Worried Lovebird OWNER

[FloodingRain]

Hi,
I recently bought a lovebird and I'm not sure if she is really healthy. According to the pet shop owners they say that she is 8 weeks old and that she is perfectly healthy; but I'm not really sure she is. She is always fluffed up and sleeps most of the day, but she is never at the bottom of the cage. Should I even be worried? :confused:

Here's a picture of her if you want to check her out:
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lonergirl/trixie.jpg

[pilsdogurl]

Hi..I'm not an expert here...I still ask a lot of questions...I got my cockatiel in Jan. of this year and he did the same, sleeping and always puffed for a few weeks...I thought that he was sick also...a month after that, i had to take him to the emergency vet because of blood feather...they did a test on him and he's very healthy...my point here is, your bird is very young and is in a new environment...he probably hasn't had a chance to explore his cage and thats the spot that he found comforting...make sure he has plenty of food and water...every now and then sit by your bird and speak to him/her in a soft voice...eventually he will get used to his new environment and start playing and climbing around his cage...of course, to be on the safe side you can take him to an avian vet...i also found this link, maybe it will help:

http://www.mresource.com/Birds/homepage.html

[Kaye]

First I gotta say that she is adorable.

I'd take her to the vet as soon as you can for her wellness check. Get some general tests done, a gramstain etc. She could just be settling in and getting used to everything new. When she sleeps does she sleep on one foot? Sometimes birds that are sick will sleep on both feet on their perch or on the bottom of the cage.

I thought I'd recommend to you some really good lovebird books if you don't have any yet..

The Lovebird Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764118277/qid=1084845585/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3037497-8139140?v=glance&s=books) by Vera Appleyard
Lovebirds (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812090144/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/104-3037497-8139140?v=glance&s=books) by Matthew M. Vriends
Lovebirds as a New Pet (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0866226176/qid=1084845734/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/104-3037497-8139140?v=glance&s=books) by Oliver Denton

All those are really good, but if you can only get one, definitely get The Lovebird Handbook one by Ms Appleyard.. she owns the ParrotParrot.com (http://parrotparrot.com) website and the book is really good.

Good luck with your new baby and if you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask!

[FloodingRain]

Thanks for the help guys and in answer to your question Kaye, she sleep on one foot.

['too crazy]

I'm really no help here but I did recently read they LOVE happy huts. Maybe she's just lonely and getting used to her surroundings. Were there other birds in the cage with her? I agree with the others though, it's a good idea to get a vet check. Good luck and keep us updated.

[FloodingRain]

Heh, I also heard that so I got Boomer(her lovebird buddy) and her a happy hut. She doesn't seem to like it as much as Boomer but I think she'll eventually like it. Well thanks for all the help guys and she does seem to be doing a lot better now.

[daniland]

hey, kudos to you for being observant and loving to your bird!

a wellness check is in order to make sure she is not sick. she may or may not be- you not had her long enough to know what she is like, and also for her to be secure in her environment.

i would avoid happy huts, i have read horror stories of birds eating threads & dying: http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/alerts.htm#happyhuts as with any toy supervise activity at first!

but get her a shelter- i think most lovebirds really like them! ones that are made out of diestable materials are best, followed by the ones that are little triangles.

[LordVampyre]

daniland,
thats an amazing site thank you ever so much for sharing.
Well, after owning a bird for one month as of tomorrow... (sat) I have to say my cockatiel favorites area is larger than any other in my ie or firefox... amazing..

again thanks

[wigg1ty]

Hi..cute baby! i have one more thing to add just for the heck of it. I read that birds stay puffed up inorder to stay warm. Hows the temp in your house? My parakeet Bug did the same thing when I brought him home(he was sick, but he was sneezing) anyway I raised the temp and he ceased to fluff, except when I walk into his area and he gives me a fluffy greeting. good luck

[toymaker]

How is everything now? I hope he's ok - soooo adorable - He looks a little unsure though. Maybe like everyone said - just new surroundings and at the store he was probably with alot of other lovebirds and is lonely.