Black Masked Lovies

[JudiNh]

I've been seemingly seeing black masked lovies everywhere I turn lately (on the web, I mean...not in person) and I think they are so adorable. Just wondering, what kind of pets do they make? Are they similar in personality to the peachfaced? Or are there significant differences? I had always read that they are more shy and maybe not quite as people oriented as peachies, but I'd love to know, from those who have first hand experience.

[Jally]

I have one and she is the meanest little thing! The lady who I take my birds to for grooming says she has never met a nice black masked lovie. However, my dear friend has a black mask and he is a doll baby.

My black masked is very unique critter and I love her to pieces. At night she refuses to sleep in her cage; she sleeps on top of it under blankets.

She absolutely loves wood, especially the trim in our house.

[Christian]

Boogie is a black mask and also my first lovebird. I cannot even put into words the bond that we have, he was 100% a velcro birdie. Of course, like all lovies everything has to be on his terms but I have spent many nights with him sitting just under my chin and me rubbing his head for 30 to 45 minutes while watching t.v. Not to mention all of the romantic birdie kisses he gave me. lol.
I think they're behavior really depends on how you interact with them and if you get a hand fed baby it should be easier on you and the bird in the beginning because it will already be familiar with hands and touching.

[Mummieeva]

Masked lovebirds tend to be more shy then peach-faced. I have had 2 masked lovies. the first was Angel a beautiful normal green masked . I got her from PetsMart and she was not tame at all. But I still loved her to pieces. My second was Bandit a blue masked who was suppose to have been tame. He was not but I loved him alot. But he was very skittish also. They do make great birds with right interaction.


Steph

[Jally]

Oh that reminds me that my blackmasked is a pet store bird. My friends is a handfed baby who she finished feeding.

[JudiNh]

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like masked are a bit more shy possibly than peachies, and same rules apply....best to get a handfed baby that has been well socialized, for the best pet. thanks. Not that I am in the market for any new birdies, but, I was just curious.....someday, maybe....? :whistle:

[Enko_chan]

They can make excellent companions when socialized.

Its hard to get a handle on personality when comparing different birds of different ages, of differing species that were raised differently and grew up in separate homes by varied fidparents... you know what I mean? My family had tame ones and not tame ones, but my personal experience is limited.

I'm thinking of when I met baby peachies and baby masked raised (handfed) together by the same person... and you wouldn't have known the difference! They were so darling! I'm sure as they grew, the individuals and species would gain their own personalities- but I'm willing to bet anyone who adopted one of those guys would have a best friend for life!

[JudiNh]

Awww...thats good to know...thanks! I think they are so cute, and would love to have one someday. But Im SO in love with the peachfaced personality, just didnt want to be disappointed if a black masked turned out to be a completely different type of pet.

[Christian]

I always describe boogs as pure rotten wrapped up in a cute little feathered package. Its a good rotten though, not mean, but just into everything and chock full of personality. You can see in his pictures that he's a ham! I would not consider him shy at all...especially, if you have food. He just marches right over and takes a bite, he doesn't even care if you're a stranger! But like I (and others) have said it really depends on their environment and how you interact with them.

[JudiNh]

Boogs sounds adorable!

[personatus]

My first birds were crazy tame! I think all the common lovebird species can make equally good tame pets when handled properly.

[JudiNh]

"crazy tame"...love it! Great description for a pet lovie! LOL Thanks for sharing. I hope I can have a crazy tame masked someday! :rofl:

[Lawrence]

I have 9 black-masked and 10 PFs (and 2 Fischeris). I have to say that the PFs make faster friends with me than the black-masked. Although there is always exceptions to the rule. The fischeris are also a little skittish but they also tame faster. By tame I mean they dont bite my hand or run like crazy in their cages when I approach. Almost all of my PFs will let me scoop them up without biting while only half of the ninjas do.. this is after a period of two months after I obtain them

[diljaa]

My Pixel is a little skittish, he's a hands off kinda birdie, absolutely no touchie! But I'm sure that has very little to do with him being a masked. He and Dreki (my PF) were handfed by the same person but I don't think that person really interacts with the babies.
Pixel was already 1 year old when I got him (someone had to sell him due to allergies) so I have no idea what went on in that first year of his life.
I went in and handled and interacted with Dreki 3-4 times a week while he was still being handfed and then I took him home and finished handfeeding myself.

I think that social interaction and loving in the first weeks of their lifes makes all the difference in the world