Re: Advice needed

[LeafandNoelle]

Re: Advice needed

Hello! I am Noelle and I have a seven month old Black Masked Lovebird named Leaf. To be honest I don’t have a lot of experience regarding birds as pets. The only “experience” I have is when I babysat my moms cockatiel for two weeks, and I fell in love. After babysitting I was determined to get a bird of my own. I liked how lovebirds are small but feisty, they are affectionate, and they don’t make a lot of noise. I went through a website to order Leaf. I couldn’t find anything local that fit my interests. All I know is that he came from Washington state from some sort of facility. He’s only seven months and I believe he has never met a friendly hand until I came along.

Currently he’s been with me for over two months. They first week I couldn’t put my hand in without him flying around his cage. But after awhile he calmed down with the fact that I would have to put my hands in his cage to change food and water and etc. Progress is being made, but he still gets scared with my hands and he shies away whenever possible. Now I want to start hand taming him so that he can trust me more and have a little more freedom with me. I haven’t tried millet yet and I hear that works. But all in all I don’t know where to start.

 

[LaManuka]

Re: Advice needed

Welcome Leaf and Noelle! It sounds like you are making solid progress so far. Millet is a great tool to use to encourage Leaf to be a little more trusting of hands, but it is a long process and you will need to move at his pace, which it sounds like you are already doing. You can also try sitting close to the cage and reading to Leaf, not so close that it makes him uncomfortable, but you will probably find you can get a little closer each day. It doesn't matter what you read, just do so in a calm voice to help get him accustomed to your presence. When I was taming my little purple crowned lorikeet I found it helpful to play YouTube videos on my phone so she could hear the sounds of her own species and that worked wonders for me!

Anyway I'm sure some members with much more lovebird experience will be along soon to offer you their pearls of wisdom. Thank you for sharing your journey with Leaf with us - I do love that name by the way, and don't forget to post some pics if you got 'em

 

[wrench13]

Re: Advice needed

Welcome and be welcomed. Leaf by Niggle is a wonderful Tolkien story. And a great name.

 

[Scott]

Re: Advice needed

A warm welcome, Noelle and Leaf!

The key to a wonderful relationship is through earning trust and bonding. Birds are not domesticated and have no innate reason to trust humans. Some excellent tips here: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

A slow process, can be assisted by offering a food reward. Most birds love millet, a powerful motivator!

 

[MrLaurieKeats]

Re: Advice needed

"Leaf, by Niggle", a story of transformation. You have transformed Leaf's life just as he will transform yours. Welcome and enjoy the journey!