How much does a Lovebird parrot cost and what factors does the cost depend on?

The average cost of a lovebird varies from 400 to 17,000 rubles . Lovebirds are very popular not only because of their appearance, but also because of their special behavior. The name speaks about their main feature - they choose a mate once and try not to part with it. However, birds can accept another partner if the previous one dies.

Contrary to popular belief, such birds can live alone, but they will require more attention from the owner.

general characteristics

The lovebird is a brightly colored miniature bird up to 15 cm tall and weighing 40-60 g. The romantic name of parrots is associated with their lifestyle: the male and female become strongly attached to each other, spend a lot of time together, and are very sad when apart. They have poor contact with other birds and are belligerent even towards larger parrots.

The natural range of lovebirds is Africa and Madagascar. Flocks of parrots inhabit tropical and subtropical forests. Some species are also found in mountainous or steppe areas. Very popular as pets, they live 10-12 years in captivity.

Caring for a pair of lovebirds

It is worth considering that a lonely lovebird at home will require more care and attention than one that has a couple. It is almost impossible to tame these birds, but there is an observation that males become friendlier with age.

A lovebird, contrary to popular belief, can live peacefully without a “soulmate.” Even if one of the partners dies, the other continues to live and is able to enter into a new “marriage” union.

Therefore, if you are rarely at home and you do not have time to pay much attention to your parrot, then it is recommended to purchase a pair of lovebirds. In this case, the birds do not suffer from loneliness. But other nuances may arise: family quarrels and the appearance of offspring.

Lovebirds are selective in choosing a partner, so do not be surprised that after a while the parrots start fighting. In this case, it is worth placing the birds in different cages for a while, and then connecting them again. Then the parrots begin to live peacefully. If this does not happen, then you will have to worry about replacing your partner.

What does the price depend on?

To buy a lovebird, you don’t need a lot of money: average prices are 2000-3500 rubles. The lower price threshold is within 500 rubles, the normal upper limit is considered to be 7000 rubles.

To a large extent, the price of a lovebird parrot depends on the place of sale. Buying from an advertisement or from a pet store will cost less than a bird from a reputable breeder. Parrots are often sold in pairs and with a cage, and you can get a discount.

In addition, the type of feeding affects the price of a parrot. The owner spends less effort on a chick that has grown up under the care of its parents, and therefore can give it to the buyer for less money than a hand-fed one.

On a note! Talking lovebirds are rarely found on sale, and they are much more expensive than simple, unremarkable parrots.

Services

The cost of veterinary services for parrots starts from 500 rubles . Depending on what kind of procedure the bird requires, the price will be determined. Some veterinary clinics offer home visits by an ornithologist. From 300 rubles .

In addition to a veterinarian, the bird will need a cage and food. The cost of the cage starts from 2000 rubles . The price depends on the size of the cage, the presence of drinking bowls, and other additional elements. Food for parrots will cost 150–300 rubles .

Popular types and their costs

One of the factors that determines the cost of a bird is its species. Of the nine existing species, 3-4 are the most popular among amateurs. Let's consider how much lovebirds of common and little-known varieties cost.

1. Masked. The name is related to the color: it looks like a black “balaclava” with wide slits for the eyes was put on the parrot’s head. Natural colors are in green-yellow tones, hybrid colors are in blue-gray. There are yellow parrots, obtained through selection, in which the main plumage is lemon-colored and the mask is red. Masked lovebirds cost around 2,500 rubles.

2. Fischer's lovebird. The natural color variant is as follows: the back, abdomen and wings are green, the breast is yellow, the head and neck are orange. There are white rings around the small black eyes, and the beak is red with a waxy tint. There are mutation colors in light green, blue, and yellow tones. Fisher's parrots are sold at a price of 1800-3000 rubles.
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3. Liliana's lovebird (strawberry-headed). It is a critically endangered species and is rarely kept in captivity, so there is little information on how much it is worth. A very small parrot weighing no more than 35 g looks modest: against the background of grassy green plumage, a bright pink facial mask framed by a yellow “collar” stands out. The cost of strawberry-headed birds averages 1,700 rubles.

4. Black-cheeked. In appearance it resembles a masked lovebird, differing only in its smaller size, as well as the presence of a pink “apron” under the beak. The most musical and timid among his brothers. The price range is 1200-1900 rubles.

5. Rosy-cheeked. A large parrot with an interesting coloring: wings of an intense green tone, long flight feathers almost black, the back and tail coverts are blue. The crown is red, the cheeks and throat are pinkish-orange, the beak is ivory. It does not train, but is well tamed, but is aggressive towards other birds. Costs from 2000 rubles.

6. Collared. The owner of green plumage, iridescent in various shades: the head and wings are dark green, the throat and cheeks are light green, the tail is emerald. The beak is dark gray, the eyes are black. An interesting feature of the tail is a colorful pattern in the form of blue and red sectors with a black border. On the back of the neck there are two transverse stripes, black and yellow. Price from 3000 to 4000 rubles.

7. Grey-headed (Madagascar). A rare parrot with uncharacteristic colors for a lovebird and a gray beak. The male has an ashen head and chest, sharply contrasting with the bulk of the green plumage. The female's body is yellowish-green. They do not take root well at home, so their popularity among breeders tends to zero. If you try, you can find a bird for 2500-4000 rubles.

Attention! You should expect that the price for lovebirds in a pet store will be 15-20% higher than on a private classifieds website.

Types of lovebirds

There are many varieties of these parrots, most often the name reflects their color:

• Rose-cheeked lovebird . This type of parrot has an extraordinary appearance: the cheeks and throat are pink, the beak is yellow, and the parrot itself is a pleasant green color, with a bluish tint on the back. One of the most common parrots, there will be no problems purchasing it. Average price: 2000 rubles .
• Masked . This parrot does not lag behind the previous one in the beauty of its color. The head is black, the chest is bright yellow, and the abdomen, back, wings and tail are green. The beak of such birds is red. Average price: 2100 rubles .
• Fischer . The head of such birds has a yellowish-orange tint. The rest of the color is mostly green. A little blue on the tail. One of the most expensive types.
• Red-faced. The cheeks, forehead and back of the head of such birds are orange. The parrots themselves are grassy green in color. The wings are black on the inside. The cost of this type starts from 1000 rubles .
• Blackwing . Almost completely green, only the beak and forehead are red. The lower part of the wings is black. Cost – from 1000 rubles .
• Grey-headed . This species of bird is practically never found in captivity. The head of such parrots is light gray, the rest of the body is predominantly dark green. Females have a light green head color. Cost – 2000 rubles .
• Black-cheeked . Similar to the masked parrot, but smaller in size. The head is gray-black in color. Extremely rare in captivity.
• Necklace (collar) . This parrot is green in color and has an orange necklace on its neck. The chest has a yellowish tint. The average cost is 2700 rubles .

Where is the best place to buy

Nowadays it’s easy to find a pet: there are many online buying and selling platforms, you can find out how much a parrot costs and order a chick of the desired species. Another option where to buy a parrot is a pet store. In retail outlets, the cost of lovebirds is overpriced, which is determined by the seller’s pricing policy. This search path is the easiest and most convenient, but quite risky. When buying a lovebird at a pet store, there is a chance that you will get an older and aggressive individual instead of a young chick with a pliable character. The most reliable purchase option is an experienced breeder. The advantage of such a purchase is the presence of a veterinary passport confirming the health of the parrot.

Cost of lovebirds

The lovebird is divided into 9 species, but at home only three of them are most often kept: Fischer's lovebirds, red-cheeked and masked.
All three types have approximately the same care requirements and cost. Prices for lovebirds vary from 1 to 2.5 thousand rubles. Red-cheeked ones are considered the most “budget” ones; Fishers and masked ones are more expensive. If you are going to buy a pair, then perhaps you will be able to negotiate up to 4 thousand rubles. and below for two birdies. For a budgie (for 600-900 rubles), and a cockatiel will already cost from 3 thousand rubles. for one bird.

The price depends on several factors. The main ones are the age and availability of documents for the parrot. Without documents, it is impossible to determine the age after the first molt (5-6 months of life). Documents can usually be obtained by purchasing a bird at an exhibition or at a good pet store.

Try to avoid buying at the poultry market and from hand unless there is evidence that the bird is not sick.