You should get yourself a gram scale, they're pretty inexpensive as postal or kitchen scales that measure in grams. It's really hard to guess by sight, or even by feel, whether a bird is overweight. I've had birds drop or gain 10+ grams and wouldn't have known without the scale. That's your first step :).

Second step, even if she isn't getting fatter, is to feed most or all of her seed mix germinated. You need a mix that doesn't contain any neon colored seeds or pellets or anything else - just pure untreated seeds and grains. (For an example, look at the soak seed mix at www.hermanbros-seed.com . Just everyday seeds that you can order there or find locally, nothing special about them.) Then you can soak them in cold water overnight (or about 12 hours, +/-), rinse, drain, pat dry if she's picky as most of my loveys are , and feed them to her. That process will cause changes in the seeds and grains that make them much healthier, will convert the simple fats to easily digested and readily utilized essential fatty acids (EFAs), etc. There's lots more about this subject at my website - the direct URL is www.ittybittybirdiebites.com/sprouts, and a very lengthy list of links at www.ittybittybirdiebites.com/sproutlist.html . (These are mostly articles about sprouting, which includes allowing the seeds/grains to grow tails; however, I always recommend feeding "soaks" instead of "sprouts" - I explain why on that first link I gave.)

Third step is to get her used to eating greens. We're not talking head lettuce here, but any greens that are dark in color - green or red - you can hang in her cage every day and let her nibble on them. There are nutritional components in greens that help them process the fats and aid the liver with normal function. You can also feed other veggies and fruits as part of her diet. If you use firm veggies, run them through your food processor until they're the consistency of a slaw. A spoonful of that every day is YUMMY (according to my own loveys)!

It may take her time to get used to the fresh foods but eventually she will so don't give up, keep the routine. Lovebirds are nothing if not curious, and that will work in your - and her! - favor :). You can mix the soaked seeds with dry seeds and leave them in her cage all day without spoilage (as long as there's nothing else mixed with them), and eventually get her used to all soak seeds, if that's what you choose to do. Whatever you do, DON'T try to force her by withholding food; it's dangerous especially to the littler parrots like loveys, and she'll catch on without resorting to that.

Lovebirds are so much fun, what kind do you have?

ChiaOwl
http://www.owly.net
http://www.ittybittybirdiebites.com

I second the scale idea - weigh your bird before you get too concerned about weight. :-) If she really is overweight, changing her diet will help somewhat, but exercise should also help - flying, especially. Even short flights are a lot of work for birds who aren't in good shape.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA