It works!

[dieflying]

I just wanted to give my experience with something I've read for working with new lovebirds that I totally blew off as unimportant until now. Hopefully it will help some of the newer bird owners!

I kept reading that eating near the birds was a good idea. I thought "Pfft, sure it is. Like they'll care!" But today I was eating some yogurt while Kath sat on the desk fan right next to me. She started craning her neck to get a look at what I was doing, so I leaned a little closer and made loud smacky noises. "mm, delicious, mm, yogurt".

After a minute or two she started doing the head bob for when she wants to fly to a nearby spot. She flew over to my arm and started investigating! This coming from the bird who never wants to sit on me!

Tonight I made a quick peanut butter sandwich and had her on my knee while I ate near her. I put a side of the sandwich near her and she started sharing it with me, pulling off teeny little crumbs and dropping them all over.

Anyway, it may just be me, but the advice seemed ridiculous at first, but give it a shot! :)

[jimpierce]

pictures!!! That sounds really cool!!

[linda040899]

Parrots tend to be social eaters and mine are no exception! Diner time around here can get very interesting, especially when 7 parrots decide they want to share what's on my plate....... Thank goodness for chair backs and T-stand perches. At least they have places to perch other than being on the table! :lol

[dieflying]

I'll have to see if I can snap a couple pictures if she feels like sharing breakfast or something tomorrow. I happen to know she LOVES scrambled egg, so maybe we'll try that tomorrow.

I get a little nervous sharing my food because I don't want to inadvertently give her something dangerous. Luckily, we don't really eat the stuff that she can't have, so I should be fairly safe. I just do a quick search before I offer her some.

[Mydoona]

true true, my newest girl Mardi doesn't come anywhere near me, so I ate my lunch in the birdy room one day- an egg sandwich-and while I was eating Keiko came over to share my sandwich and pretty soon Mardi was sitting on the armchair craning her neck for some,she was still frightened and didn't actually eat anything BUT I was amazed you got so close to me just because I had food.lol.

[wilkiecoco]

That's great!!!! Kiwi loves to share my food, on his own plate of course! Pics please!! :whistle::whistle::)

[Elle]

Dinner is always exciting at my house. If you blink your eyes, things disapear off your plate.

In the evening, we'll sit down and watch tv. My husband usually gets an apple and he has between two and six birdies roaming around him to share.
He looks like a tree. An apple tree if you'd preffer :rofl:

[SillyFids]

this is absolutely true! My new baby warmed up to me this way - i eat lunch now next to its cage and breakfast. It watches me then starts to eat its food! I haven't done it yet where he's out of his cage and I'm eating - were working on trust first, but eating around the bird definitely makes a difference!

[Bubblelady]

My husband usually gets an apple and he has between two and six birdies roaming around him to share. He looks like an apple tree

Video, please :rofl:

If you think about it, it really makes sense. Besides being the social beings that they are, as Linda mentioned, they are flock feeders, as someone else mentioned. In the wild, a feeding flock means there are no preditors there feeding on YOU! If you are alone, you must spot a lurking preditor. If you are in a flock, only one of you needs to spot the danger, sound the alarm, and everyone (hopefully) escapes. So....a feeding flock mate means it's safe to approach. Just my :2cents:

[Flapjack]

My gcc would do anything to get to me while I'm eating. My lovie could take it or leave it.

Great job with the taming progress! :clap

[Pips mom]

It's not rediculous at all....in the wild, the flock eats together, and I notice that my birds eat when I eat. This is how I got Pip to start eating good foods and veggies.....all I had to do was bring my dinner plate into the living room and he would be right there checking out what I had! It's also great when they see other birds eating something......Ivy has been a great influence here with the other birds....she loves everything and is a great eater, and Pip's favorite treat is even the same as hers....walnuts!
Here is a pic of Pip eating off my plate.........
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/kim1888/Picture012.jpg
It really does make a difference when they see their flock eating....and we are part of their flock. The interest is there, it's all a matter of when they feel comfortable to start checking out the good food! Lovies are especially curious so I think letting them be nearby when you eat or see you eating something good, they will just have to go check it out eventually!

[dieflying]

Breakfast this morning was egg burritos.

Hmm, what ees this? (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g110/dieflying/Katharina/SDC10080.jpg)

Trying a hand offering (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g110/dieflying/Katharina/SDC10081.jpg)

Fast motion nom (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g110/dieflying/Katharina/SDC10085.jpg)
(she kept shaking her head after eating some egg. It's everywhere!)

Now share the burrito with me! (http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g110/dieflying/Katharina/SDC10089.jpg)

[linda040899]

Food will get them every time!!! Kath doesn't look the least bit afraid to be where she's at, just very interested in what she can get her beak into.... :lol

[BarbieH]

:pics:

[LauraO]

Food is how my husband won over my African Grey Mijo. Initially, Mijo wasn't much interested in my husband but over time and many a meal together they are really great friends. Mijo totally loves my husband and they continue to eat and play games together. This is great and surprising since Mijo is totally bonded to me.

:):)

[FuzzyAga]

My Juanita and Petey eat kale now because I ate bunches of that bitter green stuff as they watched.:x Same for broccoli and baby bok choy. (I prefer them cooked.) Then, corn is like candy to them--don't have to twist their arms, er, wings, although they prefer the petite size.

Tonight during dinner, they flew to my husband and wanted a corn kernal each off his plate, that's all--one kernal each. They drink rice milk because they watch us and want what we have.

Petey finally eats some pellets because I crunched many of them in front of him. And that's the way it goes. If they touch their beaks to a food item but turn away, it's a "Thank you, but no thank you."

Always fascinating.

[LovelySydney]

haha this is TOTALLY true - Luka used to watch me eat and then eat while I was. I almost felt like she would wait until I was eating so she could eat. It cracked me up.

[MariefromCanada]

Tell me about it ! Yesterday, when I wanted some peace and quiet time with a good coffee, Kiki came on my arm to investigate and of course he had to have a sip !
NO JOKE