re tameing?

[scooziee11]

Hello, i have a beautiful lovebird...around 2 years old. She was hand fed and has always had some spunk to her. Recently, i assume due to my absences (at college) she has become more agressive and less handable. She has always had terittorial issues, but it seems that it has gotten worse. When I, or anyone goes near her cage she gets all puffed up and makes her "im going to bite you noise". But the thing is, i know she wants the attention...whenever i leave the room she calls for me (or anyone for that matter). It's very hard to get her to come out of her cage willingly now but once she is out she seems to be less agressive. I have also noticed that when she is out, she will ALWAYS climb to my back/shoulder (avoiding my hands). whenever you try to get her off using ur hand she freaks out and bites. Also once she is out she never wants to go back in her cage. It is all so very confusing.

I was hoping that someone could give me some taming ideas for her. I plan on giving her to my bf for the time being, seeing as he will have more time to tame her than me, since i am away at college and my parents dont know how to. (he has a sweet little lovebird boy himself) please help! :confused:

ps: on a side note i have noticed she is less agressive towards males. especially my father and bf.

pss: i would also like to mention, sometimes when she puffs up she grinds her teeth. i've been told this is a sign of happiness/ being content...yet she will attack/bite right after that. it seems as if its her way or warning ppl to back off. -confused-

[linda040899]

Your lovie hen's is perfectly normal for a mature lovebird! They are very protective/territorial of their cages and will defend them against intruders (you or anyone who gets to close). After all, her cage is HER home, not yours! While it may not be easy to get her to come out, that's definitely the way to handle cage aggressiveness.

Lovebirds are very social and need as much attention as you can possibly give them. While she acts instinctively, she's been socialized enough where she wants the contact. Have you tried perch/dowl training her so that you can take her out of her cage? Many lovebirds are not fond of hands so her reaction does not surprise me. The best way is to try to avoid the bite so that means protecting your hands. You can wear long sleeves and tuck your hand inside the end of the sleeve. That will make your hand less threatening to her.

Beak grinding is definitely a sign of contentement. However, disturb that state of contentement and she will go into aggressive mode (typical lovebird.... :) )

[scooziee11]

thanks for the reply. I have tried getting her to come put using other methods...such as a perch or a long sleeve to hide my hand and such...but she attacks and bites that as well. So much so that she has left little bite indent marks in some of her wood perches i try to get her to step up on.

[Jally]

Maybe trying to let her come out on her own will work better than forcing her out on a perch or arm...I also have an aggressive female lovie that has some cage issues. Right now she is sitting on eggies so I am leaving her be for a bit so that she doesn't become a habitual egg layer. But, as soon as she abandons them (if!!!), I plan on doing some major taming with her.

Also, if you can, try rearranging her cage on a weekly basis. I know that is hard to do when you have a lovie charging at ya LOL

[HaleBoppPeachyluv]

my mom's hen, Hina, DOES NOT WANT hands or body parts of any type in her cage. We open her door & she comes out on her own. She will step up once she's out of her cage.

She doesn't really like to be petted, but will let my mom lightly pet her back if mom does it slowly enough. Mom can also kiss her on the back. No way can anyone touch her head. I don't think she's ever been skritched. She's flighted though, and if we leave the room, she'll follow us to whereever we're going.

But even with all that, we still wouldn't trade her or give her away. She's a feisty, bossy hen, but we still admire her independence and enjoy her birdie ways.

[thebubbleking]

Boo is fine once she is out of her cage but woe to anyone or anything within 1 foot of her open cage door!