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sphinxface
08-06-2008, 05:36 PM
Lovebirds sure do have a mind of their own don't they? Sometimes Beezle steps up just fine on my finger, sometimes he doesn't want to, usually when he's on top of his cage he will run far and fast from even a dowel. Sometimes he wants to feed my fingers, other times he doesn't understand why they are trying to touch him on his fluffy little head... I wish I could speak lovebird sometimes :confused:

LauraO
08-06-2008, 07:39 PM
I wish I could speak lovebird sometimes :confused:

Watching the way some of my lovebird pairs squabble with each other, I don't think speaking lovebird is really going to give anymore clarity to their behavior8o 8o . Birdies are definately individuals and individuals who want what they want when they want it and on thier own terms. This is why parrots don't make great pets for folks who want all their pets to act like dogs who are generally happy to please, cuddle, and make you happy most times:rolleyes: .

Buy A Paper Doll
08-06-2008, 09:59 PM
Lovebirds sure do have a mind of their own don't they?
Yep! :D That's what makes them so wonderful! :clap

Pips mom
08-06-2008, 10:07 PM
Pip is the same way......he doesn't want anything to do with hands! Ohhh nooo, hands can grab and hold you down! keep them away please! He is NOT scared of hands! He just does NOT want them touching him! Yes, he will step up onto hands under certain circumstances......like when he's desperate! lol stuck down on the floor and can't fly up that high! yes, then he will use the dreaded hand to help him out! oh....and it's ok to put hands nearby him.....as long as they are doing something else and not trying to touch him! One time he was on my shoulder and I was pretending to give him a kiss......got a little too close and got a good bite on the lip! No kisses allowed either :roll: Oh yes, not only do they have a mind of their own....but they make darn sure you know what's allowed and what's not! Either get the message or get bitten! lol

chromasnake
08-06-2008, 11:11 PM
Pip is the same way......he doesn't want anything to do with hands! Ohhh nooo, hands can grab and hold you down! keep them away please! He is NOT scared of hands! He just does NOT want them touching him! Yes, he will step up onto hands under certain circumstances......like when he's desperate! lol stuck down on the floor and can't fly up that high! yes, then he will use the dreaded hand to help him out! oh....and it's ok to put hands nearby him.....as long as they are doing something else and not trying to touch him! One time he was on my shoulder and I was pretending to give him a kiss......got a little too close and got a good bite on the lip! No kisses allowed either :roll: Oh yes, not only do they have a mind of their own....but they make darn sure you know what's allowed and what's not! Either get the message or get bitten! lol

Wow...that sounds like Yellow Bird exactly and to some extent, Tourmaline. I can be nose to beak with them without any danger, but once the hands start creeping closer, and they're not in the mood...

Yellow Bird has to be very desperate, and Tourmaline out of the same room her cage is in--when she is on the opposite end of the house she steps up as nice as you please and you'd never believe she was piranha bird.

Apple (my Quaker ) is pretty reliable but he gets stubborn to the point he clings with his beak and claws to whatever surface he doesn't want to leave, exactly like a stubborn child! Most of the time this happens, of course, when I have to go to work in the mornings, or need to get him into a safe location fast for some reason! Fortunately I use the "belly blow" as a secret weapon. (blowing a "raspberry" on his belly or side) and he squawks uncle.

jayme
08-09-2008, 01:54 PM
This is why parrots don't make great pets for folks who want all their pets to act like dogs who are generally happy to please, cuddle, and make you happy most times:rolleyes: .

Oh how I can totally relate to this. Almost everyone I know looks at my Oli as just any other animal you can be with. My family and friends really don't understand this, thinking that over time "if I just keep trying to pet her she will get used to it." But this technique is like trying the same combination on a lock over and over again hoping that it will eventually open. She's more like a puzzle. She requires lots of observation and patience. I'm thinking of establishing the "no fingers" rule when there are a bunch of people around the house.

unstuckpilgrim
08-10-2008, 03:23 AM
Mine doesn't like hands either. I almost always make him step up before he's allowed out of the cage, but once he's free, he steps up maybe 75% of the time, and mostly reluctantly. And if he's perched on your shoulder, NO WAY are hands allowed to approch him - he either flies away, or attacks. That is, unless I have some tasty treat... then it's like, "what hands?" hah.

Pips mom
08-10-2008, 01:50 PM
Oh that is too funny! That is SO Pip! hands are fine as long as they have something good or can help you out when you can't fly up! And they KNOW when you are using your hands in an acceptable way! Honestly I think these little guys are way smarter than we even think! Today, we went to get Pip out....time for meds......well my boyfriend went over first and opened his cage door......he wasn't coming out! I am usually the one to open his door to let him out and that little stinker knew something was up and wasn't coming out for nothing! It's amazing how they know just what's going on!

Buy A Paper Doll
08-10-2008, 08:56 PM
She requires lots of observation and patience. I'm thinking of establishing the "no fingers" rule when there are a bunch of people around the house.

My birds - and probably most birds, I'd guess - prefer verbal interaction over being touched. Most people have trouble understanding this. So I just tell people that my birds bite. Hard. It's not too big of a white lie - even sweet Milo will bite if someone sticks their finger in his face.

Z28Taxman
08-11-2008, 05:59 PM
My birds - and probably most birds, I'd guess - prefer verbal interaction over being touched. Most people have trouble understanding this. So I just tell people that my birds bite. Hard. It's not too big of a white lie - even sweet Milo will bite if someone sticks their finger in his face.

That's why I think Ditto is a freak. He loves hands, they're great for napping. And if he wants skritched and you don't do it he'll put his head in your fingers and do it himself! :rofl: If you don't take the hint.... Then you get bit. :omg:

unstuckpilgrim
08-12-2008, 02:43 AM
My birds - and probably most birds, I'd guess - prefer verbal interaction over being touched. Most people have trouble understanding this. So I just tell people that my birds bite. Hard. It's not too big of a white lie - even sweet Milo will bite if someone sticks their finger in his face.

When people come over and see the cute little bird sitting on my shoulder, they always want to pet him. I always say, "He doesn't like hands." But everyone always seems to think they are the exception to the rule and keep trying. He'll step up to me and my roommates because we've all interacted with him a lot and he knows us. Most of the time he won't feel comfortable with strangers though, so when they keep trying I say, "He might bite you," and then they back off (this isn't really a lie either.) No personal offense, it's just not something that he's really comfortable with!

Kali
08-12-2008, 05:10 AM
We had a lovebird like the adorable Ditto, he just loved to snuggle in my husbands hands,usually when husband had settled in an easy chair with a book in his lap.
Then the book had to go down and Marty just settled in for a sleep.
I used to be so jealous.
Sam and Suzy are hands off birds. They sit on my hand only when they want something. Mostly FOOD.

MariefromCanada
08-12-2008, 08:49 AM
Pip is the same way......he doesn't want anything to do with hands! Ohhh nooo, hands can grab and hold you down! keep them away please! He is NOT scared of hands! He just does NOT want them touching him! Yes, he will step up onto hands under certain circumstances......like when he's desperate! lol stuck down on the floor and can't fly up that high! yes, then he will use the dreaded hand to help him out! oh....and it's ok to put hands nearby him.....as long as they are doing something else and not trying to touch him! One time he was on my shoulder and I was pretending to give him a kiss......got a little too close and got a good bite on the lip! No kisses allowed either :roll: Oh yes, not only do they have a mind of their own....but they make darn sure you know what's allowed and what's not! Either get the message or get bitten! lol

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LOL kiki is the same way. No hands are allowed. I can only touch is beek and that's it.