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Lovebirds: lifespan, size, diet and care

Lives10–15 years
Lives bestin pairs
Spacea big cage, time out every day, away from the kitchen
Foodpellets and fresh vegetables every day, few seeds
Adult weight50 to 100 g, 1.8–3.5 oz (the RSPCA weight class)
What few people know

Fumes from overheated non-stick pans are toxic to birds: keep them away from the kitchen.

Take the quiz: is it right for you?

How big it is

An adult is up to 15 cm (6 in) long.

Zoomed ×4: here you see the man up to 47.5 cm (19 in) off the ground

Manup to 47.5 cm (19 in) off the ground
Ferretlong (head and body) 50 cm (20 in)Guinea piglong 25.4 cm (10 in)Lovebirdslong 15 cm (6 in)Pet ratlong (head and body) 45 cm (18 in)Goldfishlong 25 cm (10 in)
  1. Ferretlong (head and body) 50 cm (20 in)
  2. Guinea piglong 25.4 cm (10 in)
  3. Lovebirdslong 15 cm (6 in)
  4. Pet ratlong (head and body) 45 cm (18 in)
  5. Goldfishlong 25 cm (10 in)

All the pets next to a person

Before it arrives

  • A companion of the same species: lovebirds live in flocks
  • A cage at least 1.5 times its wingspan in height, width and depth (2 times if it stays inside most of the time); an aviary is better
  • At least 6 hours a day out of the cage, in a safe room where it can fly: windows closed, fans off, never the kitchen
  • Natural branch perches of different thicknesses; no sandpaper perches
  • A bird UV lamp above the cage: window glass blocks UVB
  • Small-parrot pellets, a few seeds, fresh fruit and vegetables; clean water at all times
  • Paper on the cage floor (not wood chips, corncob or cat litter) and a digital gram scale
  • A home without cigarette smoke, air fresheners or overheated non-stick pans: the fumes can kill it

Its home: temperature and light

The room
12–26 °C (54–79 °F)
Light
12–14 hours a day
UVB lamp
needed

What it eats and how often

pellets and fresh vegetables every day, few seeds

  • Adults: every day

Small-parrot pellets always available as the base (about three quarters of the diet) plus a few seeds every day: on pellets alone they can get kidney problems. The rest fresh fruit and vegetables, no more than a quarter. Never avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food.

Vaccines and checkups

Usually none: there are a few bird vaccines, but most pet birds don't get vaccinated. Ask your vet.

A checkup at the vet every year. Once a year, with an avian vet.

The care calendar

What to do, from the most frequent to the least.

  • every dayFresh food and waterWash the bowls and water bottle every day with hot, soapy water (rinsing isn't enough) and change the water.
  • every dayCage paperChange the cage paper every day: that way you can see how many droppings there are and their color.
  • every weekWeigh-inUse a digital gram scale and note the weight: if it changes by more than 10%, see the vet.
  • every weekFull clean of the cageAt least once a week, with a bird-safe disinfectant.
  • every weekBath timeOnce or twice a week, even in winter: a shallow dish of water or a mister.
  • every 6 monthsUVB lampThe bulb keeps giving light even after its UVB is gone: replace it after 6 to 12 months, as the brand says.
  • every yearCheck-upOnce a year, with an avian vet.

Call the vet right away if…

If you see one of these signs, call your vet now: don’t wait for it to pass.

  • Sits fluffed up and sleeps more than usual with its eyes closed
  • Its tail bobs with each breath, or it sits on the cage floor
  • Has lost or gained more than 10% of its weight
  • Fewer droppings, or droppings that change color or contain blood
  • Discharge from the nostrils, eyes or beak, or noisy breathing

Ate something dangerous? What to do now

Frequently asked questions

How long does a lovebird live?

Usually 10–15 years.

How big is a lovebird?

An adult is up to 15 cm (6 in) long.

How much does a lovebird weigh?

An adult weighs 50 to 100 g, 1.8–3.5 oz (the RSPCA weight class).

What does a lovebird eat, and how often?

Pellets and fresh vegetables every day, few seeds. Small-parrot pellets always available as the base (about three quarters of the diet) plus a few seeds every day: on pellets alone they can get kidney problems. The rest fresh fruit and vegetables, no more than a quarter. Never avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food. Adults: every day.

Does a lovebird need vaccines?

Usually none: there are a few bird vaccines, but most pet birds don't get vaccinated. Ask your vet.

When should a lovebird see a vet right away?

Right away if you see one of these signs: sits fluffed up and sleeps more than usual with its eyes closed; its tail bobs with each breath, or it sits on the cage floor; has lost or gained more than 10% of its weight. The others are above, in “Call the vet right away if…”.

How old is a lovebird in human years?

There’s no serious human-years chart for a lovebird: the ones online don’t cite sources. What counts is where it is in its life: its senior years start at about 7.5 to 11.3 years old.

Tools for your lovebird

Age and life stageWhat and how much it eatsWhat it can eatHealthy weightVaccines and checkupsWhen to call the vetHow big it is, next to a person

Always ask your vet: this site helps you understand, it doesn’t replace a checkup.

Sources