I'm worried and have few questions

[zana]

Hello. Next week I will buy lovebird. But after reading about them in some sites and here...the more I read, the more I worry.
For example http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/72868-lovebird-unexpectedly-died.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/lovebirds/29554-baby-lovebird-died.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/lovebir...r-two-days-our-home-please-help-diagnose.html

1. about food - Versele Laga Prestige Big Parakeets is this brand is ok? I ordered 1 kg. Other food to buy too?
2. cage - ferplast rekord 3 - oreded. Size - 49 x 30 x 48.5 cm. Is it ok? For one lovebird.
3. I read that parrot perch must be wooden, otherwise their beak may grow. Ordered this Trixie Natural Living Perch Y-shaped 35 cm + Trixie Wooden Swing https://petmall.bg/uploads/productgalleryfile/images/280x280/136905_2942.jpg. Sould I buy chalk or cuttlebone too?
4. about room temperature - 18-25 C is ok? During the winter, temp in the room is 18°C. Summer is 25-30°C. Is it ok?

Cleaned surfaces around the place where I will put the cage with clean alcohol.
What other to do? I want to be sure that lovebird will feel ok and safe.
Sorry for my english. I do my best lol

 

[LaManuka]

Hello zana, welcome to the Forums. I'm so glad you are here and asking these questions! I wish more people would do so and be better prepared before they bring their little birdie home

A common factor in two of the threads you have read seems to be that the bird really was bought at too young an age to be sold. The period during which young parrots transition from baby formula and hand-feeding onto solid adult food is a very precarious one and, sadly, many would-be owners make mistakes during this time and lose their birds. Some breeders will try to tell you that hand-feeding is easy (it's not), or that it will help you bond more closely with your bird (it won't), and even experienced breeders can and do lose young birds during this time. Therefore, the best thing you can possibly do to avoid this heartbreak is to not buy a baby lovebird until at least 10 weeks of age, maybe a little older, and it has been independently eating adult food for a good two weeks.

The other best thing you can do is schedule a visit to a certified avian vet for a wellness check. This will enable you to get a baseline on your bird's health and detect any disease it may have picked up at the breeder's so that it can be treated before it becomes a problem. I'm not sure where you are in the world, and I am aware these specialists are not necessarily available everywhere, but the link below might help you find one near you...

https://www.aav.org/default.aspx

You can make enquiries with an "exotics" vet if there is no avian vet close to you - some exotics vets are better trained in birds than others however so consulting a bird specialist is definitely the best option if it's possible for you.

I hope you will stick around and keep asking questions, and that you will share some photos of your baby when he or she comes home. And please do not apologise for your English, it looks pretty much perfect to me!

 

[Laurasea]

I would not use alcohol to clean around yiur parrot. Alcohol on cotton balls us used to kill bugs for mounting, pretty potent off gassing.

I would use a small amount of vinegar in cold water to clean, tgen rinse and whioe off. Vinegar in hot water not good releases fumes. Never use vinegar and bleach together toxic gass.

Anyway welcome to the forum!

 

[zana]

WOW, so useful post. Thanks a lot guys.
About alcohol - I used alcohol yesterday. for 4-5 days, until lovebird arrive...will the alcohol evaporate?about vinegar - what ratio water:vinegar? 1:1? or 5:1? I have no idea.
About vets - I'm living in Bulgaria, part of EU. BUUUUUT forget about vets. I read bulgarian forums and...trust me - we not have vets specalised for exotic birds.
If I buy parrot and he/she get sick, then I...don't know what would do. Maybe will ask here and post photos if someone can help with advice.
i'm not buying bird from pet store. I read that these stores not care properly for birds and I don't trust them.
The guy who sell lovebirds said that he have several for sale. They are 2-3-4 months old, all hand fed. he have...not sure about right word - parrot kennel or something?
maybe I'm too worried and exaggerate.
and what you think about food? Can feed the bird only with Versele Laga Prestige Big Parakeets? Or have to buy other foods?
i think to buy some cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas too. Is this enough? And how to wash vegetables? I use soap to wash all food, but not sure that this is ok for birds lol. have many questions, some of them sounds stuppid, but I don't want to kill the bird.

edit: I think to buy this too Versele Laga - Sepia Mineral. I heard that is good for their beak and contains calcium.
edit 2: ofc, when bird arrive I will post at least 10 photos ahhahah

 

[Laurasea]

I would wipe off with damp cloth. Alcohol should be gone by then.
I eyeball about 1/4 cup to one gallon water. I always wipe off with just water after. Vinegar is acidic and could iratate. Vinegar is good at breaking down burd poop so you can get off. You will discover the concrete power of dried poop!

 

[Laurasea]

its good to feed a wide variety of leafy green lettuces and veggies. We have a parrot safe food list on forum. Go light on fruits, once a week is what I do on fruits. Sometimes tgey take to veggies right away some takes a little work. Birds tgst seeds only don't get vitamin A which is found in keafy greens and yellow abd orange veggies. Peppers are a goid source of Vitamin A. As us cooked sweet potatoes or squashes. Vitamin A plays a big role in healthy immune system. A healthy diet with veggies really makes a big difference. Mango, papya, pomegranate, blackberry, plum, fresh cherry ( pit removed) blueberries, these bright colorful fruits have lots of antioxidants better than banana but fruits hsve more sugar better fed in small quantities, veggies abd keafy greens everyday. Yiu can feed tiny amount of whole grain pasta cooked, scrambled and boiled egg, sprouts ( careful of mold) cooked legume, pop corn can be a treat , and while grain bread tiny amount as treat. Healthy seed mix that has pumpkin and squash seeds and light on sunflower seeds.. no peanut can have mold
Never ever add vitamins to water tgey rot and make burd sick.

 

[Laurasea]

I don't feed tomatoes, or citrus fruits.

 

[Laurasea]

Worth a read
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

This one is also very good. I don't use a clucker, but do shaoe behavior I say good birdie instead of clicking.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress...ot-companions/

 

[zana]

second link not working, but thanks

edit: If understood correctly, I can give to lovebird vegetables every day (carrots for vitamin A, cucumbers), but fruits one time per week?
vitamin A is fat-soluble vitamin. Is it danger if every day my parrot eat vegetables with fat-soluble vitamins content?
I ask, because I know that for ppl is dangerous to take high dosages of fat-soluble vitamins, especially for liver.

 

[Laurasea]

When eating foods its ok, when taking supplements thsts the danger.

She isnt going to over eat foods that contain vitamin A, also you need to offer a wide variety of vegetables and leafy greens, many leafy greens have more vitamins than vegetables and fruit. Watercress is packed with nutrients!! But you need a wide variety for micronutrients, antioxidants, ect... i try and offer three different veggies twice a day, and i mix up what i get and use weekly, i try and use what's in season too. If I get a head of romaine, then one if the veggies will be roma everyday until I run out, but next time I might by dandelion greens, green beans are in season i bought a big bag, so tgey will get those everydsy till they are gone, Along with peppers, carrots, broccoli , the romaine, ect...
I hope yiu eat a healthy amount and variety of vegetables and leafy greens, because it makes it easy to share.

I keep on hand frozen peas, and frozen corn, and a bag of mix vegetables, that i use a tiny amountbif hear and there to round out tge fresh stuff i offer. Mine don't like frozen Brussels sprouts but they love fresh


Fruits have lots of sugar, and many birds will prefer to eat the. And fill up on them, then they get yeast overgrowth in tge gi system
But amiubt if fruit can depend on the species of parrot. Im not as sure on love birds

 

[Laurasea]

This li k should work now
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/