Customer Reviews

Lovebird Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book because my experiences with lovebirds have never turned

out the way I expected them to. The first time I got a lovebird the pet

store said he would be tame after I handled him a few days. Although he

calmed down a little, it always felt like I was starting from scratch each

day. He was so scared I felt sorry for him. Well, I learned from someone

that the bird should not have been that scared if he was really hand-fed

and socialized. I got a second lovebird from a breeder a friend

recommended. This bird was really sweet and totally what I wanted, but

after about a year, this bird suddenly started biting me. He was still

tame, but would have these bouts of aggression. I felt totally

frustrated. I head about this book in an online discussion group and

bought it immediately. I'm glad I did. The Lovebird Handbook really showed

me what I did wrong with my second bird. I was letting this bird nibble on

me all the time. I thought it was cute when he nibbled my ears. The book

warns you about this, and says that nibbling can turn to biting when the

bird gets older. Wish I'd known that a year ago! I have bought lovebird

books before, but there was always something missing. I really enjoyed this

book because it covers almost anything you can think of regarding lovebirds

and it answered a lot of questions I never could get an answer to

before. I had no idea I needed to be careful going to bird shows or bird

stores because I could bring home feather dust with diseases! Now I wash my

clothes and take a shower as soon as I get home! Since I got my lovebird

I've also acquired a nanday conure, a cockatiel, and a Hahn's macaw. I

believe the chapters on training lovebirds also have some excellent tips

for working with my nanday. He has been screeching and driving me nuts, and

after I read the section about accidentally encouraging screaming, I

realized this is just what I have been doing--I basically taught my bird to

scream all the time! I'm going to try what they suggest to stop this

annoying noise. I also never put together an emergency kit before--never

even thought about it. The book told me exactly what I needed and I stopped

procrastinating. The other thing I really like about this book is the

photography. What gorgeous lovebirds! I highly recommend this book to

anyone who is thinking about getting a pet lovebird or has one already, or

anyone who is thinking about breeding them and raising tame babies

(especially the section about how hand-feeding is not enough for a really

tame bird).

As the new owner of six love birds, I find THE LOVE BIRD HANDBOOK by Vera Appleyard, indispensible. I now know that my little birds are a great choice of parrot(two toes back and two toes front and a `horned beak'). I like the colorful antics of the larger birds, but am afraid of the bigger parrots with their tough beaks. Love birds are funny little guys who figure things out pretty quickly and each of my love birds cost about one-fourth the amount I paid for my Senegal Parrot (who is a great little bird).

After reading Appleyard's book, I figured out that although three of my `non-masked' love birds appear different from one another they are all variants of the peach-faced love bird from Central Africa. As they purportedly came from the same clutch this makes sense(the bird shop owner was a confused man, i.e. not sure what his partner/wife had done).

Appleyard's book contains useful information on love bird diet and care as well as things to avoid. She also indcludes a section on "What not to do, ever." As all birds can become nippy, I find her advice timely, not only with regard to the lovebirds, but with regard to the other companion birds that live with me. I have been bitten on more than one occasion, and Appleyard has many useful suggestions about how to "nip" this behavior in the bud.

I've kept birds for about two years and read dozens of books on parrots and parrot behavior, and can recommend this book to the novice. It contains useful introductory information found in other books and combines and distills useful ideas specifically about love birds. I was thinking of buying six parakeets (budgies) before I bought my love birds, but I am happy I read Appleyard's book and purchased love birds instead. They are just as colorful as parakeets, and they will live a lot longer. And, they are sweet little birds, very affectionate with each other when they aren't "beak fighting."...just like human kids.

This book is a must for new lovebird owners, anyone considering buying a lovebird, owners who have problems/questions anyone interested in lovebirds at all! This book answered so many questions, has beautiful pictures, up to date info on training, feeding, breeding etc. etc. I highly recommend buying this book!

I just read this wonderful book and I have to say it's about time they found a person who really knows and loves lovebirds to write a book for new lovebird owners.

Many of the lovebird books available are outdated - they contain information that no longer applies or is just plain wrong. This up-to-date book should be in EVERY lovebird owner's library.

It covers purchasing, feeding, wing-clipping, breeding, handfeeding and even has a concise section on color genetics that won't scare away the "scientifically challenged". This book has excellant pictures - most are new (ever notice how some books just reuse the same old pictures in each "different" book? Not this one!)

This book is refreshingly honest, accurate and detailed. Good for both beginning pet owners and breeders!

It's factual and up to date! Vera Appleyard is very knowlegable about lovebirds and pet birds. This is a great book for first time owners and veteran Lovebird owners alike.

This is a good book about love birds for starters and people who are a bit more experienced. The book is easy to read, lots of info. Beautiful pics! A special part of the book describes love bird's behavior and how to get started breeding love birds.
Vera Appelyard did a wunderful job! She is an expert on parrots and she is very helpful, always sharing her knowledge with others.

This is the 6th book I've read about lovebirds, and my favorite one. It has alot of history on the birds, and also talks about training them, how to handle them when they first come home, diseases, and how to feed them and even a chapter on breeding. Very complete, and has so many pictures that it makes it hard not to read. I recommend it!

Excellent communication, fast postage.
The book I received has all the information I would ever hope to need.

The book has some basic review of lovebirds but fills the rest of the book with explanations of genetics and the mutations and pictures of all the lovebird mutations. It wasn't particularly what I was looking for. I wanted to know their habits, personalities, etc. as I was not looking to breed lovebirds.

This Lovebird book is a perfect guide for all who love lovebirds. I have 4 lovebirds and this book made me understand how they are and what to expect. The Guide is easy to understand and have many pictures as well. I do recommend this Book.

Delivery was perfect!