Help? Is this all normal?

[mistyzip]

We got our new lovebird 5 days ago. We got him from a pet shop, which they said he/she was handfed but that since coming to the pet store he/she didn't get handled much. They told us he is 6 months old. We got him because he was in a cage with 2 other Lovebirds who were a pair, so we felt sorry for him being on his own. We got him home fine, got him in his cage, we have ladders, and 3 other toys in there. So far he hasn't touched or played with any of them. At times he seems to have a panic attack and fly around from side to side and appears to be trying to bite his way out of the cage. I have been able to feed him sunflower seeds from my fingers and millet. The millet I've been able to put my hand in the cage and he will eat it that way. I've been unable to touch him as he just flys around when I try. He also if I don't have food in my hand when I put my hand to the cage just goes to bit and he bites HARD! Had me bleeding! This may sound weird but I put a new paint brush in and was able to pet his beak with it..so then I thought I could use my finger, but he just bit me. He also squacks quite a bit, which I assume that is normal...

Is this all normal behavior? I'd love to take him out and pet him but with me not being able to touch him/her in the cage I don't know how I'd do this... Should we give him time on his own or try to pet and cuddle him?

Also is the biting normal? Biting us, biting the cage, biting his food box.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rio Mom]

Everything is still very new and scarey to him. He needs more time to adjust and get used to his new home. Take it slow, sit by his cage and talk/read/sing softly to him.

 

[FutureDVM]

As Rio Mom said, he still needs more time to settle in. 5 days isn't very long at all. Just take things very slow and allow him to begin trusting you. Every bird is different and some take a while to adjust to new situations.

 

[roxynoodle]

It is all normal for a new baby in a new home. And since he hasn't been handled much for awhile you may need to be even more patient.

Give him time to get used to you and your home and other family members. As Rio Mom said, talk, sing softly to him. If he is very scared you might want to sit across the room first. Let him see you doing quiet activities like reading or watching TV, but make comments to him once in awhile. Then move over to his cage when he seems to want you there. You might try sitting on the floor first. Eventually eat in front of him and offer him some (healthy foods, not junk food). You may have to first teach him to step up onto a hand held perch before you can offer your hand. I wouldn't try petting him until you think he is receptive. You have to build trust slowly over time.

 

[mistyzip]

Thanks for the tips! He is ok with us sitting by him..I sit in a chair right next to the cage..I can put my hand inside the cage and feed him millet which I think is good... Just wondering what is up with all the biting... It made me nervous him looking like he tries to bite his way out of the cage...

 

[luvmytooo]

I knowyour excited and want to love on you new baby , but I think you are expecting a little too much from him right now. Your bird needs to get accustomed to his new surroundings and family ....It takes time for them to feel comfortable in a new home.
Your bird is telling you something when he bit you , he wants you to give him space and time. They can communicate with us , you just have to learn how to read his signs. Congratulations on your new bird

 

[roxynoodle]

When he is biting the cage, is he running toward you when he does it? That's definitely a "back off right now" sign. If he's just going around the cage biting it, it is probably a sign of being fearful of something. If he is just licking the bars or chewing on them, well, birds do that sometimes. They also often use the bars for some beak grooming and you may see him rubbing his beak up and down the bars.

 

[mistyzip]

No he isn't running towards me...he usually seems to do this after I've been sitting by him and then leave..he then flys around and thats when it appears he is trying to bite his way out...he bites at the cage door, all around it.... He has seem to do this the last 2 nights right before his bed time...

I've seen him groom his beak on his wooden perch, so I know what that looks like.

I guess it will just take time...I just don't want to be neglecting him..some places I've read that you should just grab and pet them..and love them anyways..I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing for him

When he is biting the cage, is he running toward you when he does it? That's definitely a "back off right now" sign. If he's just going around the cage biting it, it is probably a sign of being fearful of something. If he is just licking the bars or chewing on them, well, birds do that sometimes. They also often use the bars for some beak grooming and you may see him rubbing his beak up and down the bars.

 

[roxynoodle]

It sounds then that he may be trying to get you to come back. Just be careful about reinforcing that behavior by running back to him or he will just keep doing it. Don't go back until he's behaving himself.

I would not grab a bird ever unless it was an emergency. Doing that usually makes them very frightened of hands, and then it can take a really long time to get them to trust you again. Parrots really are not domesticated animals like dogs and cats. Some are only one generation or a few generations from their wild ancestors. It takes a lot more time and patience to tame one than many of the other animals we keep as pets. One of my birds IS a wild caught parrot.

It's always better to go too slow than too fast. Remember if you take good care of him you will have him for a long time. Don't rush him if you want him to be a wonderful companion.

 

[mistyzip]

Thanks Roxynoodle for the advice! I'll take it slow and steady