Is there any way you can tell the age of a lovebird?

[Maxie]

Hi all,

It's four weeks now that I've had Max and we're really developing a great bond. He's such a good boy…tries any new veggies I give him and so far, he loves them all. He sits on the palm of my hand and even falls asleep on it. I'm letting him come to me at his pace and it seems to be working out fine.

My question is this…when I purchased him from a very reputable pet store here, I was told he was about 5 months old. However, he has no little ankle bracelet to verify his DOB. I'm trusting that he is baby but is there any way to tell the approximate age of a lovie?

Thanks :)

[michael]

Aside from what the pet store had stated, there's really only a couple other options left. With peachedfaced lovebirds like Max, by the time they reach 3-1/2 months old they will have lost the dark splotch on their beaks. Also, during their first molt, which usually occurs around 5 months of age, feather colouring will noticably intensify. Unfortunatey, neither of these processes can provide an "approximate" age. Only a leg band or good record keeping can do that.

[Maxie]

Should he have had an ankle band? I remember all my budgies had them.

[michael]

Should he have had an ankle band? I remember all my budgies had them.

Leg band requirements vary. Internationally, should anyone, for whatever reason, choose or are forced financially etc to relocate to another country, laws regarding the transportation of birds can be quite strict. While a leg band in these cases is manditory, it still won't guarantee your bird/s will be approved for (safe) passage. Transporting birds nationally, while it does carry a certain degree of leg band requirement/s (especially in cases of where it is illegal to keep non-indigenous species), can often be side stepped depending on whether or not your an unlicensed dealer, a private owner, hobbyist, or simply someone so novice as to not realize such a law exists. Most often though, as long as such transactions remain within a state, or were previously deemed legal on a national basis, leg banding may not be necessary, or is simply overlooked.

[Maxie]

Thanks Michael :)

[Angloody]

Would like to see some videos of his