How to keep a loving bird as pet (part-2)

Part-2

Housing the Lovebird

Look for a cage that is at least 18” long by 18” wide by 18” tall at your local pet store. 

               Lovebirds are active, playful birds so they need a cage that will accommodate all the toys and perches they need to keep them busy. The larger the cage, the comfortable it will be for the bird.

• The cage should also have horizontal bars on at least two sides. The bar spacing should be no more than ¾” apart to prevent injury.

Use perches of different widths, diameters, and textures in the cage. 

                     The cage should have at least two or three perches of various sizes, shapes, and textures to help your bird’s feet stay healthy and strong. The perches should be thick enough for the bird to stand comfortably on them without losing her balance. The smallest perch should be about ½” in diameter.

• Look for perches made from wooden dowels, natural wood branches, bonded sand and concrete, and rope.

Keep the bird’s cage off the floor and away from drafts, open windows, and the kitchen. 

              Your bird’s cage should be raised and kept away from air vents and doorways. Some birds can catch a cold if exposed to a draft while they are wet, such as after a bath.

• Lovebirds can be sensitive to smoke and strong odors, as well as loud noise. If you smoke, do not smoke in the room where your lovebird lives.

  

Place the cage in a quiet, well lit room. 

                A room that is too dark may cause your lovebird to behave oddly and develop health issues. But you should not place the cage near a window that gets full sun during the hottest months of the year as this may cause heat stroke or death for your little bird.

• Weak, unfiltered sunlight on the cage is ideal as this gives your bird vital ultraviolet-B light to keep her healthy. If your lovebird’s cage is near a window with weak light, you may want to consider investing in a special light bulb that emits safe levels of ultraviolet-B light to hang over your lovebird’s cage. You can turn on the light for 8 to 10 hours a day to make sure your bird gets enough light.
  

  

Make sure your bird gets 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. 

              Sleep is important for lovebirds. If you are going to keep your lovebird in a cage indoors, you may want to get a cover for the cage to help your bird sleep at night.

• You can also get a smaller sleep cage for your bird if you don’t have enough space for a large cage indoors. Using a sleep cage will ensure your bird has a quiet, safe place to sleep.
• You should put your lovebird to bed at the same time every night and bring her out of her sleep cage the same time every morning.
  

  

Clean your bird’s cage once a week. 

                The tray and dishes in your bird’s cage should be cleaned every day. But your bird’s cage is your bird’s home so it should also be cleaned once a week.

• Use warm water and soap. Remove your bird from the cage and wipe down the cage, the perches, and any toys in the cage.

• You can also use a product called Cleansing Gel to do a deep clean of the cage. This cleaner contains stabilized chlorine dioxide and is safe for birds.

• Be careful when using a diluted bleach solution to disinfect the cage. Bleach is toxic to birds. So rinse the cage thoroughly after you use a bleach and water solution. Then, place the cage in the sun to air dry.

• Be certain the cage and bowls are free of any bleach smell before you place your bird back in the cage.

Co-authored by Pippa Elliott