First Time Bird Mom

[Agapornis]

Hello Bird Lovers, greetings from California! This is my very first post here. I don't have my lovebird YET, but i'm going to the Pomona Bird Mart next month to hopefully get a weaned baby. I'd like either a blue or black masked LB.

I have always loved birds, but have never had the opportunity to have one before now. This will be my first bird, although i've had dogs, cats and rabbits. I've been doing lots of research, and these forums have been invaluable. I appreciate all the knowledge you share!

I'm sure I will have lots of birdy questions, so you will be seeing a lot of me in the future Maybe i'll see you at the Pomona Bird Mart!

 

[Mozzie]

Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to learn about parrots. Good luck with your future baby! Be sure to post pictures!

 

[Agapornis]

Thanks Mozzie! I will post pics as soon as I get my new baby.

 

[baseballfanz]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Hello Agapornis,

Welcome to the forum. I have not yet been to a bird Mart so I'm not sure what and how they sell their birds. First, if they do not provide a sales contract then I would never purchase a bird from them. Make sure there is a contract that provides you at least 72 hours to get your new baby to an Avian Vet. If there are any illnesses that are treatable then the fees can be negotiated between you and the seller. If the bird has an illness that is fatal then you should be able to return for purchase price or choose another bird of the same type. If there is not a sales contract and you choose to get a bird anyway, I still recommend getting the bird to a Avian Vet ASAP to ensure it's healthy. A good Avian Vet will provide a wealth of info to a first time bird owner.

 

[cdnbirdlover]

I'm a first time bird mom too (to a peach faced lovebird). We've had him for almost six months and love him to bits. They are sweet little birds with great big personalities!

Andrea and Basil

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Birdlover11]

Welcome to the forum , you'll find this place very addicting. I visit this place 5 times a day lol you'll find caring for birds the best experience of your life if you do it correctly. Also I know your doing research on your bird before you buying it, hats off to you ! I can not tell you how many people will just rush into a store to buy the cutest bird and then a month later its either rehomed or is not getting good enough care because the owner didn't research . Be sure to get pics and welcome to the rewarding experience of caring for a bird !

 

[Mayden]

Welcome, looking forward to meeting your new baby! Please don't hesitate to ask any questions, no matter how silly it may seem!

A bird mart always sounds scary to me, but I'm sure many are actually decent places. As others have mentioned, a check with an avian vet is always recommended when you get your baby home. Other than that everything should be straight forward. Have you got the cage etc already or will you be getting that on the day?

 

[Agapornis]

Thank you all, for your helpful suggestions and comments! I am ALREADY addicted to this site, and I don't even have a bird yet.

MollyGreenCheeks - thank you for the heads up on the contract. I will defintely ask about that. A bird mart is usually held in a big convention center, and there are tons of breeders and vendors, all selling bird stuff. The Pomona Bird mart is huge, sort of like a "Comic-Con" for bird lovers. All the prices are usually wholesale, so its a great place to get all the birdy accoutrements. I havent been to it yet, but I've heard its so big, there is a shuttle bus to take you in, after you park!

I already got a nice cage at a smaller bird mart I went to last week, in Paso Robles.

Here is my dilemma: I would like to go to an actual breeder, and get a young weaned, blue or black masked LB, and I would pay extra to get a DNA'd male. I would drive anywhere in California to pick him up, as i live in the middle of the state, on the coast. I've searched online for breeders, and it seems i just get people who want to sell older birds. how do i find the breeder who has my perfect LB? If I find him now, I won't have to drive 4 hours each way to go down to Pomona, and I can establish a relationship with the breeder.

So can you suggest any particular breeders in California?

 

[Birdlover11]

I wouldn't be as comfterble as you if I got my baby from a bird mart, too many birds and the baby could be vulnerable to sickness. The way I find breeders is I go to a website called birdbreeders.com and you click on find a breeder. They're you type in your state and the type of bird and a bunch of breeders show up that ae in your state that breed your type of bird. I found a breeder right in my town that way ! Lots if breeders ship too and send you pictures, what type of love bird do you want ?

 

[Agapornis]

Thanks Birdlover, I have to agree with your worry about potential illness at a big bird mart. I went to Birdbreeders.com, and left a message with one of the breeders. I hope they call back! If not, i'll try some of the others listed. California is a big state, you would think there would be more LB breeders *sigh* There are some backyard breeders nearby, but I was not impressed with their operations. they didnt do any hand feeding, and they were willing to give me a newly hatched, UN-WEANED bird, even though I had no experience hand feeding one, and the cages were really dirty. They werent the kind of people who would bother with sales contracts or anything like that. So i walked away, with no LB.

I would love to have a DNA'd male, blue or black masked, or a fischers. I also think the Black Cheek LBs are beautiful. I love the brightly colored lovebirds!

This is my very first bird, so I want this to be a good experience! I already found a good avian vet only a few miles from where i live, and I plan to take my new baby there as soon as I get him.

I really appreciate everyone's comments! I am so looking forward to bonding with a little bird, I just want to get him NOW! I will keeping reading all the lovebird posts and researching as much as I can. I'll let you all know what happens with the breeder i called!

 

[Birdlover11]

You found a vet, contacting a breeder, your all set ! Love birds are really cute and puffball like but you have to be careful because they can be nippy.

 

[Agapornis]

Thanks Birdlover. I know those little devils can be nippy, that's why I was thinking that a male would be LESS nippy...although I know they all have their nippy moments.

OK so no response yet from the breeder I called a place I found on the internet, it was a bird shop about 3 hours south of me, that said they specialize in "hand-raised babies" of all kinds of birds. I asked if they had any lovebirds, and he said that it wasnt the lovebird season! Apparently thats in the spring. He said that if I find a baby lovebird now, it will have a weaker disposition?!? Does that make sense to guys??? Now I'm really confused. Am I wasting my time cold-calling these breeders when there arent even any babies right now?

Thanks for any advice you can give me!

 

[Birdlover11]

I didn't know they were seasons . I'm as confused as you are

 

[cdnbirdlover]

I found my breeder last January but I didn't want to get birdie until May (my daughter's bday present). He was about a year in May but I don't have exact hatch dates. Anyway, he was not hand raised or hand tamed at all. He has come a long way in the six months he's been with us. Hand raised by someone else may not mean hand tamed for you. Your lovie will have to learn to know and trust you whether he was handled by someone else as a baby or not. The effort you put into gaining his trust and getting to know him will be well worth it. They are so smart and so cute. Good luck and be patient...you will find your lovie when he's ready for you!

Andrea and Basil

 

[Agapornis]

Very good advice, cdnbirdlover! I am definitely willing to put in the time to get my little birdy to trust me. In my mind, I feel like I already have my bird, and I sometimes catch myself talking to him when no one else is around! Isnt that crazy?? I would die if anyone heard me, lol. I can only admit it to my fellow bird lovers!

 

[Mayden]

Hehe, I do the same!

I'm also wanting a dog at the moment, so I kinda end up talking to the dog that isn't there... hah, silly me.

Glad you're getting in touch with breeders and most of all, an avian vet! Some birds breed in cycles, so he might be right that it's not 'lovie' season yet, Spring is the time most animals breed and whatnot as babies can't survive harsh winters, so you might have to wait until after xmas! It'll be well worth the wait though!