Lovebird

[Irishgal60]

New Lovebird Owner....Needs Some Help

I brought Peaches home from my daughter & granddaughter's.
They never had time for her....too busy working, ect. Which is fine, I have her now.
The thing is I know nothing about Rosy Face Lovebirds.
Right now she is still sitting on her 5 unfertilized eggs, and has been for over 5 weeks.
She still hasn't given up on them yet. She is so mean and nasty right now.
I want to start working with her on a daily basis, to be able to hold her and kiss her and
play with her and not getting my fingers and lips bitten off!
She was such a sweet bird when they first got her.
But I say that since they haven't paid much attention to her, and left her covered up all the time
(for about 2 years), that it has done something to her.
So my job is to bring her out of it, and get her to be the good and "Pretty" bird that she is.
She gets talked to every day now, and we have our "Good Morning" and "Nite-Nite" whistle.
I need to know when I can take the eggs out and begin work.
Also, I have noticed that the edges of her beak is green.
Should I feed her fruit, greens, what? She has her special diet seeds and that's it.
She has toys, and chew toys. Her favorite is a cat bell ball.
She throws that around like she's having a temper tantrum.
She has also put that silly ball in her nest with her eggs. And sits on it with her eggs.
Then she bites the heck out of me when I take it out. (Don't want her to crush the eggs).
So if anyone can help me with all this, I'd be so grateful.
Peaches is a trip.

 

[Terry57]

Hello and welcome! Is she has been sitting on those eggs for 5 weeks, I would remove them & the nest as well.
She sounds like she needs lots of attention and time to get past being covered for so long.
I feel you are doing the right thing by talking lots to her and allowing her to get used to you.
Here is a great link for safe fresh foods for birds - you may have to offer several kinds several times before she starts eating them.
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/24213-bird-safe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

My lovebirds love thawed frozen veggies. I get the ones with carrots, green beans, peas and corn and just run them under warm water to thaw. She may also try a piece of kale stuck in between the bars of the cage.

I am sure someone else will post with more ideas for you. I am so happy you took Peaches home with you and look forward to hearing more about her

 

[Irishgal60]

Hello and welcome! Is she has been sitting on those eggs for 5 weeks, I would remove them & the nest as well.

My daughter says if I take the eggs out before she gives up on them that she'll start laying again. And I don't want that.
In my photos she has a blue dome thing that she uses as a nest, but she also would sleep in it before she had eggs.
I'd hate to take her bed away from her. But I'm clueless.

 

[Betrisher]

Lovebirds are famous for being hormonal and 'nesty'. Just ask Casey(DallyTsuka), who owns the famous Munchlax!

You need to remove the nest and anything Peaches might use as nesting material (that could include preening toys, happy huts/tents or newspaper - anything that could be shredded and laid into a nest). You also need to make sure Peaches is covered and bedded down as the sun goes down. I think the sooner you begin working with her, the better it'll be. Training gives a bird something to think about and might be just enough to distract her from nesting behaviour. The reason you don't want her continually nesting, BTW, is that each clutch of eggs takes a lot out of the little hen. Of course, the more she nests, the more she'll want to nest. If she starts laying uncontrollably, it can lead to egg-binding (dangerous) or a prolapse (also dangerous). It's not cruel to take her eggs away: it's the kindest thing to do.

I'd suggest you look at a whole range of different toys for her to play with. You could rotate them in and out of the cage so she's never bored by them, but beware of preening toys that might supply nesting material - you don't want that again! LOL!

Please keep us informed of your progress with Peaches. She looks like a dear little soul and deserves to rediscover her inner bird.

PS. Peachfaces can be trained to do all sorts of tricks and, because they are highly intelligent and suggestible, make good training subjects. So persevere with Peaches and let's see how clever she is!

 

[Irishgal60]

Today I am going to clean out Peaches cage, and remove the nest.
I will be adding more toys for her to play with.
I hope I am doing the right thing.
I cover her up at night just before dark, and uncover her as the sun is coming up.
We have our Good Morning & Nite Nite whistle that we do.
IF there is someone who lives in the USA that could call me and give me some more advice; I have so many questions.

Betrisher ---you are a great help!!!! Thank You!!!

 

[Irishgal60]

Well today with Peaches ,I went to change a seed holder with some fresh seed, and I opened the cage door,
and talked to her and tried to get her to come out. (Like we used to do at my daughter's).
Back then she would come out and sit on the door until we stuck out our arm, and then she would get on our shoulder's.
This is what I was hoping for this morning.
I patted the door, I did not stick my hand in the cage.
Talking to her the whole time...gently.

But NO, she lundged at me from across the cage and was biting to beat the band...
I instinctively pulled my hand away...her along with it, and made sure I grabbed her gently and held her to my chest.
I began to pet her and talk to her.
She then found a very nice tender spot on my hand and was biting and
almost grinding my flesh.
She is in her cage throwing her toys around like crazy, and being very vocal.
I know this is only day 1 (after removing her eggs),
but I'm wondering if my 60 year old hands can take this....
I've tried fruit, and peanutbetter, and she still is being a monster.
My dear old mother (whose 88) says that I need to put the blue ball back in without the nesting materials.
(this is what she used as a nest and her eggs were in).
I stuck it in for a minute or two to retrieve the seed holder to empty out,
and she rushed and got right in it. I then took it out.
Which may have made her even more mad.
Should I put that back in? Or will she start nesting again?
I even tried her bath, and the mister for the plants...
She still lundges and tries to bite. She used to love her baths.
What can I do to stop her from biting.
Is there some form of counter measure I can use to get through to her not to bite?
I trained my dog one time about biting by flicking him in the nose.
After a while, he learned and stopped.
Would this work for birds? (Oh and by the way I can't flick that hard)...
What about a dog clicker? Would that work?
Someone please help me....
My poor old hands hurt....
And I've got to get through to her that biting is unacceptable behavior.

Also, is there some youtubes I can watch on what their different vocal chirps mean?
Peaches was such a sweet little bird before...
I've got a lot of work ahead, but I can't take much more of this biting...

 

[Betrisher]

Don't flick her beak! All that will do is convince her you're out to hurt her and she'll keep responding in kind. All you can do is handle her gently, quietly and patiently. And wait. It's still only been days, hasn't it, since you got her home? It can take weeks for a parrot to settle into a new environment and this one has been highly hormonal as well. I'd just leave her alone for a week or even two. Keep cage cleaning and interventions to the barest minimum and try to offer her treats through the cage (eg. millet spray or bits of celery, which are long). I don't think this birdie is ready for hands yet. And I don't think your hands are ready for her by the sound of things!

I doubt she'll ever realise that biting is unacceptable, but she may forget the habit if you take away the cause. Right now, I don't think it's possible to figure that out because she's still new and feeling out of place. You really must wait until she's quite used to living at your house and doesn't take fright at everything that comes her way.

I've been having this discussion in another thread about cockatoos which have been abused or neglected or treated poorly in the past. It's much harder for such a bird to come back to what we might call 'acceptable' behaviour than it is for a hand-raised baby to achieve it. My Dominic (Galah) will always be a biter - I just have to get better at predicting what makes him do it and avoiding the triggers for him. I don't mean to imply your baby will always be a biter: just saying it takes time to unravel damage. Hasten slowly!

PS. Forgot to add: remove everything that might stimulate her to nest and make eggs. That would include the blue ball.

 

[Irishgal60]

Oh I haven't flicked her at all...I was just asking.
(I guess because it works with dogs).
I haven't done anything to hurt her...No way...she's too little.

I've had her now going on 3 months.
It was shortly after I brought her here
that she started to nest. So she's been here awhile....
just being fussy
because of nesting and her eggs.
So I know that now that her eggs are gone, it's going to take time
for her to calm down. I'll just keep talking to her.

I moved her cage in the dining room, closer to me as I sit at the kitchen table.
Easier to talk to her and see her.
I just had to take her coconut hut out....trying to build a nest again...
She keeps going from mirror to mirror taking to her "mate"...cute...
Tomorrow I'm going down and getting some more toys for her,
and some munchies you've suggested and go from there...
I gave her a lid from the fabric softener, (my cat loves to play with them),
And boy does she like that! She will toss it around, move it from place to place.
I think she likes it better than the bell-balls.
Plus she has a spool, 3 balls, and the lid.
I want to get her some blocks too.

Oh and I found out that she does NOT like to get her beak wet or messy.
She took a bite of apple, and boy did she go wipe her beak...too funny.

I've told everyone in the house NOT to poke fingers at Peaches,
No hands what-so-ever. Just stand there and talk to her.
I do lean down and stick the top of my head close to the cage.
She likes playing with my hair.
She used to to that when she's sit on your shoulder.
She'd nibble at your hair.
So that's a start I think.

 

[Irishgal60]

Update on "Peaches".
Well the past couple of days have been adventurous. I have been reading about LoveBirds on the internet, and training.
I read that when they bite, take their beak between your thumb and first finger and hold it (gently of course) and say "No Bite".
Then put them in a "Time-Out" cage for about 5-10 minutes... with only water, and NO TOYS or food, and do not talk to them.
Since they are active little guys, and smart, they will soon learn.
Then go back and try it again. So that's what I did....
The first time, she still bit and bit hard. So I took her beak and said "No Bite". and put her back in the timeout cage.
After about the 3rd time, she came out, and was fine.
So I then let her jump on my shoulder, she was fine as I talked to her and walked around with her.
(For about 10 minutes we walked and talked).
Then she reached over and bit my cheek. I took her beak again and said No bite, and placed her back in the timeout cage.
After about 7 minutes, I took her out and she didn't bite,
so I let her go back into her regular cage with her food and toys.
I would then talk to her and she seemed a little calmer.

Today, she still bit, but not as hard, and she hasn't lunged at me.
I put some different toys in her cage, to change things around for her.
Just to keep her interested and not get bored.
I've got an old brown medicine bottle that I keep washed out to keep for mixing formulas for my rescued squirrels.
So I took the lid off, and placed both of them in her cage, and took out the other toys.
She is really going to town playing with that bottle!!! So cute!!!
I think she's getting a little better; but I've still got a lot of work ahead to do with her.

I do have a question.
Do you have to have their beaks trimmed?
Peaches' beak looks like it maybe growing too long.
She uses her cuttlebone, but she won't chew on her wooden toys....

 

[nrm123]

I wouldn't personally hold the beak, when my lovebird bites I simply blow lightly on him which gets his attention away from biting or if that doesn't work push up slightly on the beak against the bite.
The beak should only be trimmed if it is causing the bird problems. A lot of materials can help, my bird likes biting wood and rope also I bought sandpaper perch covers to help with nails but he used it to scratch his beak on instead so that could be useful.

 

[Irishgal60]

I wouldn't personally hold the beak, when my lovebird bites I simply blow lightly on him which gets his attention away from biting or if that doesn't work push up slightly on the beak against the bite.
The beak should only be trimmed if it is causing the bird problems. A lot of materials can help, my bird likes biting wood and rope also I bought sandpaper perch covers to help with nails but he used it to scratch his beak on instead so that could be useful.

Blowing lightly on "Peaches" pisses her off big time.
My granddaughter used to blow at her all the time.
And pushing up slightly doesn't work either....tried it.
So holding the beak sideways slightly between my thumb and forefinger (gently),
and using the time-out cage seems to be working.
I don't want to do negative things to her that was done in the past.
I did get her some sandpaper perch covers, which I have only on one perch.
The mullet sprays, she shy's away from it.
I broke a couple off and placed it in her seed bowl.
Same thing with fruits and veggies.
So it's going to be trial and error for awhile.
I also got some new hanging toys for her to chew and play with.
(Nothing to start her nesting again).
Rome wasn't built in a day, so it is with training "Peaches" ...
Time is on our side...

 

[nrm123]

Guess wa works for you is best. Same with my bird, they will come around when they are ready.

 

[Sterling1113]

I think you've done a wonderful job so far with the training- and about the holding the beak and time-out cage, I think it's a great way, and it seems to work wonders. Just try to keep the sessions short if she has to take more than one or two time-outs,(So she isn't going any long amount of time without food.) and let her go back to her regular cage for food, sometimes birds get extra cranky if they're hungry hehe.
I use the same method on my conures, I don't have a time-out cage for them though, so I hold their beaks, tell them "no" and put them down somewhere until I feel they've calmed down.
I'm impressed with your patience with Peaches, Lovies can be hard to train, and they aren't for everyone! I'm glad she's got such a good home with someone who will devote the love and time to her that you have. It makes me happy hehe.
I'm glad to hear the lunges seem to have stopped, hopefully the hormones will be over soon, and she'll calm down a bit more. Keep doing what you're doing, I'm sure she'll be back to her old self in no time!!

 

[Irishgal60]

Today I pretty much left "Peaches" alone.
Yesterday afternoon, she bit a hole clear through my forefinger.
One of her toys got wedged, and she couldn't get it out, so I did,
but I must have scared her, coz she bit me.
And then hid under one of her seed bowls. I never scolded her,
I just left her be, but talked to her gently.

Today she has been pretty quite. I'd talk to her,
but I never tried to get her to come out.
We just talked and did whistles.
She did play with the brown medicine bottle for a bit.
Boy does she love that!!! I think it's her favorite toy.
She seems to constantly sit at one of her mirrors.
She twists her head around in a circle and chatters at the "Baby" in the mirror...
Too Funny...
All in all, she's been a good girl today, quite, but good.
We'll see what happens tomorrow.
She and I have nothing but time....
together...

 

[Irishgal60]

On April 12th "Peaches" is going to the vet and get her beak trimmed. and checked out.
I'm thinking that maybe she's having troubles because it is so long.
Thank heavens I found a vet who specializes in exotic pets & birds.
"Peaches" still continues to bite, and has bit a hole clear through my finger.
Even her old Mommy (my daughter) got bit.
And "Peaches" never bit her.
So it's something that the bird is going through I think.
But I'm not giving up on her.

I have also tried to introduce her to new foods, and she still shy's
away from it. She loves her seed.

She still loves to play! I trade out her toys about every other day
to give her a variety. But she will pick up something and throw it
around and makes all kinds of noises. So cute!!!!
I have a rope with a knot, a wooden block and knot a block and a knot in it.
She picks that up and bangs it like a gavel!!!! It is so funny!!!
My 88 year old mother never laughed so hard. It was adorable!!!
"Peaches" is such a clown!!!

All in all, she's getting a little bit better.
Like I said before, there's a lot of work ahead. A lot of work!!!
But in the end, I'll have a better more loving bird.
I'll keep everyone posted on her progress....

 

[Betrisher]

Thanks for the updates on Peaches! It sounds as if she's really enjoying being with you and having such a fun life - I'm glad for both of you. I reckon you have exactly the right attitude of not giving up on her. Good on you! I also love that your Mum gets such pleasure out of Peaches' antics. We used to gather around our Lovies' cage and laugh ourselves silly at them playing and interacting: it's far better than watching TV, isn't it?

I look forward to hearing more of Peaches in the future - please give her my best wishes (and those of my Phloque).

 

[Irishgal60]

Dumb me, I stuck the blue ball house
(That she had her nest with the 5 eggs in) back in "Peaches"
cage for her to sleep in, and she started to build a nest again.
So I just took it out. Oh is she mad.
Where and how do these little ones sleep?
I thought they slept on a tree branch?
I want her to be comfortable, but I don't want the nesting thing again.
Sorry if I'm so stupid on this stuff....
A lot of the books say to get a tent for her.
But will that cause her to nest as well?
Any help I can get, I'd appreciate....
Thanks!!!!

 

[Betrisher]

NOOooo... don't get a tent! Like all birds, Peaches will sleep on her perch. Usually, they choose the highest perch they can get to and will roost there. I made the stupid mistake of making dear little colour-coordinated snuggle huts for our Lovies and the little toads went ahead and laid eggs in them! Lovebirds are infamous for being highly hormonal and highly susceptible to uncontrollable egg-laying (just ask Casey about her Munchlax!) It's very important that you don't give her anything that could be construed as a nice, dark hole to put eggs in, otherwise she could go into a spiral of egg-laying and having all her bodily resources used up.

Since our fiasco with the snuggle huts, I thought I might try making the ones that hang down like a curtain, enveloping the bird, but that have no bottoms and therefore no opportunity to deposit eggs. The bottom line, though, is that if your bird lives indoors, it really has no need for such things and should be happy sleeping on a high perch. Hope this helps?

 

[Irishgal60]

Yep it helps.....
Unfortunately a little late. I got the tent...
The funny thing is that Peaches wouldn't have anything to do with it!!!
I guess it scared her. So I took it out.
I also got some wheat sprays and some mullet sprays....
She won't mess with them either. I have a dish of fresh fruits
in her cage and she won't have anything to do with them either.
Now if I put her seed in there...she right there protecting it, then eating it.
She loves her seeds.
I said in an earlier post...."Trial & Error"....

Now someone please tell me about molting...
Peaches
has all these little fuzzy feathers blowing all over the cage.
Do they need a "Molting" seed or something?
And what about bird gravel?

When I had my parakeet I knew what to do.
With this little LoveBird I'm at a loss...
Sorry if I'm so stupid on this,
but I feel like you folks are giving me some really good advice!!!! :emoticonc
Thanks!!!

 

[Irishgal60]

On the 12th of April, 2014 "Peaches" got her wings trimmed, her nails done, and her beak trimmed.
She wasn't a happy camper, but she did well.
I'm really pretty proud of her. She was a good girl.
They just fell in love with her.
The vet said she is absolutely beautiful, and healthy.
She is however, a little under weight.
I got some sample pellets to try her on.
She doesn't like them. So I put her regular seed in for about an hour, then take them out.
And I have also mixed a tiny amount in with the pellets to get her to stick her beak in the pellets.
She is starting to enjoy the mullet sprays. She's on her second one.
Still won't eat fruit or veggies. She doesn't like getting her beak dirty.
I have been getting her out and letting her sit on my shoulder while I walk around the house.
We do this for about 10-15 minutes, then she goes back into her cage.
She really is doing better. Not biting as much, but then I don't give her a chance too either.
Just thought I'd update everyone on "Peaches".
I'm pretty proud of her. But then aren't all of us new mommies on our babies....