Purchasing.

Lovebirds are not as common today as some might expect with probably only a dozen or so serious breeders in the Sydney region and although there has been an increase in membership and interest in lovebirds, most of these new members are just 'starters' (and mostly outside the Sydney region).

At various times some lovebirds become the flavour of the month and the supply of these quickly diminishes. People intending to become 'starters' may not be able to get what they want immediately but should be patient, as like all things in aviculture everything is realistically " long term".

Prospective buyers should consider that breeders will rarely sell birds as "breeding pairs"- breeders will usually keep good pairs and sell off pairs that are bad or inconsistent parents. A better approach would be to get a few young of the desired type and let them find a mate amongst themselves before setting up for breeding.

As most breeders let their birds breed in the cooler months, young are best sought after towards the end of the year with the birds then being mature enough (10-12 months old) to breed some time after the middle of the following year. Most breeders often do their culling at this time in preparation for the coming season and this another good reason not to leave your buying too late.