lovebirds sexual behaviour with food

Question
I had put a piece of broccoli in my love birds cage and my husband notice it later trying to mate with thispiece of broccoli.I didn't believe it at when he told me until I saw it for myself.Is this a common behaviour i have had him for nearly twelve months,and always wonder what sex it was.
now I know.it's male he is in a cage on his own but do have
have budgie next door to him in another cage.as I was told lovebird will kill the budgie.they have tried to get to one another but of cause they can't.both these birds are on thier own.I do have six other lover birds in a big aviary two babies that have just started eating seed and the parents and two others that now are mating.so I can't put my single love in there as he been always treared as a family bird.I don't if I'm doing the right thing along that line that is why I'm sending you this email and hope yu can help me with some advice with mt bird sexual behaviour and wheather I can put him in with the others since the others are paired off,or I will have to another love bird he is a flake what is the best breed of love bird to put him with .will a mask be a breed for rare breeding.I ope you can help.    lynda

Answer
Hi, Lynda.  Thanks for posting!

Your lovebird is exhibiting normal behavior.  His hormones are running rampant and this is why he is mating with the broccoli.  You'll need to keep this lovebird in a separate cage from the others since they are paired up.  The lovebird and budgie might get along together, but they might not.  It just depends on the individual birds involved.  The lovebird's beak is much larger than the budgie's so this is why it's not a good idea to put them together...the lovebird can seriously injure the budgie if they were to fight.  You don't have to get a mate for this single lovebird, but of course that's your decision.  The best breed of lovebird to pair him up with would be a female of the same type.  It's not a good practice to mix breeds of parrots together...you should breed a bird with a mate of the same type.  

Chrys