanket is still on the back of his cage, but full light goes into his cage).
I've recently discovered that he LOVES to eat. I've been mixing his pellets with some seed (maybe about a 1/4 of the food is seed). He spends a lot of time eating. I've been offering him apple this week, which he turns his nose up to (but I kind of expected that because everything I've read said lovebirds are somewhat picky). If I go out today, I'm going to buy some cornmeal to make some bird bread. Should I limit what he eats? I've been chalking up the eating and sleeping to him being a baby. Babies sleep alllll the time. When they aren't sleeping, they're eating. I didn't know if it is different for birds.
He is otherwise "normal". He has his really active time when he chirps happily and gets into trouble. Yesterday, when I was putting a toy in his cage, I knew he was going to try to fly out. I told him, "No sir, Mister! You will not fly out of this cage" because we were getting ready to eat dinner. Yeah, he definitely flew out of his cage. My husband laughed and said that even the bird is defiant. No one listens to the Mom! LOL.
The other question I had was about wing clipping. Do you keep your bird's wings clipped? When we bought him, the woman said their wings had been clipped. I think they are only partially clipped because he can fly clear across a room. The other night, he was playing with my hair and then flew from my neck all the way (about 10 feet) to the TV. I thought he was going to hit it! He landed on top of the cable box, which is the same height I am while sitting. So, he didn't lose any height while flying. All the birds I've had before had their wings clipped (the conure I had also had NO interest in flying, he was content to be carried around like a King, LOL). I just don't want him to get hurt.
My husband says I'm being a bird hypochondriac. He could be right. LOL.