Dredger
12-02-2011, 09:25 PM
Hi everyone,
So, I am a new owner of a peach faced lovebird. I found my way here because I am trying to learn how to make her/him/it's life more comfortable. I think it's a 'she' so I'll just roll with that.
I have never owned a bird before, and when she was forced upon me as a gift, I was not very happy about it. I'm a truck driver (UPS), and am used to being alone after long days. However, being that I have compassion for the animal, I felt obligated to give her attention. After the initial meeting with the bird, and we were alone, I finally went over to the cage to say hi, and see if she wanted to come out. She seemed so shy and unsure of herself. When I placed my fingers out so she could step onto them, she did it with great hesitation, as if I were going to drop her or eat her.
So, here it is a few months later and we are inseperable! She follows me all over the house, and flys everywhere. She even takes naps with me on the couch, resting on my ear while I sleep on my side. She is very warm to myself and my girlfriend, and fairly sociable to guests. She's not really a biter, but she has been known to put some pressure on unknown guests that move in too quickly. I will say however, that she seems to get jealous when I'm smooching my girlfriend.
The bird is like a dog! She loves to be tickled around her neck and beak area, even giving demanding shrieks if I don't wiggle my fingers while she is rubbing her head against them. She seems to respond well to basic commands like going 'potty' on paper towels I set out in strategic locations. She understands what 'treats' are, and she even puts herself in her cage or portable carrier (when at girlfriend's house) when I say 'bedtime'. She falls asleep while on her back in my hand. Her little head leaning to one side while I give her gentle 'tickles'.
She lets me know when she wants something, like when I'm getting water from the faucet. She lets out a specific type of whistle when she wants some, and waits while I fill my hand with a little water, then drinks from it. Lately, she has been flying to the top of the shower curtain while I shower and whistles for me to bring my hand up with water. She waits for a drop to form on the end of my fingers and tries to catch it before it drips off. So whenever I hear that certain whistle, I know she is wanting something and usually she is staring at it... like going outside to her tent I've setup on the patio.
So, here is the really cool part, and I'm not sure if this is normal. But, she won't fly away. We now regularly go outside for 'walks' on sunny days. She will fly to the trees to try to socialize with wild birds. She will fly around tree to tree, and has seem to caught the attention of a hummingbird who just hovers a few inches from her while she 'talks' to him. But, she always comes back on command, or if she gets bored. This actually started by accident when I didn't close the door all the way behind me and she flew out looking for me.
I'm kind of thinking of bringing in a second bird to keep her company once I return to work soon (recovering from knee injury) and I'm gone for extended hours. But, will this destory the bond we share?
I've shared my story, and I don't understand why some owners have issues with their birds. Did I just get lucky?
So, I am a new owner of a peach faced lovebird. I found my way here because I am trying to learn how to make her/him/it's life more comfortable. I think it's a 'she' so I'll just roll with that.
I have never owned a bird before, and when she was forced upon me as a gift, I was not very happy about it. I'm a truck driver (UPS), and am used to being alone after long days. However, being that I have compassion for the animal, I felt obligated to give her attention. After the initial meeting with the bird, and we were alone, I finally went over to the cage to say hi, and see if she wanted to come out. She seemed so shy and unsure of herself. When I placed my fingers out so she could step onto them, she did it with great hesitation, as if I were going to drop her or eat her.
So, here it is a few months later and we are inseperable! She follows me all over the house, and flys everywhere. She even takes naps with me on the couch, resting on my ear while I sleep on my side. She is very warm to myself and my girlfriend, and fairly sociable to guests. She's not really a biter, but she has been known to put some pressure on unknown guests that move in too quickly. I will say however, that she seems to get jealous when I'm smooching my girlfriend.
The bird is like a dog! She loves to be tickled around her neck and beak area, even giving demanding shrieks if I don't wiggle my fingers while she is rubbing her head against them. She seems to respond well to basic commands like going 'potty' on paper towels I set out in strategic locations. She understands what 'treats' are, and she even puts herself in her cage or portable carrier (when at girlfriend's house) when I say 'bedtime'. She falls asleep while on her back in my hand. Her little head leaning to one side while I give her gentle 'tickles'.
She lets me know when she wants something, like when I'm getting water from the faucet. She lets out a specific type of whistle when she wants some, and waits while I fill my hand with a little water, then drinks from it. Lately, she has been flying to the top of the shower curtain while I shower and whistles for me to bring my hand up with water. She waits for a drop to form on the end of my fingers and tries to catch it before it drips off. So whenever I hear that certain whistle, I know she is wanting something and usually she is staring at it... like going outside to her tent I've setup on the patio.
So, here is the really cool part, and I'm not sure if this is normal. But, she won't fly away. We now regularly go outside for 'walks' on sunny days. She will fly to the trees to try to socialize with wild birds. She will fly around tree to tree, and has seem to caught the attention of a hummingbird who just hovers a few inches from her while she 'talks' to him. But, she always comes back on command, or if she gets bored. This actually started by accident when I didn't close the door all the way behind me and she flew out looking for me.
I'm kind of thinking of bringing in a second bird to keep her company once I return to work soon (recovering from knee injury) and I'm gone for extended hours. But, will this destory the bond we share?
I've shared my story, and I don't understand why some owners have issues with their birds. Did I just get lucky?