greetings from sunny Bodrum

[Pebble]

Hi everyone, I was directed to this site by a friend in a garden site.
I just got two lovebirds in Izmir, I got one about 4 weeks ago, then after reading about them a little decided to go get another one. Well...I just read the proper way to introduce another bird to the cage...egads...I didnt do that. I just plunked Ricky in with lucy. If I knew how to post pictures, I would. Maybe later.

After doing some research on lovebirds, I wish I were back in the states. I am having my son bring some toys and vitamins.

I am having a cage built, again...If I knew how to post photos, I would post a shot of the cage I m having built. Maybe after it is built.

The town I live in is pretty small, there are a couple of pet stores, but nothing really to speak of, that's why I got the birds in Izmir.

I have no clue about lovebirds, am in the learning process, I am hoping to learn some things from you seasoned folks.

the birds are with me in my office. They're quiet for the moment. shhhh...no one wake them up - hey dont seem to fight, at first they were a little edgy, acutally lucy was, but she got over it. Iont know if I have a male an female or two of the same sex. I was kind of hoping to have some babies.....one that i can hold without getting bitten.

I am looking forward to seeing you all around the forum.

cheers!!

ps: I forgot to say that I have two peach faced lovebirds.... :D

[bellarains]

Hi,

Welcome to the board. I am glad that you found us, and have found the information here useful. We have been around for awhile and have just recently moved the site here so if you can't find any information you are looking for don't hesitate to post a question.

I could look it up I suppose, but I'm lazy :D Where is Bodrum???, and BTW did you move there from the States? If so, where did you move from? It's always nice to know where everyone is and if any of us are close, or at least used to be ;)

There are instructions in the photo forum on how to post your pics, so please download some or Ricky and Lucy when you get a chance. We love the pics :)

[Pebble]

Bodrum is where the Aegean and Meditterean seas meet, we are more on the aegean side though. (western turkey) the aegean is the sea that separates greece from turkey.

I am from the States, Oregon, my husband is turkish and we moved back here about 2 years ago. (I was actually born and raised here, my parents were american, when my father retired the family moved back to the states)
this is a third world country to be sure, I dont think there are any avian vets here - well not in Bodrum anyway). My dog's vet came to the office one day and I asked him if he looks after birds and he said no, but he did tell me to put gravel in the bottom of the cage, he actually went out and got a handfull of small itty bitty pieces from the road outside my offie, and told me to put them in, and gave me a lessn on why they need it, next time I was up in Izmir, I went to a pet store and got some. and i just dump a little in the bottom of the cage.

I am looking forward to spending time on the forums here and learnin lots about my babies....

[bellarains]

Hey,

Well a dog vet he is for sure. Hookbills, which lovebirds are do not need gravel or grit to assist in diegestion as they shell all their food. Birds like doves and a few others do not shell their food, so they are the ones that would use grit or gravel. Next vet visit you can educate your vet ;)

If you do have the grit or gravel still in the cage go ahead and remove it ASAP as this can actually cause a crop impaction in the birds that do not need it, and or cause a blockage internally.

There are many petstores that will sell you things like gravel, grit, vitamins etc.... that just are not needed. If your birds eat a well balanced diet, vitamins are not needed either. A good reccomended diet is 40% pellets,60% seed with fresh fruits and veggies, organic if possible. If you can not get organic, wash them thoroughly and if you can get some GSE(grapefruit seed extract) this is a wonderful fruit and veggie wash, and also a good way to clean poopies in the cage as it is also a disenfectant.

OK, I'll stop. There is just so much to learn in caring for these little ones. We all learn something new here almost everyday. Care and behavior techniques. Potential hazards to our fids(feathered kids), and just in general information that you don't find anywhere in a book. Ask away any questions, as we are all here to share what we know and also to learn from others.

OOps, almost forgot, we do have a member here that lives in Oregon also. I believe that would be Rachel and MJ if I recall correctly :)

[Pebble]

Egads.....the other day, I mixed the gravel in with the food.....aarrggghhhhhhh - ok, am taking it out right now.

we dont have food pellets here. only seed, and i just read on a post here where sunflower seed is not the best thing for them. The place where i bought the bird, they sold me some different bird seed. and one of them, i looked at it and said to myself....that sure looks like pot seed......hmm then i asked my mother in law what that was, and she told me the tukish word for it, and i still wasnt sure, but asked my husband, and he comfirmed that it was pot seed...but it looks like the fids (love that ...) didnt like it, so i have a jar of pot seed under my sink. Do they feed pot seed to birds in the states???
All our fruits and vegetables are organic, so at least i am safe on that score...
and no grapefruit seed extract here either that i know of...(but this is citrus growing country)

[zlatushka]

Wow Turkey!

Never visited, but I know a little about Turkish folk music and dance. :) I know how hard it can be caring for a pet where things are very hard to get; I hope you have some good luck! (It looks like your son might be able to help you out with stuff from the States from time to time though, and that will help) Lori was right in her remembering, both MJ and I live in Oregon. MJ's up in the Portland area (and probably will drop in and say her hellos too) and I'm down near Eugene. She has a whole flock up there, and I'm currently only serving one little peachie named Friday :)

It was good to meet you, and I'll look forward to seeing you around the board.

rachel

[bellarains]

LOL,

Pot seed. You would be arrested for that here wouldn't ya???? :D

I am thinking this is hemp seed???? If so, yep, that is fine. Flax seed,millet, safflower,buckwheat and sunflower are some pretty basic seeds in a seed mix. My fids won't really eat pellets, and if they have fruits and veggies along with a good seed mix it really is not necessary. Linda here uses layena, a hen laying mash in her seed mix, and it works good for her. I am going to have to try that, as mine look at pellets like they are the devil reincarnate,LOL.

[Pebble]

Maybe hemp seed is right. is it the same?
I have taken down some of the recipes and will try something with finely chopped vegetables.

Rachel, nice to meet you. I look forward to seeing you around the forums.

If there was one toy that I could ask my son to bring, what should it be?

any ideas?
I asked him to bring a couple of things, I think a mineral block was one thing.
I want to try to have babies with the fids, if they are not the same sex, and I m going to have a nesting box made. I have taken some photos off the internet, so I will take that to my carpenter and see if he can make one.

[bellarains]

Toys, Toys, Toys,

They do love their toys. A couple of must haves though are a swing,ladder, and if he can get them a booda perch or comfy perch, they are known as either or. Most lovies like those types of perches, and they should have at least three different types of perches. Manzanita is the best, a conditioning perch to keep their nails and beaks trimmed, and the comfy perches should round them out nicely.

Ooops, you said one didn't you???? :D They don't take up much room though ;)

[mjm8321]

Hello and Welcome! Glad to hear you found the board and I'd love to see some pictures, not only of your birds, but from where you live in Turkey. I'm from just outside Portland, OR and I've lived here for 7 years now, originally from the east coast of the US.
You might ask your son to bring a few little things if he can. Mineral blocks are good, but cuttle bone is indispensable in my opinion,less expensive and I know exactly what's in it. As for toys, lovies love to chew and shred, so safe wooden toys(blocks and beads) and vegetable leather tanned strips are a favorite. Also palm fronds are great for chewing up, but can cause a hen to start feeling like she wants to nest. ;)
Hemp seeds are great for all parrots and lovies are quite active, so sunflowers are ok too as long as that isn't all they are getting. If your lovies have never had vegetables, it may take them a while to try them (or they might dive right into them and gobble them up) but keep trying.
We'll see you around the board and there should be instructions on how to post pictures in the photo forum. (hint hint) :D

[mangotiki]

Welcome aboard (from Canada)!!! I think it is cool to see people from all over here. I think you will find that this has got to be the most helpful site around about lovebirds. Sounds like you have the right idea, trying to learn as much as you can about your birds. Peachies come in many different colors, what color are yours?

I am not sure what kind of trees grow where you are, but I use tree branches as perches, I attach them with cable ties or drill holes in the end, sink a screw and use a washer and wingnut to attach them. This gives them something fun to chew on and the different circumferences and shapes are good for their feet (dont want them sitting on the same uniform size perch all the time). Some woods are toxic, though, so you would have to check that.

As far as toys go, if you need/want to make your own, here are some great ideas:

http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/ideas.htm

We will be waiting for pics,
bye for now
traci

[kiwilovies]

Kiaora (greetings) from New Zealand :D
You are at the right place, everyone here is so friendly & caring. Also a great place for a chat (when it is added to this site :p )Looking forward to seeing you around!

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Welcome and greetings from Orlando, FL! I have 2 lovies as well. Mine (photo to the left) don't get along well enough to share a cage just yet.

Some other suggestions for toys, mine love anything that can be shredded to bits. For storebought toys, mine really like 'Parrot Pinatas' which are made of woven palm leaf. The company that makes them is Planet Pleasures. They can be ordered online and/or bought in the pet stores here. Otherwise anything from a piece of paper to a stalk of broccoli will make them happy.