The US Lovebird Price Guide For 2023

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The US Lovebird Price Guide For 2023 exclusively at Petrestart.com.

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There is nothing more relaxing than adopting a pair of lovebirds. They’re affectionate and intelligent birds that are perfect even for first-time parrot owners. Plus, the fact that they’re in a pair is a bonus; after all, they will require less affection and attention from you when kept together.

Fortunately, seeing these beauties in your aviary can be pretty comforting, but do you know their worth? And being a lifetime companion, do you know how much you’ll have to spend every month to guarantee that they’re well-taken care of and comfortable? So if you want to see the lovebird price, please read on.

Key Takeaways

Owning a pair of lovebirds can cost you more than you think. Other than the price of getting one, you will have to make sure it’s taken care of for the next two decades. Remember, a well-maintained and happy lovebird can live for over two decades. So you should be ready to invest in the following:

  • Initial vet visits and make sure you include the lovebird cost of taking your pet to the vet
  • Cage
  • Bowls
  • Parrot Toys
  • Exercise gym
  • You should invest in pellets and fresh foods, but remember to get snacks.

With proper planning, you will realize that taking care of these birds is easier and more costly than it may seem. So you can get a pair to keep each other busy and let you focus on other chores or a single bird that can quickly bond with you.

Lovebirds can cost anywhere from any breeder between $25 to over $150. Some lovebird species can go for about $1,500. But most importantly, the rarer species are more costly, especially if they’re trained and ready to interact with everyone.

Despite being exceptional companions, they do come at a cost. This article will show you the initial cost of adopting a lovebird from a breeder or animal shelter. Besides the lovebird price, we’ll give you a perfect breakdown of how much it will cost to take care of your lovebird every month. So let’s dive right in.

Everything You Need to Know About the Lovebird Price

Everything You Need to Know About the Lovebird Price explained at Petrestart.com.

Are you planning on owning a lovebird? First, you should know that the term lovebird refers to a group of parrots belonging to Psittaculidae (Old World parrot family). The nine species of this genus originated from Africa, with the gray-headed lovebird indigenous to Madagascar. (source)

Therefore, before picking your favorite lovebird species, you should first determine the cost of purchasing a lovebird and taking care of one. Remember, they’re small-sized parrots that weigh about 60 grams with a maximum length of approximately 7 inches. And being high-maintenance parrots, they can be quite costly to own.

How Much Do Lovebirds Cost?

Lovebirds are affordable compared to the more giant parrots like macaws and cockatoos. Fortunately, there are many ways you can own one. The good thing about it is that adopting one from an animal shelter is cheaper than purchasing one from a breeder.

Unfortunately, you won’t get the lovebird species you need with the shelter. You can only adopt what you find in the shelter.

  1. Adopting a Lovebird

Generally, purchasing one can be a tad costly, so if you’re working with a tight budget, you should visit the local animal shelters. If you’re lucky, you may find a few lovebirds put up for adoption. You can also find some lovebirds that require a new home on craigslist and adopt them.

Remember, adoption is cheaper than purchasing a trained and well, behaved lovebird. Adopting these birds from the animal shelter can cost you between $20 and $100. And if they’re smaller birds, you can get one for below $50.

This lovebird price applies to even the rare options available for adoption. The price may also vary with age. But either way, they’re cheaper than getting some birds from the breeder.

  1. Purchasing From a Breeder

If adoption is not an option, then you can get a beautiful lovebird from a local breeder. Remember, nine lovebird species vary in price, so make sure you find out which species they breed before making a purchase. Fortunately, these birds go for between $100 and $250 from breeders, but the price will vary with state and location. (source)

Unfortunately, some breeders will charge you more for some rare breeds. Plus, their price can also vary between parent-fed and hand-raised lovebirds. The cost varies with the species also; for instance, the Rosy-faced and Fischer’s lovebirds go for between $50 and $150.

But some rare color mutations of Rosy-faced and Fischer’s lovebirds go for over $200. On the other hand, a blue Fischer’s lovebird is quite rare; therefore, the breeders who have them sell them for around $400.

Suppose you want the smallest lovebird species on the planet. In that case, you should go for the gray-headed lovebird, also known as the Madagascar lovebird. They are sexually dimorphic, while the adult males’ upper bodies are gray. (source) The gray-headed parrots are very easy to tame; unfortunately, they can’t mimic human speech like other parrots. The price of gray-headed lovebirds ranges between $40 and $200.  

If you’re working with a considerable budget, you should go for the Abyssinian lovebird, which costs over $200. The Abyssinian lovebird, also known as the black-winged lovebird, is primarily green with a red forehead. (source) Depending on their age and training level, they can go for over $200.

Other Costs When Taking Care of Lovebirds

Other than the initial lovebird price, you may have to invest in other things that help with maintenance. For instance, you’ll need to get the right cage, exercise gym, bowls, and food and then take your birds for their regular pet visits. So here are some of the everyday things you’ll have to invest in:

  1. The Cost of a Lovebird Cage

For cages, you want to purchase something at most 24 by 24 by 24 inches or 30 by 18 by 18 inches. The bar spacing on the cage should be about half an inch. The best option should always be more significant than the recommended size.

Remember, the recommended minimum size of the cage is for birds that spend most of their day outside the cages. But if they’ll spend more time in the cage, you should choose a more viable option. The price of the best flight cages for lovebirds ranges between $150 and $460 (source). So you can either go for the Pajaroo bird cage or the Yaheetech flight bird cage.  

Fortunately, most cages come with bowls, but if your pen comes with plastic, you should get a metal bowl. Metal bowls usually go for around $10.

  1. The Cost of Vet Visits

Another initial vet visit is another lovebird price you must budget for if you care about the health and well-being of your feathered friend. You will want to take them to the vet within the first few days of adopting them and have them examined. When getting them from a breeder, you’ll get a 48 hours health guarantee; therefore, taking them to the vet is mandatory.

I recommend booking your vet visit for either the same day or the next day as you pick them up. That way, you can get them checked out immediately before getting too attached in case of a problem.

Taking them to the vet within 48 hours of purchasing them can guarantee you that they’re healthy, and if that’s not the case, then you can take them back to the breeder and get your cashback. Therefore you should set aside between $60 and $150 for a checkup. The price may vary with the vet and the number of tests they have to do. (source)

Make sure you visit a licensed or exotic veterinarian in your area.

  1. The Cost of Food for Your New Pet

Generally, the lovebird’s diet comprises two parts (the pellet and fresh food). The pellet part of your parrot’s diet should include a unique brand, like the fruit blend from ZuPreem that goes for over $15. (source) high-end brands like Top’s go for over $26.

The other part of your parrot’s meal is the fresh fruits and veggies. So you may have to spend between $25 and $40 monthly for fresh food. Remember to purchase some treats for your new parrots. Most parrots love millet and oatmeal, which are very affordable. A 1-pound bag for oatmeal goes for over $5, and it can last you for over a month.

Birds love seeds, so you can mix them if you’re working with a considerable budget. But if you’re working with a tight budget, you will need freshly chopped fruits and veggies.

  1. The Price of Toys

At any given point, the cage should have at least four types of toys. These toys should include shred-able, noise-making, and wooden toys. Remember, they love destroying things, so you should look for high-quality toys. So you should be ready to spend a lovebird price between $28 and $35.

But if you plan on making some toys, you should be ready to spend more on the initial investment. Remember, you’ll be using them for a couple of months; you may save some cash in the end. Remember to get some foot toys for your new pets. A foot toy can go for between $5 and $10. (source)

  1. The Price of Perches

Generally, every bird cage should have at least 3 to 4 perches for the birds. Therefore, you should ensure they are comprised of different materials to provide some variety. I recommend having a rope perch in the cage as it’s soft on the bird’s feet. Similarly, you’ll want a wood perch that is safe for your feathered friends.

The others should be natural wooden perches. Therefore, you should be ready to spend between $12 and $60 on the perches.

  1. The Price of a Play Gym

Parrots are energetic creatures that need a play gym to burn the extra energy. Fortunately, some cages have a play gym on top, but if your cage didn’t come with one, you would have to invest in one. So you should be ready to spend around $50 on a reliable exercise gym that can keep your pets busy the whole day.

  1. The Price of The Birdbath

If you bring your bird to the bathroom, then you may not have to spend on a bird bath. But if your bird prefers its own space, you may have to spend money on a bath for a maximum of usually around $10.

  1. Purchase a First Aid Kit

Last but not least is a reliable first aid kit for treating your pet in case of an injury. Remember, your parrot can get injured while playing in the exercise gym, or you may hurt them while clipping their nails. Therefore, you should get a styptic powder to stop bleeding within the shortest time possible. A styptic powder goes for around $14 on Amazon.com

Should I Get 1 or 2 Lovebirds?

Lovebirds are known for creating lifetime bonds with their partners. So if you love these birds but don’t have enough time to play with them or just love the idea of the loyalty they have, then you should get a pair of lovebirds. The two lovebirds can keep each other company and entertain each other, giving you more time to focus on other things.

Sure they will bond and even play with you, but they prefer each other’s company. On the other hand, if you want to create a lasting bond with these beautiful birds, you should get one. Purchasing a single lovebird will make you their partner, so you’ll have to get close to each other. Plus, it can help with bonding, but you’ll have to work harder and make more time for you two to bond.

With you as its only partner, you may have to interact with it several times daily. After all, you’ll be responsible for its well-being and happiness for over a decade.

You may also be interested in this article that I wrote: Lovebird Colors Explained

Conclusion

Lovebirds are beautiful and affectionate creatures that love creating a monogamous bond with either their owners or other pets. So if you plan on getting one, you should visit a local breeder or animal shelter, where it’s cheaper. You may have to spend between $50 and $200 for certain rare species. Besides the initial purchase price, you should also be ready to accommodate them in your home. Accommodation means spending more on multiple accessories, including a cage, bowls, food, and a workout gym.  

  1. Wikipedia contributors, Lovebird, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebird/, accessed December 21, 2022.
  2. YouTube contributors, How much does it cost to take care of a lovebird? How much will I be spending on a lovebird? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtxWtCVmXG4/ accessed December 21, 2022.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, Grey-headed lovebird,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-headed_lovebird/ accessed December 21, 2022.
  4. Wikipedia Contributors, Black-Winged lovebird, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_lovebird/ accessed December 21, 2022.
  5. Amazon Contributor, Pajaroo bird cage, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FKLMS51?tag=misscatfood-20=/ accessed December, 21 2022
  6. Amazon contributor, Yaheetech 52-inch Wrought iron standing large flight king bird cage, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079JW8YCQ?tag=misscatfood-20/ accessed December 21, 2022.
  7. Amazon contributors, ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor with natural flavors for very small birds, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078RGMFSR?tag=misscatfood-20/ accessed December 21, 2022.
  8. Amazon Contributor, Styptic powder, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZ1VM55?tag=misscatfood-20==/ accessed December 21, 2022.

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