Nipping?

[Thornapple]

So Gypsy, my new lovebird is a rescue. Her mate died due to neglect but she survived the ordeal and is an outgoing, hungry little bird. She was handraised and I believe she was tamed. She talks, steps up and plays peekaboo but you cannot touch her! She will nip as hard as she can and even took skin off my hand in a bite the other day. I need to get her used to it because she travels with me between the two houses I live at. I know some birds will always be nippy but is there any other way to get her accustomed to being transported? She is terrified of going into the carrying case too!

[linda040899]

There are some birds that just don't like to be touched and you have to respect that, as you can't modify it unless your bird has a change of heart. I speak from first hand experience with this because I've had Ginger (CAG) since 1991 and she STILL does not like the touch of human hands. She will take food from my fingers but I can't touch her. This is her preference and I just have to go with the flow.

For travel purposes, would it be possible to put her in her travel cage the night before after the sun goes down? Dim light may work to your advantage and she should settle down to go to sleep before traveling the next morning (if that's your schedule). Being a rescue, trying to understand how she feels may help you get creative in ways to make her feel comfortable. Her former situation is probably still very fresh in her mind and she doesn't have enough experience with you to be able to determine just how safe she really is.

These are just a few thoughts. If you could share more information about her with us, we may be able to come up with more ideas.

[Thornapple]

Getting her into a travel cage would be just as difficult. She will not eat from my hands either, preferring to circumvent the food and try to nip a finger that is not even in the cage. She will let me hold her, as she seems to have no problem with palms, just fingers. The foster family told me she refuses to step up for them but she did it for me within seconds. I may be able to transport her by step ups.

[linda040899]

I may be able to transport her by step ups.
If that works, that's the way to do it. :) Once she feels more comfortable with you and realizes that you are not just the same problem, different location, she will begin to trust you. Trust is the big thing and it has to be earned. Keep in mind that hens tend to be territorial in/around their cages so that explains the aggression towards your fingers before you even put a hand in her cage. Her cage is HER home and your hand is an unwelcome intruder. Put yourself in her place. Strangers are not welcome in our homes, either.

Have you tried offering a perch for her to step up onto?

[bird-brain]

My Cabo is identical to your Ginger. He hates FINGERS, not whole hands. He will step up onto my arm, the back of my hand, my foot, any body part except my finger. He loves to spend time with me and has no fear of me. Many members on this board have similar issues and the answer is much as Linda says, WE work around the lovies preferences like good little lovie slaves ;) I know that some people have a separate sleep cage they use every night. Perhaps you could try a small cage that is suitable for this purpose and as a travel cage and use it every night so Ginger won't associate going into it with a change in routine.

Also you referred to a "carrier". I wold have to see what you are talking about but if it is a very small space, that could account for the resistance or if it is a dark space that wold explain it too. Birds don't like moving from a wet lit area into a a darkened one at all. Great Luck to you and I am sure that the more time the two of yo spend together, the more trust she will develop.

[Pips mom]

Pip has never liked hands. He doesn't even like bare skin.....if I have on short sleeve shirts, he doesn't want to go on my arms! He'll do it sometimes, but then he'll look down at my arm and think to himself.....hey, I'm on skin, Ahhhh, and bite it! luckily Pip does not bite hard, but hard enough to hurt! As much as Pip does not like hands, or being touched, I can still pick him up.....he resists, but he doesn't fight it too hard. Once I pick him up, he doesn't seem to mind much at all, of course he knows that I won't hold onto him for too long. It's almost like he understands my need sometimes to just pick him and smother him a little bit and give him kisses. I think Pip really considers me his friend and flock mate, so he forgives me for for getting too lovey and touchy once in a while! Once they learn to trust you and like you, it's all good!

[diljaa]

Pixel is the same way, he hates hands. I use my sleeved forearm for him and he steps up on it just fine. You just do what you have to to make it work.
To get Pixel used to the small traveling cage I had it sitting out on the sofa for a couple of days with some treats in it. A spray of millet or a couple of nutriberries. When he had gone in and out of it a few times I closed the door and opened it up again to show him that he was going to get out again. I did this a few times, keeping it closed a bit longer each time. I don't use the traveler anymore, I find it easier to transport him in his sleepcage as I can buckle it up in the car, I can't do that with the smaller cage.

[Thornapple]

Gypsy sounds just like Pip and Pixel. I can hold her and she wont resist but I think she is afraid she may be hurt. Her previous owner neglected her and Im not sure if it was just laziness or if they somehow actually hurt her. Yes the traveller is slightly dark but I needed it for transport and no petstores had the cage types.
I have tried a perch. She will only step up on a blue one and no other. I cannot hide my hand either. The shelter and foster family said she just refused for them, but as long as I have the blue perch she will step up.