I want one!!!

[Kayakingtwin]

Hi,
This is my first post so i apologize in advance if i've posted in the wrong section. I am 14 years old and unfortunately don't own any lovebirds. I'm not new to caring for them though, i used to look after a friends lovebird over the holdidays and had great times playing with him and looking after him. I would really like a lovebird, my mum does too but my dad isn't keen, he says they're expensive to buy and look after and their difficult to care for>:. How can i persuade him to let us get one, (me and my twin would buy the cage and the bird). Also i would like to know, Do i need to get a pair? And what is the best reasonably priced cage i can get (Under £100)?

Thanks,
Kayakingtwin

[Pips mom]

Well, I don't know where you're from, but here lovebirds are fairly cheap if you can find them being given up, and there are quite a few out there to find. My first lovebird was being given up for free with cage, and I have seen others being given up for free or very cheap, but this is just where I am from! I would say overall that the big expense you have to concern yourself with is if your bird ever needed vet care.....it's very expensive, even if it is just a small bird! You need to find a good vet first and make sure you can afford it if he ever got sick or injured and needed to go to the vet. Also, birds are very messy, and I'm sure that your dad is probably just wise to this that sometimes kids don't want to clean up and your bird's cage will need to be cleaned regularly and also the surrounding walls and floors! Lovebirds also are big wood chewers, and need time out of their cage to fly around and have some fun. They like to get into trouble too and will try to chew things up, and although they are small, they can be very destructive! They are fast! Once they find something good to chew, it's destroyed in a matter of minutes sometimes, so these little birds needs to be kept an eye on! Also.....lovebirds have a life span of about 10-15 years, so you have to keep in mind that if you grow up and end up going away for college, who's going to end up caring for the bird? I know that you want a lovebird.....and I certainly cannot blame you for that! but you're still young and have lots of years ahead of you to get one. If your parents don't want you having one, maybe you could place an add that you are interested in caring for someone's lovebird or small bird while they are away on vacation? Plus, you still have your friend's lovebird that you can look after when they go away. I hope that you are able to get the lovebird that you want, but if not right now, then try to be patient. Really right now it's your parent's choice, but you can hope that in time they will say yes!

[michael]

........... I would really like a lovebird, my mum does too but my dad isn't keen, he says they're expensive to buy and look after and their difficult to care for>:. How can i persuade him to let us get one.........

Hi Kayakingtwin. ...Welcome to Lovebirdsplus! ... First off, I give you and your parents loads of credit towards researching the pro's and con's involved in caring for parrots. ...Of all the companion pets to choose, parrots can be one of the most misunderstood creatures ever to share living space with us human beings. .. Not only can certain species be time consuming, but they can become a sudden financial burden when least expected. .. Needless to say, being prepared well in advance can make a huge difference in the long term desire to be a parrot guardian (fidparront).

Stick around for awhile. ... There are absolutely no hidden requirements as far as being or remaining a member here at Lovebirdsplus community. ... Please, take the time to research all of our individual forums. Most of all, don't even hesitate to ask questions!

In answer to your questions; Do I need to get a pair? .... No. Lovebirds need not always be kept in pairs. .. Our only concern for lovebird pairs, is that once they form a bond (like a lovebird marriage so to speak), they are never to be split up by someone who only chooses to care for one. ... Cages? .... Take a look online at the HQ websites and on Ebay. .. They generally sell economically priced flight cages which are very popular among lovebird owners.

Did you know? .. If healthy, your lovebird/s may very well keep you in good company until you reach the age of 30. ......:)

[One bird for one heart.]

Ok Well I want to start off by telling you that I am 13 years old and that it is possible to take care of lovebirds without the help of your parents (exepet for the money). They are not that expensive to care for a bag of food is usally about $15 and a cage you can get for about $40, every once in a while you might have vet bill that can get pretty pricey. I have had my lovie for a little over a year now, and I've loved every minute of it. Granted I hate it when she bites, but when she snuggles in close to me its like the bite never happend. Hummm... what to say to your dad? Well what I did is I did alot of research online and printed off alot of pages on their care and needs and sat down with my parents after dinner and tried to make a deal with them. Mabye you could say to your parents. Be sure they know that you will do all the taken care of it, and give them a reason to trust you. Mabye if you have another pet such as a dog or cat mabye say "if I'm able to take care of ______ for this whole school year by meself can I get a lovebird?" The best of luck. Remember we are all hear to help you out!

[Kayakingtwin]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I now have my mum agreed to getting one but am still working on my dad. However, my mum says that letting it out of the cage isn't a possiblity as she doesn't want it out of it's cage and we have an open plan house so it could go anywhere. Is it alright to not let it out if you play with it and talk to it regularly. Also i have found a cage to get, but i wanted to know if it is suitable, the link is http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/birds/bird_cages_and_accessories/large_parakeet_cages/parakeet/19491 Do you think it is a good cage to get?

[KenDRAGON]

i personally have found that wider cages are better. my lovebird spends a lot of time playing with toys on the bottom and seems to enjoy running around left and right more so than up and down :)

[Pips mom]

The cage is ok, but I agree with Ken, you should look for one that has more room across than up and down. Also.....when it comes to all birds, time out of cage is very important......please remember that these are creatures that really belong flying in the great outdoors....to keep an animal like this couped up in a cage is not really good for them. They need space to fly round and also be able to have that physical contact with people. You should ask your mom if your lovebird can come out if you clip it's wings, this way the bird won't be able to just fly around wild everywhere, only fly a little and also this is good for taming while you're getting to know him.

[linda040899]

I agree that out of cage time is mandatory for pet birds. Keeping flight feathers clipped will limit where your lovebird could go but single lovebirds need touch type interaction. Even a large cage with lots of toys won't completely cut it for a lovebird.

[Kayakingtwin]

OK, how about clipping a lovebirds wings. How do you all feel about this subject. That way it fly to other rooms which is what my mum doesn't want, but she may say it's cruel.

[One bird for one heart.]

Clipping wings is not cruel! In some birds it has helped them to be more social, look at it this way. Wouldn't it be more cruel to have a bird and no let it be out of its cage?

[personatus]

I guess you're from the UK somewhere. Try eBay or www.birdtrader.co.uk for second hand cages.

The bird really needs to come out of the cage to spread their wings a bit. A light wing clip will slow them down a bit!

[Kayakingtwin]

That's a very good point

[LauraO]

However, my mum says that letting it out of the cage isn't a possiblity as she doesn't want it out of it's cage and we have an open plan house so it could go anywhere.

Lovies, as all birds, are flock animals who are intelligent, sensative, and wonderful birds that ABSOLUTELY NEED DAILY OUT OF THE CAGE TIME. If your lovie can't have time out, then maybe you should reconsider getting one at this time. You are unable to provide a lovie with the kind of life it deserves, and getting one right now seems more about what you want then what's best for a bird. I can be brusk, but want to assure you I am not trying to be rude. It just hurts my heart when I hear about birds NEVER coming out of their cages. Their cages should be their home and safe place, not their prison. Not only that, but birds that are cage bound become just ornaments that are easily forgotten.

I do wish you luck. You are young and you have a ton of time to have a bird/lovie in your life. So please consider your motivation for wanting a bird, but more importantly, think about the bird and what it deserves.

:)

[Enko_chan]

Hello and welcome!

I was once in your position. I actually grew up in a home with parrots, and bonded with one lovebird that was my mother's. When he died, I was still a teenager and really wanted to buy a parrot with my own money and my mother would not allow me to. I raged, and researched and I really was a straight A student and responsible kid and had cared for the bird that had passed away, I'd had other types of pets and even mucked horses stalls etc. since I was a little tyke! I didn't get it! I had planned to buy one as soon as I was on my own and settled, but when I got on my own- I found I was NOT settled and as it turned out, I didn't end up getting my first parrot (a lovebird) until after I had finished college and settled down in a permanent housing situation. Until myself and my husband were able to put away money for emergencies, as a single emergency vet situation cost us nearly $400 this past year! It was worth every penny for our wonderful little bird, who is like a son to us. Anyhow, after I left home after graduating highschool, I ended up moving across the country from my family to go to school, my family became suddenly unable to support me during that time, I became disabled unexpectedly, I was working and studying constantly and I moved around a lot.

I do not mean to be discouraging or say that its impossible or wrong for you to get a bird- I do not mean that at all. Though there ARE teenagers and college students- and other very young people in this forum who take EXCELLENT care of their birds, but it would have been extremely difficult for me and very unpleasant for a parrot to have to deal with the lifestyle I lived during those years. I just wanted to share my experience and point out that life becomes very tumultuous and uncertain and we go through many changes as teenagers and very young adults. Even if I hadn't been sick and broke during college, many dorms and apartments often do not allow pets, it can make it very tough to find roommates and if you're away from home, it can make traveling and finding people to watch your bird during those times difficult (especially for your bird!). So if you do decide to take on the responsibility of having a parrot, be sure that you're ready to love and support a sensitive and intelligent being that will become bonded with you. For the lifespan of this parrot, you will be his/her flock.

Lovebirds ABSOLUTELY REQUIRE TIMES OUT OF THEIR CAGE! DAILY TIME!

A wing clip is not cruel. It does not hurt them, and their wings will grow back. A wing clip done properly does not inhibit a bird from flying entirely, it simply prevents them from gaining enough height to fly very far. They are still able to glide safely to the ground so as not to harm themselves. This would keep them from flying around the house. If there's a concern about the birds exploring, you can set up gyms, areas of the house where they are designated to play and teach them to play there- but they will still want to explore. They are curious creatures. I was able to teach my lovebirds not to go on the floor, and the places in the house where they are allowed. That will be your responsibility, though. It will be very important to keep them safe. If you are unable to get the bird out of the cage, this is probably not a good time to get one. It will be an unhealthy lifestyle for the bird and you won't be able to form a loving bond.