Chattering sound from lovebird

[lemonypickett]

Hello all,

Last night I had my lovebird on my shoulder with my robe on him like a blanket while I was watching TV. Anytime I would touch him, he would make a sound like chattering teeth. I would take my hand away and he would stop. What is this? Was I traumatizing him?

[Flapjack]

LOL- that's Jack's "love sound" - if you catch my drift. :blush: He tries it with my hand, but I've been discouraging that. Now it's his jingle ball, a paper towel, or a toilet paper roll. :whistle:

[thebubbleking]

Sunshine makes that noise, like a fast clicky when he is getting ready to satify boos needs.

[lemonypickett]

Hmmm.... I am still wondering his age, guess I won't know until I see this first molt thing. If he really is only a couple months, I will surely see it. I would think he couldn't be feeling "sexy" yet, could he? Could he be doing it when stressed?

Also, he is always flying off my hand going all over the house, I retrieve him, sit down and he does it over and over until I think he is tired. Is he trying to get away from me? If so, how can I encourage him to like hanging out with me? Tonight I sat with some millet spray on my shoulder and he would hang out a little while, then fly off again. I have had him since Tuesday night of last week.

What do you guys think?

[Minna]

Hahaha, Akira makes that noise if I put my hand in her cage (or anywhere she's decided is hers, such as my shoulder or inside my shirt x_X) while she's in MINEMINEMINE mode, and it means I'd better move fast if I don't wanna get bit.

[Jally]

Peanut does that too when he is ummmm feeling frisky. He started doing that when he was about 5 months old, he's 6 months now.

[Flapjack]

Yep- I thought it was weird that Jack began his lovin' at like 5 months.
Lovebirds are really active, curious little guys. When they're fully flighted, it's hard to keep them in one place.

[Jally]

I'm having a hard time deciding on whether or not to allow Peanut's flight feathers to grow or to get them clipped. I see him watching the budgies fly and I know he is envious or ticked off that he can't catch them LOL

[lemonypickett]

My guy's flights are clipped, but it looks like only 3 or four maybe. And they are getting longer, they are poking out the bottom when his wing is at rest. I am afraid that if I clip him more he will fall and break his breast bone. How true is this?

[thebubbleking]

Sunshine started getting busy at 6 months my girlfriend said he was to young and that he was probably watching us to much!
lol It's normal but he still runs to the cage door and does the head turned one eyed stare if we get frisky lol

[lemonypickett]

My bird has not seen such evils from me. In fact I think my guy is mad that I now go home everyday after work so that my birdie doesn't get lonely. Ha ha

[Pips mom]

Not sure how true that is that your bird will break his breast bone, but I have a tiel who has trouble flying and would fly into walls, and she got a pretty bad injury to the keel, but no broken bones! I think lovies are better fliers though than tiels----at least with mine anyway! I think because they are smaller, they can manuever better.

[lemonypickett]

Good to know, how far into the flights can one clip? It seems he only has 3-5 clipped now. Tonight he even made it onto the top of the drapes.

[Seasonspeech19]

Mine does that too...and he'll also almost like a squeal when I touch him as well. But that main thing he does when you get close is spread his wings. Like in the pics I've posted.


They are intriguing little birds.

[lemonypickett]

I am still convinced he does it out of anger. He does it sometimes when I try to get him to step up out of his cage. He does not bite, and does what I ask, but I am fearful when he gets older he will bite me.

[Islandbirdies]

That is the warning sound for my 2, it means watch out or get away from that.

[lemonypickett]

Do they actually follow through with a bite?

[jayme]

my bird does this noise whenever he around bare feet. it can only be bare feet. it does the noise and dances and climbs all over them. after awhile it will just calm down and nibble my toes for about 10 minutes.

[thebubbleking]

Lemony you cant be afraid of bites sooner or later it will happen, as linda would say be glad your lovies not a african grey!
Besides the bites are rarely hard unless it's my hen boo lol

[michael]

I am still convinced he does it out of anger. He does it sometimes when I try to get him to step up out of his cage. He does not bite, and does what I ask, but I am fearful when he gets older he will bite me.

You know, I found a link to some information that may be of help to you. Even though at first it refers to cockatiels, it outlines many of the typical misunderstandings a lot of poeple have regarding parrots that are reaching maturity. And really, there are many issues touched upon that can still be applied to most parrots including lovebirds. It is a bit lengthly, but it just might have some answers that can offer peace of mind. http://feistyhome.phpwebhosting.com/puberty.htm

[lemonypickett]

Thank you for that website Michael, it was great! I bookmarked it, and spent about an hour and a half learning about all kinds of things.

Now I may have to rethink mirrors in Eddies cage. That site frowns upon them.

Very helpful link, I recomend everyone to check it out. Made me feel more prepared to handle Eddie's "teenage years".