260 Paul Kuntz—The Breeding of Lovebirds in Western Canada


THE BREEDING OF LOVEBIRDS IN

WESTERN CANADA


By Paul Kuntz, Winnipeg, Man.


For the past four years I have been devoting attention to the rearing

of Lovebirds. The part of my aviaries assigned to these birds is

12 ft. by 10 ft. by 7 ft. high, and is fitted with sufficient nest-boxes,

placed about 4 feet apart, to allow two boxes for each pair of birds,

two 10 lb. seed hoppers, and running water in a small fountain.

This is the breeding aviary ; in the winter the birds are kept in a warm

basement as our winters are much too severe for this family of birds.


In the spring of 1931 nine mated pairs of Lovebirds were placed

in the aviary : four pairs of Fischer’s, two pairs of Nyasaland, one pair

of Black-cheeked, a male Fischer’s mated with a Black-cheeked, and

a male Fischer’s mated with a Nyasaland.


Keep Birds Busy


At first there were many squabbles and much minor fighting among

the pairs, but nothing serious resulted. However, after watching the

birds I came to the conclusion that the only way to have peace and

breeding success was to keep them busy and contented all the time.


With this end in mind I placed each day during the breeding season

a 5 or 6 ft. branch of maple or other tree bearing numerous

twigs and leaves, upright in a large jar of water, and found that this

solved the problem and produced the harmony necessary for success.

Every bird became engrossed in stripping off the leaves, twigs and

bark and was too preoccupied to notice what was going on around him,

so the quarrelling ceased as if by magic. I have counted as many

as twenty-eight old and young birds on one branch, contentedly

working away without a murmur from one of them.


Food


The two 10 lb. seed hoppers were filled with half canary and

half millet mixed. Apple, dandelion, lettuce, and seeding grasses

were given daily, and also bread soaked in water and squeezed dry.

Water is used in preference to milk as our high summer temperatures

rapidly cause the latter to sour. A constant supply of grit, sand, old



