What is best for a beginner?

[Cas]

Hi all,

I have had some very conflicting information. I am thinking about buying 2 lovebirds in the Australian spring, so some months away!

I have a good size cage 24 inches long, 18 inches high and 18 inches deep, I will use natural perches and I will buy food and toys closer to when I will get them.

I was thinking about getting a Fischer's love bird, I love the colors and the few i have met have been very outgoing. I have been doing lots of research and I have come across some pages that think that a peach face is more robust and better for a newbie!

I am also getting 2 because there will be times that they will need to amuse themselves, although they will only be home alone for approx. 6 hours a week, there will be times when I am away with work and my husband will be their primary carer, he loves and protects all creatures but he may not allow them the same out time as I do. My office is on the floor the cage is on, so my tiel used to spend most of his time out while I was working but my husbands office is on the floor below and in a pet free area of the house!

It was declared a pet free area of the house after my tiel chewed through the cable on the mouse and the dog peeled the wall paper off! There is more to the story but I can tell that later!

So the questions are

Which love birds is better for a beginner to lovebirds?

are fischer's really that hard to train?

Would 1 love bird survive boredom with enough toys?

Is the cage big enough for 2? I would get them young and together!

What else should I know?

Many thanks in advance

Cas

[michael]

........So the questions are

Which love birds is better for a beginner to lovebirds?

are fischer's really that hard to train?

Would 1 love bird survive boredom with enough toys?

Is the cage big enough for 2? I would get them young and together!

What else should I know?

Many thanks in advance

Cas

The only difference i've heard of between Fischers and peachies, is that Fischers tend to be a bit more reserved. Other than that, both make excellent companions for the beginner, as well as the seasoned fancier.

With regards to keeping a single lovebird. .. Lovebirds can manage quite well on their own, however, much depends on the amount of time your willing to spend with them. If you were a lovebird, which would you prefer? A whole day without companionship? Or half a day of adventure? .. Sorry, toys don't count here.

Appropriate cage size can vary. Birds that spend more time outside their cage than in it may not need a huge cage. Either way, I think most would agree, the bigger the cage, the better. .. Here's a good example; http://www.birdscomfort.com/flight_bird_cage.html

Hopefully some others can share some input here. ...............:)