Some people, when they look for a pet, want a dog or a cat. Others, however, seem to have an affinity for birds, with their bright plumage and pretty songs. Among birds, lovebirds seem to be a favorite. A member of the parrot family, many lovebirds display exotic colors, fit in a relatively small space, and are social and affectionate. Because of this, lovebirds are great pets to own, if you understand their needs. To evaluate whether these little critters are right for you, let?s take a look at what you should consider:

Aggressiveness

Lovebirds, despite their social nature, also come from the wild where fighting for existence is the norm. As a result, lovebirds do not get along well with other bird species. Should you purchase a lovebird and have other birds, expect your other birds to be attacked. However, if lovebirds are your only birds, then they will make great, affectionate pets.

Noise

Lovebirds like to talk, though like their larger parrot cousins, they do not generally mimic. However, should you buy a lovebird, expect to hear chatter, whistles, and the like coming from the cage, particularly in the early morning. If you?re a light sleeper or someone else in your home is, consider another pet or be sure to keep the cage well away from sleeping areas.

Your Home

Luckily, the small size of lovebirds makes them ideal for apartment living. A single lovebird will need a cage that?s about 20 inches on all sides, which can easily fit on some spare horizontal space. If you decide to let your birds out of the cage now and then, be sure to cover up things like electrical wires and the like; lovebirds are fond of gnawing on things.

The Myth Of Lovebird Pairs

A popular bit of advice for lovebirds is always to buy them in pairs, otherwise your lovebird will eventually die from loneliness. However, this is only a myth; while these birds are social critters, they will not die from being an only bird. However, if you do buy a single lovebird, as a responsible owner, you should give it plenty of attention, since it does need some sort of social contact with something. In fact, buying a single lovebird will ensure that it wants to have social contact with you and not focus only on the other lovebird. So, if you?re willing to put the effort into giving attention to lovebirds, they will make wonderful pets.

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