I need help 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[HeatherS]

So my sons lovebirds we purchased from that horrible pet store two weeks ago seem to be pretty happy…. Making all sorts of noise and one even hanging upside down the other morning which I read means they are happy… well here goes our progress and where we are at needing help… the birds stay in my 19 year old sons room… he rarely comes out of his room so he is always around the birds… well he has been letting the birds out of their cage every day for hours on end which obviously is good for them I know but he still struggles getting them to get back in the cage come night time often leading to one of the birds biting him…. Any advice for this welcome
2nd
He has a play gym for them in his closet at the top which is open n doesn’t have doors which is where they typically like to stay perched unless they come out and perch on his lamp shade which they also frequently do…. When we got the birds last month seeds were their only diet and we have worked in pellets but we aren’t 100% pellets yet…. We have also introduced them to some fruits which was initially difficult and we aren’t about to start introducing vegetables…. Because they don’t yet have everything they need in their daily diet I do give them oasis vita drops in their water…. Any tips and or tricks getting them to try new food is welcomed….
3rd
When my son got the birds I read and learned all I could to help out and to educate him as well and I read all about the toys they have to have and are supposed to love and I went toy crazy… we no lie are probably set for well over a year between toys and different perches but since we got the birds the only toy they have seemed interested in at all was one of the mats full of stuff that attaches to the cage wall… they tore everything off within the first week so I was happy they were entertained… since then when I cleaned there cage and replaced the toys to give them something new and prevent boredom my son says they don’t mess with any of their toys (I’ve been keeping around 4 in there at a time)…. I suggested my son play soft music for them during the day and when he played music that was specifically for lovebirds he said they freaked out and started flying all around the room making loud noises so he thought maybe they didn’t like it?
4th
I think the birds are getting more comfortable with my son because they don’t freak out anymore when they are in their cage and he replaces the food or water or he is close to the cage ect but they also will not purposely get close to him either… it’s like you can look but you can’t touch…. I made a small foraging box for them today and put different treats in one of their foraging balls for them to try … even stuck millet out of it and he said they were uninterested so he took some millet to sprinkle a little on their play gym where they were perches and one of the birds … the one who typically bites him about going back in the cage attacked his hand and bit him three times just for sprint the millet …. I don’t want to give up on the birds by any means and I’m still happy and relieved we rescued them from the pet store they were in but I’m starting to feel like we are in over our heads here … I don’t know where to start or what to do…. Any help appreciated cause we need it

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It sounds like theyre doing great. Getting them back in the cage can be difficult. Try to get them in using a stick perch to avoid getting bitten.

Vegetables are more important than fruits which are mostly sugar. Try a large leaf of fresh romaine lettuce. Most birds enjoy that. Fresh broccoli florets are also well liked.

Music with lovebird sounds is bound to rile them up. Just play anything they don't object to by trial and error. My birds like most any music but the stuff 19 year Olds listen to- I don't know! I wouldn't worry about boredom. They have each other and a lot of freedom so they won't be bored. Boredom is mostly a cage only single bird problem.

I would make the cage the only eating place. That makes it easier for them to go inside and you can lure them in by putting treats inside.

Biting may always be a problem to some degree especially if you touch what they consider theirs. Birds can be so bossy! Wear a long sleeved shirt and pull it over your hands to avoid getting bitten when you need to get close.

 

[HeatherS]

It sounds like theyre doing great. Getting them back in the cage can be difficult. Try to get them in using a stick perch to avoid getting bitten.

Vegetables are more important than fruits which are mostly sugar. Try a large leaf of fresh romaine lettuce. Most birds enjoy that. Fresh broccoli florets are also well liked.

Music with lovebird sounds is bound to rile them up. Just play anything they don't object to by trial and error. My birds like most any music but the stuff 19 year Olds listen to- I don't know! I wouldn't worry about boredom. They have each other and a lot of freedom so they won't be bored. Boredom is mostly a cage only single bird problem.

I would make the cage the only eating place. That makes it easier for them to go inside and you can lure them in by putting treats inside.

Biting may always be a problem to some degree especially if you touch what they consider theirs. Birds can be so bossy! Wear a long sleeved shirt and pull it over your hands to avoid getting bitten when you need to get close.

Do you think I should continue switching the toys out every weekly deep clean until they find something they like or do you think I’m not giving them enough time to even figure out the ones I’m giving them that they don’t have any interest in?… I keep doing a variety with a mirror a chew toy a preening toy and a shredding toy along with a swing and new perches which they love the swings but other than that

 

[rheashard2]

It can take awhile for birds to show interest in any toy. A week may not be long enough. Observe your birds to see what they like. It's a good idea to have a birdie toy storage box. What they don't play with today, they may at a later time.

 

[HeatherS]

So should I continue switching them out weekly or leave the same ones?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Leave the same ones. Sorry they're so ungrateful for all your efforts to give them toys, but birds are like that. But you've given them the greatest gift of all- a loving home and out of cage time- what more could birds want?

 

[HeatherS]

I’ve been trying to find good information on training your lovebird to step up using another perch for my son to get them back in the cage easier at night as well as hopefully build a lot of trust but I can’t find any Information on training with more than one lovebird that does not require you to separate the birds in separate rooms which is just not an option… do you know if it’s possible to train them together or even separately in the same space? … I wish I could hire us a weekly coach to just give us step by step instructions

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I've never formally trained my budgies to step up on a perch. I just put the stick perch (a dowel rod 12 to 18 inches is good) right in front of their lower belly a press slightly against the belly and when they lose balance a bit they usually step up. May jump the perch or fly away but keep trying and get them to stay on long enough to get them into the cage. A long stick is easier because they don't have to get too close to you. Start with the easiest bird and the more difficult one will see that it's not a threat.