Love Birds?

Question

I was looking to get a new bird. This lady at my mom's work has baby love birds that she's giving away! She's hand fed them and everything. So, I was thinking about getting one...but, then my friend told me you had to get two of them. Is that true? Do you have to get two love birds if you only want one? If it's true, why? I always thought that love birds killed each other. lol. I don't know. Does anyone know what really goes on??? Please and thanks! (10 points for the best answer only goes to those who answer all my questions!)

Answer 1

I myself received two love birds as a birthday present a few years ago, they were both male and were brothers.

About a year after I received them one of the love birds died and we figured that the other would die soon after because he would be lonely. Most love birds come in pairs or in groups and if you just have one it could become lonely and less friendly.

However my love bird is still alive and happy even after his brothers death but I can still tell he gets lonely and would like another love bird friend but I cannot put a new one into the cage as it would frighten him.

"I always thought that love birds killed each other."
-This is not true, if the lovebirds you purchase come in a pair they will not kill each other (unless one gets teritorial etc.. in which case it may happen)

My advice would be to get lovebirds in pairs not single as them being lonely could get in the way of hand training/training and make the pet be sad overall.

Answer 2

You absolutely do NOT have to get two lovebirds if you only want one! I have just one by herself, and she is very happy and healthy! I play with her a lot and she is quite tame.

However, if you do not have a lot of time (preferably at least an hour a day) to spend with your lovebird, you should consider getting it a companion so it doesn't get lonely and depressed. If you do get it a companion, do NOT put two females together. Female lovebirds are very territorial, and you could very well end up with a dead bird. Females will occassionally attack a male that is added to their cage as well...Typically two males will not fight, but then again that all depends on each individual bird's territorial instinct.

If you have time to spend with your lovebird each day, it's really not necessary to get two unless you want two. It's a common myth, because of their name, that lovebirds must be kept in pairs, but it is certainly not true. They are perfectly content and make excellent pets when kept alone!

Good luck, and hope you make the right choice for you and your lovebird(s)!

Answer 3

First find out how they were hand fed. Make sure they were hand feed with a syringe rather than a spoon. If they were hand feed with a spoon this will not help them to be friendly to humans. A syringe does because it is more of a natural way of feeding them. It's a little hard to explain why without knowing how to do it.
Then decide if you want the bird to be able to be held. If you want to hold the bird than only get one and don't have any mirrors, things that look like other birds or soft things for them to cuddle with. Anything like this will cause them to bond with it rather than you and they will not be able to be held. If you don't care to hold it I would get two so they have a friend. If you do want it to be friendly you will have to spend a min of 2 hours with it a day.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your new bird or birds.

Answer 4

yes, love birds are great birds, but it is true that they like to be with another love bird, but the funny thing is, say you had 4 love birds, two were yellow and the other two were blue, the yellow bird usually will go to the other yellow bird, and the blue one will do the same with the other blue bird, dont ask me why, but i have noticed that alot at pet shops. but is it really that bad if you get two birds? its not like its much more clean up and bird seed isnt expensive. good luck, these birds are great to have around the house

Answer 5

well np they dont fight each other in all cases
and no u dont have to get two of them if u r gping to give them full attention and since u r getting a lovebird at a young age it will grow up know u as its playmate wich is really cute cuz then u have nice relation with ur lovebird and if you only want one its not going to die unless you dont give it enough attentio but if you want one then only raise on giv alot of attention ald love and the right care and everything will turn out fine enjoy ur baby!!

Answer 6

Well it is best to get two so the other one does not get lonely, but if you really only want to get one lovebird make sure you put a mirror in its cage and that will help with the any loneliness. No lovebirds dont kill each other, they get along great most of the time.

Answer 7

I have a lovebird that is 18 years old and it has been by itself since I weaned them and I have never had a mirror in its cage, I have noticed throughout the years that it likes it cage where there is activity going on or it sits and makes noise until I move it to where it can be around where there is.

Answer 8

no you don't !! most pet stores only want to charge you more!! by getting you to buy two birds. my friend owns a pet store,he says it's perfectly OK to only have one love bird. and no they would not kill one another.

Answer 9

Birds are social, so it is nice to have 2 if you have room. If you get one, you need to spend a lot of time with it so it doesn't get lonely.

Answer 10

You can get one. Just be sure to give it lots of attention if you only have one. If you get two they will bond and not want much to do with you. If you get a mirror it will bond with its reflection and not want much to do with you. If it is with you all the time it will bond to you. If it is alone a lot it will get seriously neurotic.