How to Breed African Love Birds

African lovebirds are small parrots that can be friendly, personable pets. There are nine distinct species of African lovebirds, but they can all be bred using the same procedures. Learning how to breed African lovebirds is a simple process.

Things You'll Need

• Nesting box
• Nesting material

Instructions

1. Sex your birds. You need a male and a female, and being absolutely certain that you have a breeding pair will save you time and frustration. Females have broader heads and shoulders than the males, and they also have a wider pelvic span. When the bird is on its back, touch the area just above the tail. Two small points of bone very close together indicate a male, while points that are spaced more widely indicate a female.

2. Keep your birds communally. For the best chances of breeding African lovebirds, keep them in a group of four or five. This allows them to choose their own mates and will increase the chances of egg production.

3. Place a nesting box in the cage. Nesting boxes can be purchased from most pet stores. They are often made of straw or wicker and can be hung inside the cage. If you cannot find a nesting box specifically for lovebirds, choose one intended for a cockatiel as they tend to be the right size.

4. Place nesting material in the bottom of the cage. This encourages the lovebirds to line their nest. Some good choices for nesting materials include unscented, shredded paper towels, shredded newspaper, dried grasses, twigs and palm fronds.

5. Watch for eggs. A female African lovebird will lay between four and six eggs, which will then be incubated for between 21 and 24 days. After that point, the eggs will hatch, and you can begin hand-taming the chicks when they are about a week old.

Tips & Warnings

• If the cage is large enough, hang up a few different nesting boxes so that the birds can have a choice.

• If there are more than eight eggs or if the incubation period does not end, you have two females.

• Do not give your African lovebirds aromatic woods as nesting material, as this can cause respiratory problems.

References

• Avian Web: Breeding Lovebirds
• African Lovebird Society: Introduction to Lovebirds
• Parrot Parrot:: Lovebirds