Lovebird Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks) (Paperback)

by Vera Appleyard (Author) "Lovebirds have long fascinated people both in the wild and in captivity..." (more)
Key Phrases: peachfaced lovebirds, reptile container, other lovebird species (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Lovebirds are social birds, but it is a myth that they must always be kept in pairs as a tame single bird can make a wonderul companion. Keeping healthy, contented lovebirds require dedicated care. Designed and illustrated much like Barron's Pet Owner's Manuals, this handbook has more pages, even more photos, and more fully detailed pet care advice and instruction. Pet owners and people who plan to acquire a pet will find information on health care, feeding, and housing—and where applicable, on grooming and training. All photos are top quality and in full color. Many of the titles in this series also feature instructive line illustrations.

From the Author
African lovebirds have long delighted pet bird owners. Their inquisitive, playful nature and small size make hand-fed lovebirds ideal pets. This book will guide you in how best to choose a quality lovebird, as well as give solid advice on how to care and train your bird so it will be a happy, well-adjusted pet. If you have a lovebird who has developed such bad habits as biting or screaming, there are tips on how to turn such behaviors around. The book dispels many of the myths about lovebirds, such as the belief that they must be kept in pairs. My overall goal was to write the book that I wish I had when I first starting keeping lovebirds.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764118277
• ISBN-13: 978-0764118272
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #170,052 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The Barron's Pets Handbooks Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great New Book, November 24, 2001

By	Bobbie Cerutti (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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).

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the novice bird owner......, April 11, 2004

By	Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome!, January 16, 2002

By	"kiwilvbd" - See all my reviews

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!