Naughty and loud lovebird in a small apartment - any suggestions?!

[gina]

Hello there - I've looked for help here before and you've always been so helpful. I'm hoping you all can give me a few suggestions for us regarding our lovebird. Thanks in advance!

I've had Wrigley for about 4 years. Recently we've had to move twice in about 4 months and he's been taking it OK, but not great. He's very loud, always wants out of his cage, and needs constant attention. I guess none of this is unusual, but we are having a very hard time managing him. We can get him back in the cage, but then he wants out again and is so loud. When he's out he is able to fly around the apartment and land on our shoulders, but still screeches and tries to get into things. We are able get him to jump on our figures to put him away or play, but he still mainly wants to do what he wants.

The biggest problem is that we live in a small apartment in Manhattan in New York City. The apartments on our street are very close together and everyone can hear him. He wasn't like this before, but we're wondering if the city sounds bother him.

So now to my questions -- Do you all think that if we have his wings clipped he will calm down and mind us better? How long does it usually take for a lovebird to calm down in a new apartment? I would really like to have a little control over the situation, so I'm wondering if wing-clipping is the way to go. We haven't done it in a few years, so we're feeling a little strange about it. Any tips!?!?

THANKS!!!!

Gina

[thebubbleking]

Well as someone with sun coures i have neighbours who have to suffer lol i have house plants belive it or not plants muffle noise as well as clear air, i also dont put thier cage in an area that echos and every month on the first my neighbours get a case of beer on thier porch..so far no noise complaints since the week of move in lol

[NickyBeth]

One thing you can do to deaden the noise is to get cardboard egg cartons. Thumbtack (or masking tape) them to the wall in the area the cage is. It will help deaden the sound until you get your lovie situated.

Mine has no problems with adapting to new environments, as long as people talk to him. Like, for example...when he needs to go to the in-laws or whatnot...everyone talks to him and we leave him in front of the TV for extra "companionship". Perhaps leaving the TV or radio on would trick him into thinking people are around!

[michael]

......So now to my questions -- Do you all think that if we have his wings clipped he will calm down and mind us better? How long does it usually take for a lovebird to calm down in a new apartment? I would really like to have a little control over the situation, so I'm wondering if wing-clipping is the way to go. We haven't done it in a few years, so we're feeling a little strange about it. Any tips!?!?......

Hi Gina. ..Sorry to hear you and Wrigley are having some difficulties. ....I'm sure for one, the change in environment hasn't helped very much. .. Certainly, anything such as different noises, traffic, or other/more poeple, can very well be over stimultating. ...Any options of placing his cage in a quieter location or corner? ... Also too, we've actually had members re-arrange their furniture or even hang a blanket against the most neighbor offending wall. (egg cartons and plants....yup!)...... Wing clips, in my opinion, are a toss up. Although restricting flight might help keep him shouldered, it may do little if he still feels cage insecure. .... Unfortunately, I cannot really tell you long it takes for any parrot to adjust being displaced. .. Some right away, others (especially larger species) can take weeks or months. ...I do though feel, that because lovebirds are relatively versatile, they'll usually adjust rather quickly. .... I'm 50/50 on that wing clip. ............:)

[gina]

Thank for the suggestions! These are things we will certainly try. The quieter corner is what we'll try first and see how it goes and put in some serious thought be clipping. Thank you!

[Lestat138]

I have a lovebird now im watching for a friend. Instead of keeping him in his tiny cage, I let him out and he flys around the room, usually though he will just sit like a statue for hours in the same spot. Lately he has been making clicky sounds w small screeches in them also, when he is doing this he is chewing on my wooden shelves and ruining them and also bobbing his head up and down and chirping loudly.

What does this behavior mean?

[linda040899]

Sounds like you have a hormonal lovebird on your hands. What you are describing is mating behavior. You may want to limit access to the shelves, unless you really want to see some damage!