Lovebird help, please!

[bllivingston]

I recently bought two wonderful little lovebirds. Per their previous owner, they are a bonded pair and have laid (infertile) eggs. She was sure they were a male and female - she said she caught them in "the act". One is far more tame than the other but they will both step up on my finger. Still, they're very timid about letting me try to pet their heads, etc.

Things have been fine up until two days ago (I've had them for about two weeks). One has gotten very aggressive and even bit me when I tried to get him to step up! He (or she) has never even tried to bite before. He (or she) mostly goes after his mate, screaming and yelling. Now, they've taken to getting into their food bowl and scattering the seed/pellets. Then they spend time on the bottom of their cage. I'm not sure what they are doing. Of course, they can't reach the seed/pellet on the bottom of the cage, but they're walking around being strange.

Does anyone have any idea what they're doing? Also, should I get their wings clipped. Once they're out of their cage, it's very difficult to get them back in. They will fly to my head and sit on a book I'm reading, but they won't get on my finger! I have to trick them with millet (to get back in the cage), but they're getting smarter and they don't seem to want to get back in the cage.

These are my first lovebirds. The biggest question is why are they pushing all their food out of their bowl. One bird literally gets in the bowl and pushes the seed out. The other sits and shouts at him (or her). I'm not sure which is male and which is female. They're usually very loving to each other and sit side by side most of the day. I just filled their food bowl and in the time it took to write this post, it's empty again! Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Sammy01]

Them changing their behavior towards you could be because you've changed something. It could be your hairstyle or even the way you handle them.

My love birds went through a similar phase, I got smaller bowls so they weren't able to step inside. Then I would add more as needed. I also noticed it helped to keep them busy with new toys. It also helps if you have a bowl for each and try to have them at opposite ends. They sometimes seem to fight over food even when there's plenty.

As for them spending time at the bottom of the cage - be careful. That's typically a red sign that they're ill. Observe them and see what's going on. If they do seen ill then please take them to a vet.

Getting their wings clipped is a personal decision. You have to consider what works best for your companions and you. I've always been given parrots with clipped wings and it seemed to help. Once they grow them out I let them stay flighted.

 

[bllivingston]

They don't appear ill. Could they possibly be trying to nest? They're very active, "chirpy", cute and today they're coming over to the to touch my finger when I stick it in the cage... I have to go to work, so I haven't let them out. They already have two bowls full of food (in separate areas of the cage). They only empty the smaller metal one. I just snuck over to the cage, and one of them is eating from an old millet spray that fell... I just removed it and put a fresh one in... Thanks for your advice.

 

[Sammy01]

They don't appear ill. Could they possibly be trying to nest? They're very active, "chirpy", cute and today they're coming over to the to touch my finger when I stick it in the cage... I have to go to work, so I haven't let them out. They already have two bowls full of food (in separate areas of the cage). They only empty the smaller metal one. I just snuck over to the cage, and one of them is eating from an old millet spray that fell... I just removed it and put a fresh one in... Thanks for your advice.

Birds hide their illnesses until it's too late. I've had 4 lovebirds, 6 budgies, 1 pigeon, 1 parrotlet, and now 2 amazons (only one is mine). Of all these guys only one budgie would show me she was sick early on. I got her on her own when I had no pets and she was sick. I was able to help her then and ever since she'd look for me when she got sick, and only because she'd go to me when she was sick I was able to save her (she came to me just in time).

I'm not saying that they're sick but it could be a possibility. Check if they're fluffed up and look at their droppings. Pay attention to how much is actually eaten, and any other "strange" behavior.

As for them trying to nest, it could be. Try offering them a nesting box. I don't like taking away room from their cages so I always got their nesting box to be out (an extension). If you place newspaper in the bottom of the cage see if they're cutting little strips of it and trying to put it all in a corner and/ or making a nest at the bottom. Once my love birds began putting eggs (fertile though they'd never hatch) I kept their nesting box for them all the time. They would only lay during the season and after the season they'd use it to sleep or sometimes hang out inside if they sneaked in treats or toys.

 

[crimson]

lovebirds are known for throwing their food out of their bowls, or flipping their seed cups that hang off the side of the cage.... mine use to do it.
they did it once, I refilled it, they did it again.

I never replaced it, until the next day. they didn't starve, I made sure they had water and their veggies.

they quickly learned not to toss their food, cause they wouldn't get anymore.

I have 5 lovebirds, and all of them spend plenty of time on the bottom of the cage. they are either playing, or crawling under the newspaper or sometimes they just stand there for a while. they have plenty of toys, but for some reason they like the bottom of the cage too.

like Sammy01 said, try a nesting box and see what happens.

 

[MonicaMc]

Sounds like they are trying to nest.


You might also have two females, hence infertile eggs. Just because they mated doesn't mean they are opposite sex!!!!!

 

[ShellyBorg]

The lovies I work with spend lots of time on the bottom of there cages. As long as they are doing stuff and not just fluffed up and sitting I would not worry.

 

[bllivingston]

thanks, all, for your comments. They are really active, and they're not fluffed up. They bicker with each other, but they cuddle much of the time. I'm not really interested in breeding, so it's fine if they're the same sex. I let them out yesterday and cleaned the cage top to bottom (just water, no chemicals). I added one of those hanging "beds" and one of them jumped right in and snuggled up.

Today, I added a little bath. They're drinking, but they haven't gotten in to bathe. They're loud, they're playful and they're messy. I think they're fine. They just won't return to their cage once I let them loose. I'm reluctant to clip their wings because I have dogs, but it would be easier to tame them!

Again, thanks for your comments. I'll post some pictures soon!

 

[MonicaMc]

Do you have any millet on hand?

 

[Sammy01]

I've heard that if you get a bath with a mirror in it birds are more likely to get in and play. I don't know if it's true or not, I don't remember having one even as kid for my parrots.

 

[bllivingston]

MonicaMc - yes I have millet. That was how I used to be able to trick them to get back in their cage. They're on to that game... so, I'll have to try something different. Do they need to be able to get out and fly? Is it okay to keep them in their cage?

Sammy01, I can try a mirror for the bath. I have no mirrors in the cage 'cause there's two of them. Maybe I'll get a new toy with mirrors and bells.

Also, what kind of paper can I put in for them to shred? They have many toys, but I want to keep them happy!

Again, thanks for the advice. They're really such cute rascals!

 

[Sammy01]

MonicaMc - yes I have millet. That was how I used to be able to trick them to get back in their cage. They're on to that game... so, I'll have to try something different. Do they need to be able to get out and fly? Is it okay to keep them in their cage?

Sammy01, I can try a mirror for the bath. I have no mirrors in the cage 'cause there's two of them. Maybe I'll get a new toy with mirrors and bells.

Also, what kind of paper can I put in for them to shred? They have many toys, but I want to keep them happy!

Again, thanks for the advice. They're really such cute rascals!

I've seen bird baths for pet parrots sold at pet stores that have the little mirror. It's just a small mirror at the bottom of the bowl (I don't recommend doing it on your own, but rather buy the bird bath).

As for paper, I tried all kinds. They liked the different types for their own reasons. Newspaper, line/ printer paper, and tissue paper (the kind you put in a bag gift). Have you tried giving them small bird safe twigs and pine cones? My birds loved twigs.

ETA: I'd sometimes offer them a surprise box. It was a small cardboard box with different types of bird safe rope and paper. Sometimes a couple of beads. They loved ripping it to shreds. They sell them at pet stores, but I find making them better. You get to add what they like and it's cheaper. I've also seen piñatas sold at pet stores, I've only offered it to my budgies and they loved tearing it up. They great part is you can add treats inside.

 

[MonicaMc]

Generally speaking, I don't recommend mirrors for birds. Not for single birds, not even for a flock of birds.


I suppose you could let the birds out first thing in the morning, if you have time, and before you refresh their food dishies. When they would be hungry, you could replace the food in their cages.


Exercise via flight is actually rather healthy for birds. There is no other way they can get an appropriate amount of exercise. Many people still clip and deprive their birds of that kind of enrichment. If you can safely allow flight and work with the birds, that's my recommendation. If their cage is large enough for them to move in, maybe even fly in, then it's ok to keep them in the cage when you can't allow them out.

You can use regular paper, palm fronds, woven palm leaves (they do sell them for birds), yucca toys, balsa toys and even craft sticks.

 

[Lovely]

Bill. My lovebirds did the same thing, I know for a fact they weren't ill at the time. (I say that because 1 is fighting a possible crop infection, or she just wants to be a bald bird I don't know) But they love spilling their food all over my dress and onto the floor (Believe its a once a week chore to make sure their food hasn't gotten into and of my jeans.)

I put a new lovebird (one from my aunt) in the room. They all sit in the same area of the cage (in different cages) and chat. Its so cute.

No help there but oh well.