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LOVE IS IN THE

AIR... LITERALLY
December 2023 Volume 0001

LOVE BIRDS
BRINGING BACK
THE LOVE

IN THE REALM
OF SELECTING
BREEDING STOCK
FOR LOVE BIRDS

A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Breeding


Responsible Lovebird Breeding Practices
BANC 132 - Principles of
Animal Breeding and Addressing Issues and Solutions in Lovebird Breeding
Genetics
4 REASON FOR BREEDING
Let’s find out...

5 USING OF PEDIGREE
It’s all about the background

6 DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTIC FOR


BREEDING
e STOCK

7 MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING
STOCK FOR LOVE BIRDS:

8 THE CONCEPTION AND PARTURITION


PROCESSES FOR LOVE BIRDS:

9 COMMON PROBLEMS IN LOVEBIRDS


BREEDING
CARE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR 12
FEMALE LOVEBIRDS

CARE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR 13


CHICK LOVEBIRDS
Caldero st.

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www.yesnayesforyou.com
hello@yesnayesforyou

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@yesnayesforyou

Editor-in-Chief Art Direction


Aizon John Cabatic Marielle Denise Bruan
Eldon Jed Rabang Daniel Alfonso Nones

Content Director Managing Editor


Neil Stephen Dizon Christian Mark Baguingay

*A Colorful Tale of Affection. Dive into the vibrant


world of African Lovebirds, small parrots known for
their striking plumage and charming personalities.
Originating from the African continent, these petite
companions have captivated bird enthusiasts
worldwide with their captivating courtship rituals,
playful antics, and unwavering devotion to their
mates.

With a spectrum of dazzling colors and distinctive


markings, African Lovebirds are not only a feast for
the eyes but also symbolize the enduring beauty of
avian love. Join us as we explore the unique
characteristics, behaviors, and the joyous journey
of companionship these feathered gems bring into
the lives of those fortunate enough to share their
2
homes with them.
Pet Trade: Lovebirds are popular as
pets due to their vibrant colors, small
size and sociable nature. Breeder
produce to meet demand in the field
of pet trade.

Production: Breeding for production


aims to sustainably produce healthy
offspring, ensuring a consistent
supply of love birds for pet
enthusiasts or commercial purposes.

Competition: In competitive breeding,


emphasis is placed on producing birds
that meet specific standards set by
competitions or exhibitions,
showcasing unique features or rare
color variations
Hobby and Enjoyment: Breeding
lovebirds can be a rewarding hobby
for bird enthusiasts. It allows breeder
to appreciate the natural behaviors,
courtship rituals and breeding
activities of these birds,

“Birds are not just creatures of flight; they are the living
canvases of nature's art. In the delicate dance of breeding,
we witness the brushstrokes of evolution, each generation
a masterpiece of feathers and song." - C. G
Genetic Information: Pedigrees provide a
Place a photo caption here.
documented history of a lovebird's ancestry,
including information about its parents,
grandparents, and sometimes even further
generations. This genetic information helps
breeders understand the inheritance of traits
Breeders utilize pedigrees to trace the lineage of love and potential health considerations.
Inbreeding Avoidance: Examining
birds, helping identify superior genetic traits, health
pedigrees allows breeders to assess the
history, and behavioral characteristics passed down relatedness of potential mating pairs. Avoiding
through generations. This aids in making informed excessive inbreeding is crucial to prevent the
decisions when selecting breeding pairs. expression of recessive genetic disorders and
to maintain overall genetic health within the
population.
Trait Selection: Pedigrees help breeders
select lovebirds with specific traits or color
mutations. This selective breeding can lead to
the production of offspring with desirable
physical characteristics or behaviors.
Breeding Program Planning: Pedigrees
play a vital role in planning breeding
programs. Breeders can use this information
to strategically pair lovebirds, working toward
specific goals such as improving certain traits
or maintaining genetic diversity.
Record Keeping: Pedigrees serve as a
comprehensive record-keeping system for a
breeding operation. They document essential
details such as birthdates, parentage, and any
relevant notes.
Selection for Reproduction: Pedigree
analysis helps breeders identify individuals
with the highest genetic potential for
reproduction. By selecting breeding pairs
based on their pedigrees, breeders can
enhance the chances of producing healthy
and genetically diverse offspring.

In essence, pedigrees are a crucial tool for


responsible breeding practices, enabling
breeders to make informed decisions that
contribute to the health, diversity, and overall
figure 1: Breeding chart for Opalines
success of lovebird breeding programs.
Temperament: Selecting love birds with a friendly and
sociable temperament ensures better adaptability to human
interaction, enhancing their suitability as pets.

Fertility: High fertility rates are essential for successful


breeding, ensuring a greater likelihood of healthy offspring.

Health: Breeding stock should exhibit robust health, free


from genetic disorders or diseases, to pass on strong genetic
material to their progeny.

Performance: This includes factors like successful mating


behavior, effective parenting skills, and the ability to produce
viable offspring.

Choosing breeding stock for love birds involves a balance


between specific breeding purposes, ensuring the
continuation of desirable traits, and maintaining the overall
health and well-being of the species.
1. Diet:
3. Health and Welfare:
-Balanced Nutrition:
-Regular Check-ups:
Provide a varied diet including
Schedule routine vet visits to
seeds, pellets, fresh fruits, and
monitor the health of breeding
vegetables to ensure essential
birds and address any health
nutrients.
concerns promptly.
- Supplements:
- Social Interaction:
Include calcium supplements
Allow for interaction between
and vitamins crucial for egg
breeding pairs to maintain their
production and overall health.
mental well-being.

2. Housing:
4. Breeding Female Management:
- Spacious Enclosures:
- Estrous Cycle:
Provide roomy cages or aviaries
Understand the hormonal
with perches, nesting areas, and
fluctuations during the cycle,
toys for mental stimulation.
recognizing behavioral changes
- Hygiene:
indicating readiness for mating.
Maintain clean living conditions
- Identification of Estrus:
to prevent diseases and ensure
Observation of specific
the well-being of the breeding
behaviors or physical changes
stock.
indicating the female is ready for
breeding.
Preparation for Mating: Stages in Parturition:
-Health and Safety: - Preparing for Birth:
Ensure the breeding Provide a suitable nesting
environment is free from toxins, box filled with soft nesting
hazards, or stressors that could materials like moringa
negatively impact mating. For branch for the female to
example, removing potentially nest and for love bird to lay
harmful plants or substances eggs comfortably.
from the aviary. - Monitoring the Female:
- Assessing Risks: Observe the female love
If introducing new mates, bird for signs of egg-laying
gradually introduce them in a difficulties or distress
neutral space within the aviary
during the process. For
to reduce the risk of aggressive
instance, if she appears
behavior or territorial disputes.
overly stressed or shows
- Personal Protective
signs of prolonged
Equipment (PPE): straining while attempting
If handling birds, wear gloves to to lay eggs, it might
avoid stress and potential injury
indicate potential
to the birds.
complications.
These examples
- Monitoring Offspring:
demonstrate the proactive
After eggs are laid,
measures taken to ensure
regularly check the eggs
a safe and conducive
for any abnormalities or
environment for
signs of damage. Candling
successful mating and the
is important. Once careful monitoring of
hatched, observe the female birds during egg-
behavior of the offspring to laying and the subsequent
ensure they are being care of the offspring to 8
cared for by the mother. guarantee their well-being.
What? Problem? Huh?
COMMON PROBLEMS IN
BREEDING LOVEBIRDS
Breeding lovebirds can be a rewarding experience, but like any breeding endeavor, it comes
with its set of challenges. Here are potential problems encountered in breeding lovebirds

1.Incompatible Pairing: Not all lovebird 1.2.Egg-Related Issues: Egg Binding:


pairs get along well. Incompatibility can Female lovebirds may experience
lead to fights, stress, and potentially difficulty laying eggs, a condition known
disrupted breeding attempts. It's crucial as egg binding, which can be life-
to monitor the behavior of paired threatening. Egg Fertility Issues:
lovebirds closely. Infertile eggs or eggs that do not develop
Solution: properly can occur, leading to
1. Separation and reintroduction: unsuccessful breeding attempts.
-place the pair in separate cages Solution:
temporarily 1. Egg binding issue
-Reintroduce gradually in a nuetral - Provide well-balanced diet, provide
environment calcium supplement
2. Changing the environment 2. Egg fertily issue:
- Rearrange perches and toys to create a -Ensure that the pair is healthy and in
new environment. breeding age
3. Consider Pair Separation 3. Egg Incubation issue
- If needed, consider permanent -Consider providing a foster parent for
separation for the well-being of the birds the fertile egg
-Incubator is uneconomical

9
What? Problem? Huh?
COMMON PROBLEMS IN
BREEDING LOVEBIRDS

Parental Neglect: Abandonment: 1.Incompatible Pairing: Not all lovebird


Lovebird parents may abandon their pairs get along well. Incompatibility can
eggs or chicks for various reasons, lead to fights, stress, and potentially
including stress, disturbances, or disrupted breeding attempts. It's crucial
inexperience. Inadequate Feeding: to monitor the behavior of paired
Sometimes, inexperienced parents may lovebirds closely.
struggle to feed their chicks adequately. Solution:
Solution: 1. Separation and reintroduction:
1. Regularly monitor chicks for sign of -place the pair in separate cages
neglect temporarily
2. Provide balance diet and necessary -Reintroduce gradually in a nuetral
supplements environment
3. Consider hand-feeding if needed 2. Changing the environment
4. Minimize disturbances during nesting - Rearrange perches and toys to create a
and chick-rearing new environment.
3. Consider Pair Separation
- If needed, consider permanent
separation for the well-being of the birds
What? Problem? Huh?
COMMON PROBLEMS IN
BREEDING LOVEBIRDS

Health Concerns: Disease Transmission: 5.Environmental Stressors: Noise and


Breeding pairs and chicks can be Disturbances: Excessive noise or
vulnerable to various diseases. disturbances in the environment can
Solution: stress lovebirds, leading to breeding
1. Quarantine new birds before failure or aggression. Inadequate
introducing them to the breeding Lighting: Insufficient or irregular
area to prevent disease transmission. lighting can impact the breeding cycle
Malnutrition: and hormonal balance.
2. Inadequate nutrition can lead to Solution:
health issues in both breeding pairs 1. Place the cage in a quiet and calm
and their offspring, provide healthy setting
and well-balance diet, provide 2. Minimize sudden loud noises or
supplements and vitamins disturbances
3. Maintain comfortable temperature,
avoid direct sunlight
4. Regular cage cleaning, maintain a
clean hygienic cage
1. Pre-Breeding Preparation:
Creating
Dietarya Assessment:
care plan for managing female lovebirds from conception to birth
involves providing
Evaluate proper
the nutrition,
female's diet creating a suitable
and provide environment,
a nutritionally and
balanced and
monitoring their health closely. Here's a care plan that covers
fortified diet rich in calcium, vitamins, and minerals. various aspects of
the breeding process:
Should be in breeding age, if bred before, it female should be well-
rested
3. During Egg-Laying:
Nutritional Support:
Continue providing a well-balanced diet with extra calcium-rich
foods.
Minimize Disturbances:
Minimize disturbances around the nesting area to reduce stress on
the female.
4. Incubation Period:
Temperature and Humidity:
Maintain a stable temperature and humidity level in the breeding
area.
Provide Privacy:
Ensure the breeding pair has privacy during the incubation period.
5. Post-Hatching:
Dietary Adjustment:
Monitoring Chicks:
6. Post-Birth Care:
Weaning Process:
If hand-feeding is necessary, follow a gradual weaning process as
guided by the veterinarian.
Health Checks:
Schedule post-birth health checks for both the female and the
chicks.
Managing young lovebirds from birth to weaning involves providing a nurturing
environment, meeting their nutritional needs, and monitoring their development
closely. Here's a care plan covering various aspects of the early life stages

1. Nesting and Hatching:


Provide Privacy:
Temperature and Humidity:
Regular Monitoring:
2. Dietary Needs:
Parental Feeding
3. Monitoring:
Health Checks
4. Environmental Conditions:
Clean and Warm Environment:.
5. Weaning Process:
Introduction of Solid Foods:
Encourage Independence:.
6. Record Keeping:
Document Growth and Development:
Weaning Progress
7. Gradual Independence:
Encourage Self-Feeding:
Separation from Parents:
HANDLE YOUR
BIRDS PROPERLY
By Phyllis Schwaiger
Photography by Jin Ae Soo

"As we close the pages of this edition, we hope our


magazine has kindled a deeper appreciation for the
vibrant and affectionate world of these feathered
companions. From the intricacies of breeding to the
beauty of unique plumage, we've shared stories that
celebrate the love and care that lovebirds should
experience in their live.
As you embark on your journey with these charming
creatures, may you find inspiration in the bonds they
create and the lessons they teach about companionship.
Remember, every chirp is a symphony, and every flutter
is a dance of love. Whether you're an experienced avian
enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of lovebirds, let
their tales continue to brighten your days.
Thank you for joining us on this avian adventure. Until
the next issue, may your days be filled with the delightful
melodies and vibrant colors that only lovebirds can
bring. Happy birdwatching!
THANK YOU!!

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