New Parrot Owner. Just brought a baby home, need taming tips

[UlyBirb]

I was originally going to wait until the summer to purchase another bird, but a breeder I had previously been in contact with had a fischer lovebird baby available, and it was love at first sight. I drove 7 hours total yesterday to pick him up, and at the breeder's he was of course very comfortable- he hasn't mastered step-up commands yet but he did his best and was comfortable with scritches and sitting on my shoulder.

Today's his first full day home and he's understandably shy. He's not afraid of hands but gets hesitant when I place my hand in his cage (he hasn't run away, but when he gets uncomfortable I remove my hand from the cage and he relaxes). I've since avoided doing that and I'm now leaving the cage door open for him and have been feeding him millet through the bars, trying to get him to follow the spray, but he hasn't moved from his favourite perch. He's by no means stressed or scared and has been grinding his beak and flapping his little wings at times when he calls and gets excited.

The breeder told me to make the outside of his cage exciting so he's tempted to come out, but seeing as it's a prevue cage with a locking door, there's not much I can do- so I've placed a perch and some toys on the inside, and I'm hoping he'll come out when it's open.

Any tips or recommendations appreciated. I understand it may take a week or two for him to feel fully comfortable, but if there's anything I can do with him in the meantime, I'd love to know. I’d also like to point out that he’s currently on a seed diet that the breeder weaned him onto. I’m hoping to get him on to pellets soon.

Here he is. Breeder told me was a double violet pied... which means nothing to me, haha. His back is kind of a slate gray. He's such a sweetheart.

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. Sounds like your doing it OK so far. With parrots, and your lovie IS a parrot, its best totake things at his pace, not yours. Yes ! Off the seed diet as soon as you can. Choose how you want tofeed him, meaning offer pellets all day, with some fruits at lunch time, veggies (Chop) for dinner. Or other combinations. Congrats on the new addition.

 

[UlyBirb]

Thank you! I am smitten. He is an adorable little thing.

A fear that’s been running through my head is that he’ll never come round and will be content sitting in his cage without attention. Hopefully that won’t be the case, lol. He has been handfed since he was 2 weeks, and he’s now 4 months.