New pair of love birds

[xMos]

Hello all,
Firstly I'd like to say this is an awesome forum, just what I need to find my information on my new pet.

I have kept a pair of lovebirds for about 1 week, age unknown, sex unknown, not tamed. I'm currently trying to tame them, using the clicker training, they aren't scared or shy, and respond quite well to the training. I have a yellow and a green one.

The yellow one is the dominant 1 often biting the little green guy's leg (I feel the green guy is constantly being bullied). The yellow one is VERY active but I believe is a real biter. I followed some tips that says not to remove your finger when they bite, well this bird just yanks even harder and won't let go. But it is also quite responsive to the clicker training.
The green one is less aggressive, less active, but response quite well to the training.
When I give it treats out of cage, it sees the treat but insist on going for my finger.

I read that out of cage time is important and helps build trust. I havent been giving that to them. I tried a couple times, but they just keep squeaking to each other and ignore me, and getting them back in is a pain. I feel like the 'trust' thing is moving backwards instead each time I let them out.

They are just abit too much for me. Right now I'm considering giving one away, the yellow one, and my grandma is keen on having it for it's beautiful color, I love it too, but I just want to focus on one as I have seen from articles that a single lovebird will be more bonded to me and easier to train. However I do not want to regret later, when the green one turns depressed at losing its partner. I need help!! Any advice would be nice. Will they get over it if i break them apart?

[linda040899]

Hi and welcome to Lovebirds Plus Community! :)

Based on what you have said, it sounds like you have a Lutino Peachfaced (yellow one) and possibly a Green Peachfaced. If you have photos that you can share, we could tell you for sure. They may not be tame now, but I have a feeling they were hand fed, especially the yellow one. Completely parent fed/raised lovebirds do not normally display the kind of aggression that you are describing. They will run from hands rather than attack/bite. I would also be willing to bet that you have 2 females. Some hens get along, while others don't. If the aggressive one is biting the less dominant one's leg, that biting could get out of hand and one could seriously injure/even kill the other one. Have you tried side by side cages?

Have you considered clipping flight feathers during training so that you can limit where/how far they can fly? You don't necessarily have to clip them once those feathers grow back in but you might find it useful during taming/training. This is a personal decision and we only suggest rather than pushing owners to do this.

[marc]

In my opinion, the Linda's analysis is perfect; I also think you have the mutations of roseicollis that Linda said and I bet that you have two females too;
You have to consider the possibility to seperate them side by side to avoid that the green one can get serious wounds;
I don't advise to clip them the wings but you may tame them by some tricks;
For example, you may to get out from the cage one bird per time and never two birds simultaneously, in this way you create stronger your relationship among you and each bird;
I would avoid to rehome the yellow one; :(
Good luck :)

[marc]

:blush: Sorry I forget!!

WELCOME TO THE FORUM :)

[xMos]

Thanks for the fast replies.
Wow handfed? I never considered that since they kept biting.
Anyway, today me and the green one (which I have named Pipin), had quite good progress. She now flies to my hand when i stick it to her, but doesn't come for the treats. I think she flies to me to investigateand bite my hand.

Here are pictures of them :)

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm8/ran619ger/IMG00358-20111108-1240-1.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm8/ran619ger/IMG00359-20111108-1240.jpg

[marc]

They really are Lutino Peachfaced (yellow one) and Green Peachfaced.:)
Compliments they are very nice;