Lovebirds fighting

Question
Dear Tara,

I've been looking for info about lovebirds fighting but couldn't find much relevant, so I hope you could help me with your advice. I bought a pair (though it's not clear whether it's two hens, two cocks or a cock and a hen, I was told that this really doesn't matter - any two love birds can act as a couple) of masked lovebirds over a month ago. I bought them as a couple because they were in separate cage in a shop (two of them) and looked really like a good match. However, some days later they started fighting, especially one attacking the other one, going after quite often and hitting it on its head (so that now the area around its beak is almost featherless). Also, I can hear by the sound it gives out and this is not just a game. I've consulted with a pet shop where i bought the love birds and was explained that this might be caused by stress due to new environment, relocation, etc. and should soon stop. However, I am worried because they keep on fighting (though i cannot see any traces of blood or something, just the poor one is being attacked on its head and screams with pain). Also, at other times of the day they seem to get along very well, and care about each other, feed each other, and "chat" together. So, I'm really at a loss: should I separate them and find new matches for them or is there another way out. I'd greatly appreciate your reply as this is my first bird pets and I do not want to lose them.

Thanks

Lina

Answer
Hello, Seperate them...I had six lovebirds in a cage together all peach faced mutation colors and all handfed some tamer then other and all 2-3 months of age...they got along well preened and cuddled ate together and played together until one night three brutily attacked one  of the others and so much so she had blood smeared over her tail/legs/lower belly feathers had been plucked from her tail base she was a mess but suprisingly lived and healed very well...after that I removed the pair of birds I most liked(the ones that were attacked) and sold the other three. Lovebirds are not all love they bicker/fight batter each other and are genrally not really nice to each other alot of the time...theya re called lovebirds because they sit so close together and cuddle but unless the pair get along really well they can never live together. I reccomend seperating them before blood is shed. Buying two more birds will cause more problmes as they to will likely not get along with the birds you have...its hard to match up lovebirds its nothing like matching up budgies or cockatiels, also two hens can rarely live together after sexual maturity strikes twio males often get along male/female will likely breed even without nessing supplies and lay eggs in a food cup or the cage floor. seperate the birds and let tehm out together when you are supervising keep the cages side by side or across from noe another so they cna chat and see each other buy not injure one another offer lots of toys and large cages and your two birds will be content without cage mates.