Guide to Happy Lovebirds (Part 1)

[Indy]

Guide to Happy Lovebirds
by Indy


Introduction

Two paired Lovebirds have been part of my family for almost a year. I work at home much of the time, and thus have observed these two "love babies" (as I fondly call them) a few hours a day.

These Lovebirds, whose names are Indy and Mindy, are happy almost all of the time, spending almost every waking moment of their 12 hour days

- singing and chirping contentedly;
- thoroughly preening one another;
- "dancing" around their cage ecstatically;
- exercising with their toys, doing balancing acts on dangling rubber geometric balls and ringing dangling bells (and bells are Mindy's specialty);
- climbing all over their hanging "forest" of plump organic millet spray;
- eating well;
- frequently sipping water;
- looking gorgeous with lush, bright plumage, sparkling black eyes and unmistakeably healthy looks.


What factors in to Indy and Mindy's happiness, including might I add, a very exuberant and vigorous marital life that over the past year has grown into a passionate and romantic love affair?

I will prioritize the reasons I'm certain that has contributed to Indy and Mindy's success as Lovebirds.


Cage In Room You Frequent

Your presence is important periodically! Lovebirds seem to thrive on knowing you are there, and they are not always alone.


Lovebirds Need To Be Paired

The reason I didn't place this as #1 in priority, is because it's not the way real life works, sadly.

Ideally, Lovebirds need to be well paired. Indy and Mindy complement one another in remarkable ways. Indy is a very timid lovebird, scared of his own shadow. Indy is afraid to approach anything added to the cage. If it were not for Mindy to counter balance Indy's extreme introversion, if Indy had been adopted individually by someone not wanting two Lovebirds, I'm convinced his parent would have been heartbroken to one day find his lifeless body on the cage floor. Mindy is a very outgoing Lovebird not afraid to investigate newly added food or water. Indy watches her from the corner of the cage after I add new food or water, and seems to get the courage to mimic her by approaching the food or water after she does.

Indy and Mindy create a positive feedback loop in following what the other does. Mindy empowers Indy, but when she observes Indy following her lead, she is more empowered to become more "daring" and outgoing. They both exercise by walking on the cage sides and ceiling, doing some excellent calisthenics. Often Indy seems depressed and sleepy but Mindy's activity arouses him to dance with her to the music.

If you cannot find a mate for your Lovebird than it is imperative YOU become that surrogate mate by paying lots of attention, constantly praising and expressing love.

Although many don't believe parrots can understand the spoken word, Indy and Mindy come to life and glow with happiness when I praise them with a soft voice, the way one would praise a small child.

Rather than ever allowing Lovebirds to hear an angry voice, when they occasionally squabble I will say gently with emphasis but a loving voice, "Lovebirds!" to which they immediately stop their bad activity and listen intently. I continue, "Love one another! Remember, you are in love with one another!" to which they almost always immediately respond by preening one another affectionately.

It's quite amazing to discover that by NEVER expressing anger or even disciplinary sternness, but expressing loving positive reinforcement in this way, Lovebirds respond by discontinuing the bad behavior, and if paired, turning to each other with intense love.


Repti-Sun 2.0 Full Spectrum Daylight Lamp (18 inch)

Based on my research and observations, I know for a fact it is cruel to skimp on UV (or full spectrum) lighting! Unfortunately many Lovebird parents think plenty of windows and outside lighting is sufficient. Not so! Window glass and lack of direct line of sight with the sun's rays screens out many of the beneficial UVA and UVB rays. Do research on this using the Internet if you don't believe me.

I attribute a large part of Indy and Mindy's health and constant bright, cheerful mood to UV lighting, which set me back (drum roll, please) under $50.

I was extremely fortunate the young lady at the store where I adopted Indy and Mindy was an expert on avian health. She selected an 18 inch fixture that ordinarily fits on the top of snake and reptile aquariums. She selected the Repti-Sun 2.0 Full Spectrum Daylight Lamp 18 inch bulb.

Widespread promotion of full spectrum lighting for birds is still forthcoming, and in 2008 we are still in the relative dark ages when it comes to understanding the absolute necessity of sun lighting for birds (even when window draperies are open and there are lots of windows). Like reptiles, birds need direct UVA ad UVB lighting.

Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc. in San Luis Obispo, California is the leading manufacturer of lighting it officially touts "for all snakes, amphibians and arachnids." This lighting is absolutely perfect for all birds including Lovebirds. Compare the price of these bulbs between regular retailers and eBay distributors with ratings over 99% and you'll see the affordability! These bulbs last for a year without loss of UV strength, and should be replaced yearly even if appearing to work fine.

The young lady instructed me to remove the plastic cover from the aquarium light fixture to prevent loss of any UV rays. That way, there is a direct line of sight between the bare bulb and the Lovebirds.

- Place the fixture on top of the cage. (You can obtain the fixture and bulb from any major pet store or over the Internet.)
- Plug it into a timer plugged into a power-strip. (You can obtain the timer and power-strip from Home Depot or a hardware store.)
- Adjusted to my schedule and within daylight hours, I personally decided to set the timer to go on at 8:50 AM and go off at 8:50 PM. (Indy and Mindy sleep soundly for 12 hours.)


Note that you can leave Lovebirds in a completely dark room, and this UV lighting is sufficient! When away from home for a few days, you can shut the curtains and turn off the light, and as you will see after reading this entire message, they will have full spectrum lighting inside the cage for 12 hours, darkness for 12 hours, and music that turns off when their UV light turns off, all automatically! (I would NEVER leave the Lovebirds unattended for more than a few days, and I don't take it lightly which is perhaps why I don't travel a lot.)

Invest in UV lighting first thing tomorrow if your Lovebirds do not have it. This is the best and yet least expensive gift anyone who deeply loves their love babies, can give to truly light up their lives!


(To be continued; see Part 2)

[Indy]

These uploaded JPG files include a photo of Indy and Mindy basking in their UVA / UVB full spectrum lighted home, and photos of Indy and Mindy in an intimate moment. The spectacular coloration of their plumage is even more stunning viewed in person.

[Indy]

Hint for those new to the board: remember to click on the above images of Indy and Mindy to see high-resolution photos showing close-up details of their exquisite feathers and plumage!

[shosh]

Hi Indy,

I've got to take exception with your use of the repti-sun bulbs...from everything I have read about our birds' needs, the use of a reptile bulb for them is excessive...reptiles needs are different from birds' needs and the bulbs meant for reptiles are too strong for our birds. When you consider that one lives in the tress and the other on the ground, it becomes more obvious.
Reptile lights are usually too bright and produce too much heat for birds. There are many bird bulbs out there....aviansun, the same guys that make reptisun produce a lamp, and of course, you can buy a great full spectrum bulb and put it in a traditional fixture..that's cheap and works well, too.
I am just beginning to read your posts with interest...but I felt a need to interject. Pet shop girls/salesmen rarely know much about birds....I even asked the owner of one shop who sells/breeds birds who didn't know about FSL for birds., specifically.
I did weeks of research into this subject before getting bulbs and I hope you don't mind my passing this on to you.....I can tell how much you love your birds and I'd hate to see their health compromised in the long run....a change to proper FSL would be very easy for you and I know you'd be into anything wonderful for your birds.

[Indy]

Thanks for the advice. The light is on one side of the cage (the back of the cage) and it is darker in the front of the cage. Indy and Mindy will sit directly under the light for a while, then rotate to the darker area. There seems to be a natural yin and yang in their exposure. The top cage bars also seem to diffuse the light. They're glowing with health. Since it installed the lighting, their coloration and glow have increased exponentially. Not to get carried away, but they look like something out of a dream, like real exotic birds.

This is not to say you're mistaken. I will look into the bulb. Also keep in mind, there is no other lighting in the room. This is their sole lighting source.

Their activity level, appetites, and intimacy is amazing. They have gone from sullen birds who were kept in relative darkness at the pet store from where I adopted them, to vivacious and social birds, since the lighting was installed.

Now I think if there were two fixtures to keep both sides of the wide cage lit, I would definitely be concerned. They seem to instinctively know to limit their exposure by spending a few hours on the darker side of the cage, behind the upside down millet "forest", where it is shady.

Observing them in their natural habitat in Africa on a documentary, I noticed they move from direct sun at high noon during hot days, to the shade of the forest canopy, back and forth throughout the day. Temps are over 100 degrees, far greater than in Indy and Mindy's cage. Also, the light is not generating much heat in the cage, which remains a comfortable 80 degrees.

Again, I'll research your advice. "If it ain't broken, don't fix it," is my belief, so until I see research that the repti-sun bulb (even with the conditions of shade and filtering I described, and not causing excessive heat) is definitely some sort of risk, I don't want to risk changing something that by all appearances is working.

Thanks for your advice once again. Admittedly, if I was starting out with full spectrum lighting, just to play it safe, I would go with your advice on the Avian-Sun bulb, and encourage all to do so. Now that the proverbial genie is out of her bottle, and the Lovebirds are doing so remarkably well under the Repti-Sun bulb (perhaps due to the unique shading conditions in their cage, diffusing the excess UVA and UVB rays) I'm in a quandary, and will do additional research before taking action.

[shosh]

All I can do is advise...there are lots of posts on her regarding FSL lighting and a lot of debate. My feeling is to go with the lights that are meant for the proper species. Most feel that the light should also not be directly on the cage but at least 12-18 inches away as well.
Do your research, by all means, and ask questions on this post as well as others...I am just a bit concerned about the use of the reptile light and the proximity of the light as you have it on the cage to the birds.
The lovebirds post isn't as popular as Get Help with your Bird, and bird discussion...try asking on there....lots of breeders and bird enthusiasts of many years...they'll be glad to weigh in.

[Indy]

Although by no means conclusive, my cursory research has yielded some interesting tidbits of information from Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc. at the following links:

• ReptiSun 2.0 bulb: http://zoomed.com/Library/ProductDBF...0and%20UVB.pdf
• AvianSun 5.0 bulb: http://zoomed.com/Library/ProductDBF...0and%20UVB.pdf

The young woman who helped me adopt the lovebirds, whom I mentioned seemed very knowledgeable, made a reference to some information that turns out to agree with information at the above links. She said that the specific bulb recommended for purchase, the ReptiSun 2.0, had significantly LESS levels of UVB than even the AvianSun line. The reason to purchase a bulb with significantly LESS levels of UVB is because you want Lovebirds to bask in full spectrum lighting for 12 hours per day, whereas the AvianSun line of bulbs provides the following warning:

"This lamp should be used for 8 to 10 hours per day to provide visible light, UVB, and UVA (this is a TRUE full spectrum lamp). The lamp should be situated so that it is approximately 12 to 18 inches from where the bird might normally perch. Watch out for other "full spectrum" lamps that provide only UVA and visible light."

By reducing the UVB rays (without eliminating them) the RepiSun 2.0 safely allows the use of the lamp

• for a full 12 hours per day; and
• at closer proximity, so it can be placed face down on top of a medium size cage like the one shown in my photos in this topic.

IMPORTANT: Notice this is the ReptiSun 2.0 that I speak about. The ReptiSun 5.0 and ReptiSun 10.0 bulbs are entirely different, like night and day (no pun intended). The 2.0 specifically emits low UVB rays. Zoo Med Laboratories states about the ReptiSun 2.0 bulbs:

"The ReptiSun 2.0 linear fluorescent provides UVA and bright visible light, but does provide significant levels of UVB."

Of course none of this is official. Those wanting to play it safe should simply buy the AvianSun 5.0 lamp. HOWEVER, according to Zoo Med Laboratories own warning about the AvianSun bulbs, 8-10 hours of light is the maximum exposure! That means the Lovebirds would have to be in room light for 2-4 hours (based on simple mathematics if you want the Lovebirds to be in darkness to sleep 12 hours).

The bulb would also have to be 18 inches away from the Lovebirds, meaning my aquarium fixture would be awkward to suspend in the air. Even worse, without an aquarium style fixture on top of the cage, I could not cover the cage with a custom fitted cotton cage cover. That means the Lovebirds would lose the benefit of sheltering from drafts caused from air-conditioning and heating vents, the protection to furniture from bath water splash and seed expulsion, and the privacy the Lovebirds seem to enjoy by only having the front of the cover open. (Distractions on all sides of an open cage seemed to overwhelm the Lovebirds, which is why I got the cage cover in the first place.) An aquarium light under the cage cover is the only feasible way to light the cage. A light further from the cage is blocked by the cage cover.

Which gets back to the benefits of this specific 2.0 number on the ReptiSun bulb, a unique low UVB bulb that is ironically not factored in to the AvianSun 5.0 bulbs. Unfortunately, Zoo Med Laboratories didn't consider that one would want a less UVB intense bulb to shine for a full 12 hours (instead of a more intense UVB bulb that shines a maximum of 8-10 hours).

The cage cover creates semi-darkness with no lighting. If I switched to the more UVB intense AvianSun bulb, I would have to change the timer so the fixture was lit 8-10 hours a day. Then I would have to install a regular florescent lamp, on a separate timer, to light the interior of the cage, under the cover, for the remaining 2-4 hours a day.

It seems the young lady knew her stuff. She warned I wanted the 2.0 of ReptiSun, NOT any other number (like the 5.0 or 10.0). The extra low UVB output on this specific bulb, originally intended for certain reptiles sensitive to UVB, was actually safer than concentrating a higher UVB power for fewer hours.

Another benefit of this bulb is, unlike other Zoo Med lighting, it does not provide any heat. It remains cool. Although this means one has to provide a separate heat source for synthesis of vitamin D3 in birds, it gives the habitat design more flexibility. My house is warm enough during the day without added heating from a bulb, and I have a heating pad for cold nights to boot. Also, the Lovebirds sleep at night on their large heated perch, and occasionally sit periodically on the heated perch during the day. Therefore, they are getting a very low dose, over a longer period of 12 hours (instead of 8-10 with higher UVB powered bulbs) and getting enough heat to synthesize vitamin D3 in their sweet little bodies.

I seriously invite you to pick apart my reasoning because I'm not trying to "defend" myself out of ego, pride or self-delusion. I just think, especially after almost 12 months of observing the results I described with Indy and Mindy, that it turns out this is a very good choice of bulb. What do you think?

[Eliza]

Wonderful articles -- thank you for the time AND the photos!

I do feel that lovebirds (and other parrot species) can and will thrive in a single parrot environment. Pairing parrots is ideal, of course but I would hate for the sterotype of "lovebirds will die without a companion" to be perpetuated.


-e-

[Indy]

Thanks for the kind words.

As I mentioned, the "real world" does not ideally pair every human let alone lovebird.

Because lovebirds as a species seem to have an extraordinary need for love, a well paired couple is ideal. It behooves those who adopt single lovebirds to provide them all the attention, love and constant lovingly spoken words that is humanly possible. Lovebirds are like people. Some are cut out for "singleness" while others must be married to find true happiness and fulfillment.

Unfortunately, mother nature does not always provide for the needs of some. There will always be single lovebirds who need a mate desperately, but it's not feasible. Their human "parent" must become a surrogate mate, constantly telling them things like "I love you" and "you are the sweetest little lovebird in the whole wide world" (in a way one might comfort a small child). Placing the cage in an area constantly frequented by people is also important to socialize the lovebird and make the little darling feel like part of the family.

In order to truly give a sense of home to lovebirds, one should genuinely treat them as a member of the family, something that is far greater than treating them merely like a pet for one's personal pleasure and entertainment. Some people don't seem to appreciate that lovebirds are not like goldfish. Lovebirds are sentient, intelligent forms of life in the universe, thinking problem-solving beings who feel intense emotions of love, sorrow, joy and happiness. Few other species of birds are that advanced.

In a sense, lovebirds are an intelligent species of life on par with whales and dolphins in their consciousness, higher thinking and genuine emotions. The female lovebird, Mindy, is very intuitive. When I was upset once and cried, she came to close to me at the edge of the cage (normally she keeps a distance) and gently chirped as if she was trying to comfort me. At that moment I realized they are as sentient as human beings in their consciousness and ability to empathize with those feeling sorrow. I wish people who adopt lovebirds would appreciate this and act accordingly.

Although it is a myth that lovebirds must be paired to live fulfilled lives, I should emphasize it is NOT a myth that paired lovebirds are yoked together by God and become literally one being. My observations convince me of this reality. Separating paired lovebirds is a death sentence for them, it would be like cutting a person in half. When Indy and Mindy sleep, they will come together to where it looks like they're one large lovebird sleeping soundly, not two cuddled together.

[littleuglything]

I am very new into owning lovebirds (in fact i have only had them for 3 days!) how important is the light? should go and get one straight away? Will they die if they don't have this light? ...I have already lost two...i don't want to lose anymore :(
My birds are more oftern out of their cage than in! Also they love to climb on top of the cage! how would i fit a light to the top with out it burning their feet?
There is so much to learn!! I still haven't figured out where i am going to keep their cage! At the moment they are in my sitting room. My partner smokes so i have banned him from smoking in there, which he is not happy about! (I dont care! hee hee!) The birds health is more important and i think his smoking is horrible ...but anyway getting back to the birds... I live in spain and am not sure how well equipped the pet shops are around here! Where we brought these two had no idea about lights, all the cages where kept in the back of the store in what looked like a cupborad with no windows or anything!
So any advice anyone can give me i would be most grateful!! xx