Feeding a Lovebird: What They Eat & What to Avoid

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Your guide to the lovebird’s diet (plus, important care tips)

Co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA and Devin McSween

Last Updated: September 8, 2024 Fact Checked

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Lovebird Diet

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Foods to Avoid

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Feeding Lovebirds

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Caring for Lovebirds

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Hand-Feeding Babies

Lovebirds make great pets, as they are small, active, and have fun personalities. They need to eat a varied diet of pellet food, vegetables, and fruit to stay happy and healthy. Simply choose a high-quality pellet to make up about 70% of their diet. Then, supplement the rest of their diet with fresh produce like carrots, peas, apples, and bananas. Keep reading to learn what foods to give your lovebird, how to feed and care for them, and how to feed baby lovebirds, too!

What Do Lovebirds Eat?

Every morning, feed your lovebird 1.5-2 oz (45-60 g) of pellet food as well as small-cut vegetables and fruit like carrots and apples. Pellet food makes up 70-80% of their diet while produce makes up 20-25%. Treat your birds to seeds and nuts in moderation.

Section 1 of 5:

Foods to Feed a Lovebird

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Give each lovebird 1.5 to 2 ounces (45-60 g) of pellet food a day. Pellet food is the ideal food for lovebirds, as it is formulated to give your birds the nutrients they need. Ensure about 70 to 80% of your birds’ diet comes from pellet food to keep them healthy.^{[1]
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- Make sure the pellet food contains natural ingredients and no additives or preservatives.
- Note: Pick pellet food based on the age of your lovebirds. Baby lovebirds need different pellet food than mature lovebirds (which are 10 months or older).
- Look for pellet food made for lovebirds at your local pet store or online.
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Give your lovebirds fresh vegetables, like carrots and peas. Supplement your lovebirds’ diet with vegetables to ensure they get all their proper vitamins and nutrients. Lovebirds can eat carrots, green lettuce (not iceberg lettuce), spinach, green peas, endive, parsley, dandelion, radish, cucumber, watercress, broccoli, and sprouts, among other vegetables.^{[2]
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- Note: About 20 to 25% of your lovebirds’ diet should be made up of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Check out this list of vegetables to feed your lovebird for more foods that are safe to give them.
- Lovebirds also like wheatgrass, as it is high in chlorophyll.
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Feed your lovebirds fresh fruit, like apples and bananas. Fruits are also an important part of your lovebirds’ diet, giving them essential nutrients. It’s safe to feed lovebirds fruits like pears, bananas, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, tangerines, kiwis, figs, melons, pitted cherries, and rose hips.^{[3]
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- Most fruits are high in sugar, so balance their fruit intake with vegetables (which are low in sugar).
- Warning: Remove the pits and seeds from the fruit before you give it to your birds. Pits and seeds can be toxic to lovebirds.
- Consult this list of fruits to feed lovebirds for more safe foods to give them.
- You can give lovebirds dried fruits as long as they do not contain sulfites.
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Give your bird a high-quality seed mix as a treat. Look for a seed mix that has a wide variety of seeds like millet, canary grass seed, hulled oats, niger seed, flax seed, sunflower seeds, safflower, and grape seeds. Seeds should make up less than 25% of your birds’ diet.^{[4]
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- Seed mixes made with soybeans, rye, canary seed, fennel seed, poppy seed, and sesame seed are also great for lovebirds.
- Note: Seeds don’t have much nutritional value for lovebirds, so only give your birds seeds in moderation. They should never be your bird’s sole food source.^{[5]
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- Make sure the seed mix contains a small amount of milo, as this ingredient is often used as a filler.
- Only use fresh seed mix. If the seed mix smells dusty or old, do not give it to your lovebirds.
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Offer your lovebirds small nuts like almonds and peanuts. Lovebirds enjoy eating shelled and unshelled peanuts, Brazil nuts, acorns, cashews, horse chestnuts, hazelnuts, and walnuts. Nuts are high in fat, so give them to your birds in moderation.^{[6]
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- Nuts are great to give to your bird as treats or when you’re training them because they love them so much.
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Spice up your birds’ diet with grains, herbs, and flowers. Grains, herbs, and flowers aren’t super nutritious, so give them to your bird in moderation. Lovebirds like eating grains like cooked brown rice and quinoa, herbs like basil and dill, and flowers like calendula and chamomile.^{[7]
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- Check out this extensive list of grains, herbs, and flowers that are safe to give lovebirds.
- Feed your birds fresh or dried flowers and herbs.

Section 2 of 5:

Foods to Avoid Feeding to Lovebirds

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Do not give your lovebirds avocados, mushrooms, onions, garlic, or raw beans. Avocados contain compounds that can make birds ill, or even be deadly. Never give your bird avocados to keep them safe and healthy.^{[8]
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- Stay away from other foods that can be toxic, like:^{[9]
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  - Mushrooms
  - Onions
  - Garlic
  - Uncooked beans
  - Dairy items, like cheese, butter, or yogurt
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Avoid giving lovebirds food high in fat, sugar, or preservatives. While it can be tempting to treat your birds, do not give them chocolate, candy, ice cream, or any other sugary sweets. Deep-fried foods and preservatives are also unhealthy for birds, like french fries and chips.^{[10]
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- Do not give lovebirds any other liquids besides water. Milk, coffee, juice, soda, and alcohol aren’t healthy for birds.
- Make sure any pellets or seed mix you give your birds are free of preservatives or additives.

Section 3 of 5:

How to Feed Your Lovebirds

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1
Give your birds separate bowls of pellets and produce in the morning. The first thing most lovebirds like to do when they wake up is eat. So, fill one bowl with pellet food and another with fresh fruits and veggies each morning.^{[11]
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- Lovebirds typically pick at their food throughout the day.
- If your bird only likes to eat fruits and veggies, just give them pellets in the morning. Once they’ve eaten some of the pellets, add the bowl of fruits and veggies.
- Warning: Use food and water bowls that are earthenware or porcelain. Plastic bowls can be toxic if your bird gnaws on them.
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Wash and cut the fruits and veggies before giving them to the birds. Run the fruits and vegetables under clean running water to wash away dirt, bugs, and pesticides. Then, cut them into small, fine pieces.^{[12]
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- You don’t need to peel most fruits or vegetables, as lovebirds can digest the skin.
- Switch up the fruits and veggies you give your lovebirds to vary their diet.
- Give your lovebirds fruits and veggies as small snacks once or twice per day instead of in the morning as another option.
- Warning: Take out the pits and seeds in the fruit, as they can be toxic to lovebirds.
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Give your birds clean water, and refill the bowls throughout the day. Lovebirds need lots of fresh water to stay hydrated. Some birds even dip their food in water to help soften it. Set their water bowl by their food and change the water throughout the day so it stays fresh.^{[13]
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- Make sure their water bowl is full before bed so they have access to fresh water at night.
- Warning: Use shallow water bowls so your birds are not at risk of drowning.
Take out any uneaten fruits and vegetables that have been sitting in the cage to protect your birds from food poisoning. At the end of each day, take out any uneaten pellet food.^{[14]
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If you have more than one lovebird in a cage, give each one their own food and water bowls. This helps ensure that there is no pecking or fighting over resources. It also helps you monitor the eating and drinking habits of each bird.^{[15]
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Section 4 of 5:

Caring for Lovebirds

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Provide 32 x 20 x 20 inches (81 x 50 x 50 cm) of space per bird. Lovebirds are very active birds that require a lot of space. Get a cage that’s large enough to comfortably house your birds.^{[16]
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- Set the cage on a tall table or hang it up so it’s high off the ground. This helps your birds feel safe and comfortable.
- Place the cage in a well-lit spot that stays around room temperature and doesn’t get harsh, direct light or drafts.
- Line the bottom of the cage with newspaper.
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Give your birds bathing bowls, perches, and lots of toys. Place a shallow bowl of water in a separate area from your birds’ food and water. Then, add 2 to 4 perches for your birds to rest on. Lovebirds are very social and playful, so give them plenty of toys like ladders, mirrors, and wooden gnaws.^{[17]
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- Warning: Do not place plastic bowls, perches, or toys in your birds’ cage, as they can be toxic if chewed or gnawed on.
At the end of each day, clean your birds’ food and water bowls with animal-safe dish soap and hot water. Then, take out the newspaper lining and replace it with fresh newspaper.^{[18]
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Once a week, clean out your lovebirds’ cage with animal-safe dish soap and hot water. Take everything out and scrub down the bottom and sides of the cage. Then, wash your birds’ perches and toys.^{[19]
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Watch for signs of illness, like dull feathers or lethargy. Lovebirds can get sick, just like any animal. Regularly check up on your birds to ensure they’re not exhibiting any abnormal behaviors that might mean they’re sick.^{[20]
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- If your birds show any signs of sickness, take them to your vet for a diagnosis and treatment.
- Other signs of sickness include ruffled feathers, watery or dull eyes, trouble breathing, falling from their perch, and excessive tail bobbing or scratching.

Section 5 of 5:

Hand-Feeding Baby Lovebirds

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Hand-feed baby lovebirds until they are 7 to 10 weeks old. Newborn or baby lovebirds need to be hand-fed formula to get all of their proper vitamins and nutrients. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is ideal if you are raising a baby bird from infancy and want it to do well.
- Hand-fed lovebirds tend to grow into much stronger and happier birds than baby lovebirds that are fed from a bowl.
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Get a syringe and baby bird food. Look for a small syringe with a small opening at your local pet store or online. Then, get baby bird food formula that’s made for lovebirds, which typically comes in a powder.^{[21]
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- To make most formulas, you mix the powder into boiling water. Follow the instructions on the package for the ratio of water to powder.
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Feed the lovebirds slowly. Hold the baby lovebird in one hand with your fingers wrapped lightly around its chest. Then, fill the syringe with 6 to 8 ml of formula and gently tilt the baby’s head upwards. Place the syringe inside the baby’s beak and slowly feed them the formula.^{[22]
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- Put a small amount of formula on your palm to make sure the formula is warm and not too hot before feeding the birds.
- Let the baby birds eat at their own speed. Do not try to force the baby to eat from the syringe.
The crop is an upper section of the baby bird’s stomach that inflates as it eats. Once it is bulging, stop feeding the bird.^{[23]
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Feed the babies every 2 to 12 hours, depending on their age. How often you need to feed the baby lovebirds depends on how old they are and what developmental milestones they’re hitting:^{[24]
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- Less than one week old: Every 2 to 3 hours.
- Eyes are still closed: Every 3 to 4 hours.
- Eyes are open: Every 5 hours.
- Feathers start to come in: Every 6 to 12 hours.
- If you’re unsure whether the baby is hungry, check their crop. The baby’s crop needs to empty between each feeding.
Use a clean towel to gently wipe off the lovebird’s beak once it is done eating. Most lovebirds go to sleep after eating.^{[25]
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Tips

It may take a few tries for your lovebird to eat new foods.

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If your bird doesn’t want to eat fruits or vegetables, cut them up in different ways. For instance, your bird might prefer eating shredded carrots over slices.

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Vary the fruits and vegetables you give your lovebirds to find out what they like. Some birds prefer certain foods over others.

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