In DESPERATE Need of Some Lovebird Guidance!

[Leigh]

For years, I have wanted a pair of Lovebirds! As an act of kindness, my boyfriend decided that I needed some lil' guys to keep me company. Ideally, I wanted some Peach-faced Lovebird (I had done my research before), but all our local pet store had left was two "designer" love birds huddled in the corner. Although they looked scared, they were just so adorable we decided to purchase them. The bigger one is green with a pink squirt face while the other is a dull yellow color with blue underlines in the feathers. I haven't got the chance to get them blood tested yet but whether or not they're an actually "pair" doesn't matter so much to me. I just didn't want either one to be completely alone and they get along for the most part. The yellow one gets so angry at the green one for a moment, screeches, goes to the other side of the cage...then immediately goes back to groom the green one and kiss.


Here's the issues:

They are DEATHLY afraid of anything and everything that resembles a hand.

The yellow one WHINES constantly but when I try to respond back in a happy voice to let the yellow one know that she/he has my attention, she instantly backs off and goes to huddle with the green one.

I bought them a special resting place and although only the yellow one took interest, they both refuse to go in. I've also tried to patiently put my hand and leave the cage open but they're just so content with each other that training seems impossible.

Their cage is pretty spacious and they have a couple of really nice toys and a super deluxe little bird bath so they can properly groom themselves. Yet, they don't like to go anywhere but the near top right side of the cage. I've tried rearranging stuff but no matter what, they only go hurry to go towards the bottom when I'm out of the room for their food.

THEY DO NOT LIKE OR WANT TREATS! What bird rejects treats?!?!



I'm extremely disappointed because it feels like these two contradict everything great that I read about the mentality of Lovebirds. Can anyone give me some pointers on what might be going on and how I can get them to even begin to trust me or perch on my hand?


Thanks!

 

[JawzX]

how long have you had them? Even gregarious birds like lovebirds need some adjustment time to get used to new situations and people. There is a lot of good advice on this forum about building trust with your birds. The #1 thing to remember is patience. I'm no lovebird expert, there are certainly others here who are though, and I'm sure they'll chime in. In the mean time you may want to check out the sticky post in the "general" sub-forum called "Bond Forming" link: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/3100-bond-forming.html#post23685

in general try these things:
1) spend lots of time by the cage without trying to interact with them. Just sit down next to it, read a book, watch TV, surf the 'net, etc. Perhaps talk to them a little in a quiet, calm voice.
2)every once in a while offer a treat through the bars of the cage, don't go stuffing a big scary hand inside the cage with them to give a treat, they need to want it, and that means not being scared. Just keeping your hand close to bars of the cage for a while will help them learn not to be affraid of it. When they do take a treat be sure to praise them for being good, pretty, smart, lovebirds!

once they will accepet treats through the bar of the cage readily (it may take weeks, so be patient!) then you can begin to move on to more advanced interactions like stepping up and head-scratches.

welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[wildheart]

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry things arent turning out the way you wanted, when it comes to other living creatures then it seldom goes the way we planned. How long have you had them?

Here are some very important threads that you need to read:

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/3100-bond-forming.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/300-parrots-bill-rights.html

The above will help you understand them better.

 

[SharonC]

It sounds as if they are scared to death. They've probably had a LOT of hands poked at them in the pet store. A scared bird will refuse treats. Go slow...it'll take a while.

 

[Ecclipse]

Hi Leigh, the advice given is what is needed to be done. I owned lovebirds when I was in school and just after that. They brought me great joy and each was totally different to the other. My first one was bought from the breeder and was tame and relaxed. He settled in immediately and because I used to board he loved everyone. The other two were different as they were more nervous individuals and more tempremental. They were loving pets in their own way.

Firstly, you need to understand that as a species they have certain characterists, needs and behaviour but as an individual they have their own little characters. Buying two together can be more difficult because they have eachother as company and the need for interaction with you is less BUT I have had friends who bought two together and what they did was they placed them in two seperate cages and handled them seperately. They were then let out together to play.

I have just bought a masked lovebird and have had her for almost two weeks. She is nervous, bites and is not the loving lovebird that people portray YET - cant wait for our bond to grow. In saying that she will be the bird I love and enjoy spending time with her. She is already sitting on my shoulder and I only use a perch to get her out of her cage and onto my shoulders. She is very scared of my hands. She is however, already allowing me to scoop her in my hands and will walk around my hand.

You cannot feel dissapointment because they may be like that for the rest of their lives, thats the risk you take. I have no doubt though that if you seperate them and give them quality time and attention as well as training they will become tame and then their species characterists will shine through.

Birds may take up to a month to settle, the section that they are sitting in is obviously their safe place. Make sure that their cage is place in a corner so that they feel more safe because they dont have to watch all the sides of the cage. Make sure that they can see the entrances so that if you walk in you wont give them a surprise. Move the cage around with you so that if you are in one room it can be placed next to you and go with you when you move.

There are many lovebird people on this site who have already given me advice, some of the advice given to you came from them. Chat to them too. Good luck, please send some pics

 

[Ecclipse]

Oh, forgot to add....Rosie doesnt eat treats either but that comes with time and finding out what she likes.

 

[Leigh]

I have had them for about two weeks. I'm going to have to give it longer. I wasn't looking for INSTANT love but I was just thinking that something was seriously wrong and that maybe they were sick/depressed. I'm just concerned for the little guys. I didn't think this was natural behavior but I've been reading the links and you know the whole handfed vs. non handfed. (Sigh) I want them to actually enjoy their new toys and their new nesting place.

Thanks so much for all the encouragement! I sat by them and for awhile and they actually came out of the cage when I started watching youtube videos of other lovebirds doing tricks! They still didn't want to be anywhere near my hands but being brave enough to actually COME OUT of the cage is enough for me. They seemed so interested when they saw other little love birds talking to each other and their owner online.
Since that, they've been coming in and out of their cage little by little. I'm going to have to go to the pet store and get some different treats and such.

Can anyone tell me if it's common for lovebirds to differ largely in size and if it's common for them to rub their face all over their bars?

 

[Ecclipse]

Rosie rubs her beak and side of her face often. Its usually when she is excited or thinks she is clever. The fact that they are coming out of the cage is awesome. You will find that one day you wake up and all of a sudden they seem to trust you 100% more. Your doing the right thing by sitting by the cage and letting them hear your voice I havent got Rosie treats yet - naughty me! Better go and get some. I stand corrected if Im wrong but my lovebirds were different in size and they can be different sizes. You might find that one of your lovebirds is older than the other. Using the perch as a step up is really working. I started 2 days ago and Rosie jumps onto it now and even goes and sits on it when she wants me to give her attention.

Your going to be an awesome gauardian because you want whats best for your fids. I know the feeling when you want them to enjoy their cage vand toys - it will come and then you wont get them to stop playing - lol.

 

[JawzX]

progress! Excellent!

are they clipped? If not be careful letting them out of the cage wthout being hand-tame yet, a fightened, flighted bird that's afraid of you/hands can be a very difficult thing to recapture, and the process will be stressful for both you and the birds.

I don't know much about lovebirds, but I understand there is some size differrence between species, and possibly age...

as far as treats go, you might try some fresh fruits and vegetables, see if they like any of those. (NO Avocado!) My Alexandrine LOVES apples! I hear lovebirds like millet sprays and sunflower seeds too. My Ms. Prissy Beak is a big fan of sunflower seeds, but given the choice will go with apple every time you might try just setting the treat out on top of the cage so they can try it without being affraid of your hand, and once they know its good, see if they'll take it from your hand...

 

[Leigh]

No, they're not completely clipped. When my boyfriend and I were getting them, the pet store offered, but it was already so stressful on the birds and they were crying as the pet store's helper was trying to shove them in a little box to take home. I just said "Eh, no I don't want them clipped. Not now, any ways." I saw a video of a lady saying she doesn't like to clip her parrots because when they want to come to her or when they need something, they're unable to get very far.
The lady had a whole spiel about it.

Since they ALWAYS find their way back to what they consider to be their "safety" cage, not having their wings clipped hasn't been a issue. The yellow one can't COMPLETELY fly and often hits things along the way. Ling keeps persisting though and I swear they're like little acrobats!

 

[Ecclipse]

Rosie has been clipped where she can still hop from perch to perch and be able to be acrobatic without being able to lift off. When I first got Rosie she also would come close to me and just sit or play around but the minute I moved my hand she would be off. I still CANNOT even get my hand or arm near Rosie - she is very scared but once she started to sit near me and show signs of wanting to be with me I then introduced the step up stick (perch). Im not worried about not being able to touch her as her breeder advised me that once she is settled with the perch and being on my shoulder I must put her on my lap or chest and when she starts climbing up my shirt cover her with my hand. He said that it makes them feel safe and you can then use your other hand to stroke their head to get them used to being touched. The breeder also told me that he puts them in his jacket or pocket and leave his hand there to help them get used to being touched. Im going to try it next week and see how it goes.

You are making progress - Im so excited for you. Do you open their cage and let them sit on the top or on the side door (if there is one on the cage). The reason Im asking is because I used that as a treat and that helped the bond between us because she associated me with having fun around her cage. I am now using the treat as a means of disciplining her if she bites me - she is then put straight back into her cage.

Jawx's advice is spot on about the fruit and veg, if you push pieces between the bars or grate it they will see what they like. The breeder told me to try a fruit for a week and then if Rosie does not like it I know not to give her that again.

Im really chuffed that you also own lovebirds, please send pics