Tell me it's too soon for ANOTHER lovie!!

[Susan27]

I went to the another pet store today. I have been trying to find those acylic houses for my lovies, and today I lucked out, only $14.95 each, I bought 2:x and some new rope perches, and 2 new toys :x

While I was there, of course I had to check out their lovebirds. There was one there that was SO pretty!!! To me he looked like (remember I am not too good at the genetics yet) an olive green (meaning a double dark factor) as well as a violet factor (his tail looked purple)...it said he was handtamed, but he was obviously not socialized very often as he was a nipper!! I didn't get him...but was tempted....

Let's see, gotta lovie in the livingroom, in the bedroom, in basement (warm down here don't worry)....hummm...what's left...roommates room, kitchen....bathroom maybe (joking)..ok no more lovies until quarantine is over....too much squawk chorus...but he was so cute. With my luck it will be a girl, as I know 3 of my 5 are...and hey, the other 2 may be girls too...I NEED A BOY!!!

ok enough babbling...but he was so pretty:whistle: :evil:

[bird_luver24]

Geez Susan!!! you really have been bitten by the Lovebug lol...;) Of course you always have to check out the lovies though! :D The lovie you mentioned sounds very pretty!!!...I have been to my local pet stores recently just to see and play with lovies...Out of all of them though I have been around only two would actually let me get around and hold them.
I kinda know how you feel...I havent even brought mine home yet and I already catch myself looking at lovies on the net for sale...lol... :)...If I ever get another lovie though I want a Lutino Fischer(Im not sure how to say that???) but I think They are just beautiful!!! Or a Dilute Fischer!!!... The breeder I am getting my lovie from has a Very Pretty pair of Dilute Fischers for sale!...They are 3yrs old and are just gorgeous. :)

[Cathy]

I learned my lesson about buying a lovie that is not tame and bites. My first lovebird was from a pet store and the day after I brought it home she laid an egg which told me she was not a "baby" as I thought and she would never let me touch her without biting, so I sold her to a friend as a breeder.

Then, I got one from Shadybrook and learned what a real handfed and socialized baby was like. I was able to hold my new lovie from the very minute I first met her and she was so tame that I will never buy a wild bird again. If I am going to have one for at least a decade, I want a nice lovie. Why go through weeks maybe months trying to tame a lovebird when you can buy from a reputable breeder?

Sorry to sound so negative, but I was burnt and don't want to see anyone else go through the same thing.

PS It's not too soon!

[bellarains]

Susan,

If you have time, space, enough love, and can afford any potential vet bills, then by all means, load em up:lol

Only half kidding, but you probably would want to have your existing lovies DNA'd before adding to the flock. If you do find you have more girls, and you do want more boys, then you will know exactly what to look for. I know you know this, but put in black and white, it sometimes helps;)

Yep, I've yet to see an ugly lovie, and they are all soooooo tempting. Maybe I should send Janie to you. She's very good at bursting your bubble when it comes to those impulse bird buys:lol

Just teasing Janie, but you do keep my head on straight sometimes. Shoot, if it weren't for you, I'd probably have that precious Too;)

[Keltoth]

Hi Susan! He sounds like a real pretty bird. You'll get no help from me, as I know all too well how addicting new lovies are... :rofl:

As an aside, I wanted to point out something with genetics...


To me he looked like (remember I am not too good at the genetics yet) an olive green (meaning a double dark factor) as well as a violet factor (his tail looked purple)

You'll want to remember that if a lovebird does indeed have two Dark Factors - whether it is a blue-series (Slate) or green-series (Olive) - you will never be able to see any violet in a bird's tail at all, because the double dark factor will ALWAYS (Always. Period. End of line.) mask the purple. On such a bird with two dark factors, the tail will always be a dark grey coloring, approximately the color of graphite.

If you are sure that you saw violet, then the bird could not have been an Olive. Conversely, if you are sure the bird was an Olive, then there is no way you for you to tell visually from looking at the tail that the bird is a Violet (this is not to say that the bird could NOT have one or two violet factors - just that those Violets would be masked and not able to be seen visually).

Anyway, go get him! When I first started out, at one point I had 5 boys - and two girls. I could not pick a hen to save my life... :rofl:

[Janie]

Maybe I should send Janie to you. She's very good at bursting your bubble when it comes to those impulse bird buys:lol

Just teasing Janie, but you do keep my head on straight sometimes. Shoot, if it weren't for you, I'd probably have that precious Too;)

Yep, I'm the worst (or best, :D) at trying to talk people out of buying another bird. I've only been on this forum for three years but that's long enough to have read about a few members jumping in, feet first, and then getting overwhelmed. In the end, many lovies have been rehomed. :( It is hard to keep your flock at just one bird and IMHO, lovies enjoy and need the company of another lovie but you really do have to give it a lot of thought. Since the price of a lovebird is so cheap, it's what you're going to spend on the bird after the purchase that you gotta think about.

I got lucky with my first lovie, Oliver, but the second time around I really did give it a lot of thought (two years) and knew that I wanted two that were already as tame as possible and males. I got exactly what I wanted and am glad I waited for that. :)

I almost never look at the birds when I'm in a store that sells them. I broke that rule when Lori was here and not only looked at them but held a few! :eek: It does make you want one 10 times more! :D

Lori, honestly, I would never have tried to talk you out of that TOO! You and that bird together looked like a match made in heaven! I still have that breeders card......:whistle:

[bellarains]

Thanks Janie:rolleyes:

Maybe I spoke too soon. As long as you don't let Janie see you snuggled up with a bird, and when snuggled up with that bird you look like you'd trade all you own for that bird, well then, she "might" try and talk you out of it;)

[LauraO]

I'm with Janie! We've seen many a people on this very board get lots of lovies fast and I can't think of a one who still has those birds. I say get to know your existing lovies and see, over time, how much time and care is involved. There will always be lovies around and this will not be the last time you want to bring one home. I have 27 birds (recently rehomed 2 lovies) and I still get tempted every once in a while, but I heed Linda's mantra..."I do not need another parrot"

[Kathryn]

I have to heed my hubby's mantra:
"You do not need another bird!"
Or at least make him think I listen..:evil: :whistle:

[Rikki]

:rofl: Oh, my. I see MBS (multiple Bird Syndrome) is quite universal, or should I say MLS. I love to watch my different and individual birds play and interact, but I am not so thrilled when I am cleaning up the floor and cleaning multiple cages.
I definitely do have enough birds and I also have a husband who says I have enough birds. But I also understand wanting more! I can't let myself look anymore. Lanyap is lagniappe (a little something extra, and unexpected surprise)
and a good way to end. ;)

[Keltoth]

I'm with Janie! We've seen many a people on this very board get lots of lovies fast and I can't think of a one who still has those birds.

/em waves his hand!

I got alot of lovies fast when I first started participating on these boards; sixteen original, first generation lovies within a six-month time span, and I still have every one of them.

...but your point is well taken about the tendency for folks to aquire too many lovies too quickly. I just seem to be the proverbial exception to the rule. :D

[LauraO]

Okay Eric, I stand corrected. I will restate my claim and say MOST people who collects lovies quickly do not stay in it for the long haul:wink:

[Susan27]

Thanks for the genetic correction...I learn something new EVERYDAY:happy:

If I did decide to add this lovie to my flock, it would have been $148.88...not as inexpensive here in Canada...but still not as much as a GCC at $388.00:omg:

Anyway, for me time isn't the issue...money right now is ok...but that is always variable:whistle:

I had to give up a dog a little over a year ago and it was HEARTBREAKING. He was a great dog, but my emotionally problemed dog was attacking him. (I tried EVERYTHING with her...many vet trips later...no change). I thought it better to re-home my adoptable doggie, since the other one would have been a TERRIBLE pet for someone else..or worse be put down. I am not too concerned about jumping the lovie ship, or overwhelming myself, because I don't think I can go through re-homing a pet ever again.

I currently have an untamed lovie (Touki). She is pretty much impossible to work with, as she is Kiko's shadow and Kiko is still a nasty hen...which I think has progressed from nesty nasty to cage territorial...or even Touki territorial!!!???:x (tempted to separate them to try and work out their human difficulties...not sure if this is a good idea?)

Sleeping on a decision like this is ALWAYS good. I have decided against this particular lovie:cry:. I think I am keeping my extra spaces for a nice, tame, BOY lovie.... And then when I buy a nice big house...watch out...:rofl:

[Janie]

Thanks Janie:rolleyes:

Maybe I spoke too soon. As long as you don't let Janie see you snuggled up with a bird, and when snuggled up with that bird you look like you'd trade all you own for that bird, well then, she "might" try and talk you out of it;)

Fact is Miss Lori, if you took that TOO, you'd KEEP IT! :D You know what's involved with more than one bird and even more than one species and I know you'd think about it (with the facts) first. Therefore, I would not try to stop you! :D Yep, I'm holding on to that breeders card!

I want you all to know that my hubby and one son think I am a bird "hoarder!" :mad: I have three tiny little lovies who weigh about 150 grams total and they think that's a lot. They really do think it's over the top! Isn't that a load of crap? I take care of them and rarely do one of them have to step in to help out. They are sooooo jealous of my birds!

[Christine9]

Just to add a little something to think about. If you are planning on introducing all 5 of your current lovies to each other once the quarentine is over (which will be about the same time, since your new 3 were purchased at about the same time), you might want to wait awhile for them to adjust to each other before introducing another.

I say this because you may have a few "lovie quarrels" to break up at first until they establish the pecking order amongst themselves. I know when I first introduced my third and fourth lovies (clutchmates) to my first two, there was definitely an adjustment phase. It's now been over a year and I finally feel confident that they can be trusted together, which is why I felt the time is right for my new addition (my fifth lovie).

BTW, do you think maybe it was a Jade (only one dark factor) with a violet factor? I've seen that mutation and I know its a very pretty bird.

[Janie]

Eric, sorry, I missed your last reply. Yes, you are the exception to the rule. :D I remember very well when you got your first one! :)

What does your wife think about the birds? Does she like them and interact with them? I think that must make a difference in adding more birds in harmony. My hubby does adore Oliver and is warming up to Shy and Big Boi but birds are really not his thing. He will take good care of all three if I am gone but he just doesn't have that bird addiction that I have. Before my lovebirds I was already a backyard wild bird addict and neither one of my sons or hubby share my interest in that. I guess you either do or you don't! :lol

[Eliza]

Susan -- I can totally relate!

I only have Beetle; he's been with me for just shy of a year. And believe you me: if I gave in, I would have at least a dozen more LBs by now... There's always a cute one at the petstore or needing a home (Petfinder, Hoobly, etc.)... and it doesn't help that I check Beetle's breeders' page at least once a week!

For now, I know that I want a certain lovie (slate or violet masked) so I'm making myself sit tight until then. Of course, that doesn't make it any easier when I go to one of the local bird stores for Beetle's necessities...

-e-

[Keltoth]

What does your wife think about the birds? Does she like them and interact with them? I think that must make a difference in adding more birds in harmony. My hubby does adore Oliver and is warming up to Shy and Big Boi but birds are really not his thing. He will take good care of all three if I am gone but he just doesn't have that bird addiction that I have.

My wife sounds exactly like your husband; she loves Paco and Melody, but is more or less indifferent about the rest, and did not enjoy birds until I started down my current road.

My *sons*, however (especially Geoffrey, and Kendall and Spencer to a lesser extent - but definately NOT Kevin :lol ), share my passion for the lovies. They help me feed, water, and clean up after the birds, and you are right; multiple folks in the home who love the birds and help in the three hours of drudgery to one hour of pleasureable interaction work ratio makes adding multiple birds without introducing disharmony a workable endeavor. Multiple sets of hands while socializing unweaned chicks makes the whole thing MUCH easier and enjoyable.

- Eric

[Janie]

Eric, if you and I were married to each other, we'd be covered up in bird poop! :rofl:If only I had a partner in crime! :D I am positive I could get totally out of hand with this addiction. :whistle:

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Sadly, this is why I can't even LOOK at the lovies in the store. I swore I'd stop at two, and I did. Of course, the fact that I've paid over $1,000 in vet bills for Milo alone in the two years I've had him, has been a deterrent.

[Janie]

Sadly, this is why I can't even LOOK at the lovies in the store. I swore I'd stop at two, and I did. Of course, the fact that I've paid over $1,000 in vet bills for Milo alone in the two years I've had him, has been a deterrent.

Jennifer, great point! It is never the initial cost of a lovebird....but what might be in store down the road.

[Janie]

It's even harder to resist when you're single with no other half to rein you in. The thought of even more cage cleaning usually does it for me though.:whistle:

Heather, forget about it! If I didn't have someone rolling their eyes at me every 15 minutes about my so-called bird addiction, I'd have more birds than I could count! :lol

Another good point about cage cleaning! I'm not sure I could handle one more! :D

[Christine9]

Hmm...multiple cages to clean? No problamo. Having multiple kids, however, now that's something I can't relate to! Honestly, I see parents that have four, five, six, and so on, kids, and I just don't understand how you do it. :D I guess it's all relative to you own situation, and it's hard to relate, sometimes, to people with different lifestyle choices. What's that old saying? What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander. ;)