What do I feed my Lovebird?

07oktober2005
EZNC
Lovebirds eat coarse parakeet seeds. The feed can be complemented with egg feed, germ seed, pieces of apple and millet. Lovebirds also need grit. Drinking water should be fresh and clean. To provide calcium, merely hang a hard pique stone in the cage. A piece of sepia will give your lovebird a surplus of calcium as it is too soft.
The ideal composition of the feed has a protein content of 12 to 19%, a fat content of 4 to 6% of the diet, and 4 to 5% crude fibre. For vitamins, lovebirds need a daily 200 to 400 IU (International Units) vitamin A and 20 to 40 IU vitamin D3.

For the hand rearing of young lovebirds, feed is available in the pet shop. Prepare the feed as the packing indicates. Make sure the feed has a temperature of 39°C when fed to the young birds. Bring a sprayer or a teaspoon into the beak of the bird and spray gently and not too much in one go. After several feeds, the bird will automatically recognize the sprayer or the teaspoon. Continue the feeding until the crop of the bird is full. Don’t feed again until the crop is totally empty again. This prevents a souring of the crop. Be aware of the fact that the bird will always eat, also if it does not want to. After feeding, clean the bird. The porridge hardens when dried, making it painful to remove, as you must pull at the feathers. If the bird eats and drinks on its own, can you stop the hand rearing.