Well i've had these 2 pair of love birds for about a year almost and they havent had any babies.I remember taking them to the place we bought them at and checked if they were male and female and she said they were.Now my question is how can i myself tell if the are infact male and female??
2006-11-02 14:14:00 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
You cannot tell 100% whether you have a male/female pair with lovebirds unless you take them to a vet for invasive surgery. Personally, I'm quite fond of the DNA testing. A little bit of blood from a clipped toenail and $25 later you have a gender!
Your lovebirds, if you got them as babies, are just nearing maturity now. Female lovebirds should not be bred before 1.5 years and males not before 1 year old. Make sure you have the proper next box (an enclosed box, not a canary next- you be surprised how many peopel put one of these inadequate nests in and wait....and wait...and wait!). MAke sure your birds are fed the right foods (plenty of fresh vegetables, well cooked egg, pellets and a bit of seed). While you are at the vets doing the DNA testing, it may be worth your while to get a complete blood count, grahm stain test and bacterial culture done on your birds to make sure they are in peak condition- weak or ill birds produce weak and ill young, if they reproduce at all.
Also, please re-evaluate why you want to breed your birds. Right now the world market is flooded with unwanted poorly bred lovebirds. If you don't have the money or dedication to put the time, effort and serious CA$H, please don't attempt to breed your birds.
2006-11-02 15:17:43 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The best answer so far is from Melissa, she has given you very accurate and good advice.
We have two female Peach Face love birds. They both started laying eggs usually at the same time and this tendancy is even without having a male bird around. The only thing that seemed to help keep them from laying eggs every 3 months was to not provide them with newspaper to shread up. Our birds are separated since they draw blood from each other on occasion. I don't know for sure how old they were before they started to lay eggs, but they still had the little black tip on thier beaks which indicates they are young. I am only mentioning this because this is how we know what sex our birds are. But from my knowledge the only way to sex them is like Melissa said, surgery or dna. I don't suggest trying to take a blood sample yourself from a toenail. If you cut it to much it will bleed out and kill your bird. Like metioned, go to a vet who specializes in birds, and Avian Vet.
Melissa mentioned some very valid points about breeding. Please take these on board. Aviculture (bird keeping) is a wonderful hobby and smaller parrots are the best place to start if you are seriously interested in taking your interest further. But please do your research first. The net has an abundance of info available. It has been recommended to me in the past that budgies (parakeet) are the best birds to start your breeding. Breeding of any animal should be done responsibly.
2006-11-03 01:09:51 · answer #2 · answered by mariah s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Birds, unless like cockitails and the like are easy to see male and female. Love birds are not so easy either they need to sexed by a vet or someone knowledgeable in these things. I heard that some birds need to be sexed through surgery. Maybe they are still too young to have the babies. I hate to say but maybe they are two males or females. Baby birds are a lot of work if the parents don't take care of them on their own. Let them be for a time and if in 6 or so months nothing happens then take them to a vet that does birds. Not all vets do that. They are lovely birds regardless. I hope the person wasn't just jerking you around. Good luck.
2006-11-02 22:22:02 · answer #3 · answered by sideways 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Believe me, if you actually had a male and female, they wouldn't stay away from each other. This lady that told you they where male and female was full of beans. Take them to the vet. He can sex them for you. Ya can't trust anybody now days. Sorry.
I'm sure you either got 2 males or 2 females. You cannot tell them apart, they look exactly the same.
2006-11-02 23:23:33 · answer #4 · answered by Kerilyn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take them to a Vet that specializes in birds.
And just because they are call Love-Bird doesn't
make them like or love each other!
2006-11-02 22:27:28 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some old barry white records and a nice bottle of wine should set the mood.
Maybe they're just "like birds"
2006-11-02 22:23:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try playing music and putting alcohol in their food. (see Note)
2006-11-02 22:21:32 · answer #7 · answered by trafficer21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they just dont like each other so they wont have babies.
2006-11-02 22:35:20 · answer #8 · answered by Kailee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I no spek english to good much but if u no se no littel we we he girle bird. if him have littel we we him boy bird him no hav no babee. maybe both hav same ting. no? se?
2006-11-02 22:25:37 · answer #9 · answered by G-pops 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
on top of the beak the guy has purple and the girl has blue and the girl has darker colors than the guy thats wat the person i bought them from said! :)
2006-11-03 17:41:20 · answer #10 · answered by Melli! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋