How to make certain parts of the room off limits?

[eselimos817]

Hello forum members. My lovebird Sam lives in a nicely sized (considering my college student budget) cage, and she enjoys coming out, hanging out with me, et cetera. But there are certain places she likes to go that I wish she wouldn't. I don't know how to deal with this, because the step up command isn't quite there yet, and i can't pick her up or force her, because then i'll lose all the trust i've tried to build. How do I teach her that certain areas and things are off limits?

Also, I'll be moving back to my college town in about a month, and I'm of course taking my baby with me, so what should I do about that? I have a travel cage for her, but it's a 5 hour car ride, and I'll spend the first week unpacking and setting my room up. How do I make the move the least stressful it can be? Thank you!

[akki]

When you get a child, you child-proof your house, and when you get a bird - yes you guessed that right - you bird-proof your house :D There is no way of teaching them where not to go, because they will be attracted to it the most. Lovebirds are really like kids in that sense :). What you can try is giving them a place that they will like MORE than the place you don't want her to go. Hide the stuff that you don't want her to destroy. Maybe a wooden playtop with some toys (foraging or chewing) would be a good idea? You can even make it yourself if you know your way around tools, it will save you a lot. Lovebirds LOVE toys and play.

[akki]

You are also very right about not grabbing her - it will destroy the trust. Try to teach her to step up, and teach her a couple of new tricks as well. She will be busy getting attention from you, and won't spend too much time demolishing your room.

[Maxie]

Akki is so right about bird proofing your house. Not only for the things you don't want them to destroy but most importantly for their safety.

I've had Max for a year and a half now and I can't begin to tell you how many things I've changed around my house for his safety. From almost all the picture frames in the house (all of which he chewed...lol) to changing all the nails holding those pics. Now that they've all been changed, he has no interest in the, anymore...lol. As for making her stop going to places you don't want her to go....good luck with that! Definitely don't manhandle her...just try to distract her with something else.

Your move will probably stress her out, especially now that she's getting used to her new home. I would stay as close as possible to her, talk to her and interact with her so that she feels safe knowing you're there. Akki moved her birds from the Netherlands! I'm sure she can give you some great advice!

[Bubblelady]

My lovebirds have always traveled with me in the car. The furthest I've driven with a lovie is about 2 1/2 hours (frequently) but the furthest I have driven with a bird (budgie) is 1700 miles...4 days. Just be sure the cage is in a safe place. I strap the cage in the back seat for fear of airbag deployment should the be an accident. I carry on conversations with them, make sure the sun isn't beating down on them, etc. The only thing that has seemed to bother any of my birds is my current GCC. She got a little car sick on her first few trips but did out grow that. The vet told me not to feed her too much before a car trip. High liquid fruit like grapes help them stay hydrated. Gussie also gets agitated if we are driving at dusk, when car lights are just coming on. Once it is fully dark she is OK. I just cover her if we are driving at dusk. Some of my birds have enjoyed looking out the car windows. Others seem to prefer having all but the front of the cage covered. They all do have their likes and dislikes. Good luck with your move...I HATE the moving process but love the adventure of change...:happy:

[akki]

We took the plane and birds were travelling in the animal room, with lights dimmed and temperature controlled, so Juju was happily singing when I picked them up from the cargo department once we were in Montreal :D I had a small cage with me that they were well familiar with in my luggage, I just set that up, with a couple of their favourite toys and their familiar food and they were good to go - no jetlag either :D. They were also very familiar with their travel cage, so the stress was really minimal - I was freaking out more than they did.

When in the car, I always strap the cage and put it on the side of the car where the shadow will fall. No direct sunlight is very important, so they are on the passenger's seat only if there is no sun. They have a proper travel cage, with little of see-through, but they hate that - I just use a regular small cage (that I have for sleepovers or trips to the vet). Make sure the radio is on, they like that. Have easy foods in the cage (like millet or some seeds), to make her trip more enjoyable and make sure there is always water in her bowl. If she has her favourite tent or a snuggle sack, you can add it too to the cage, but strap the tent to the sides of the cage as well that it doesn't swing too much. Make at least one stop to check her out how she is doing, but I really really advice you against taking her out of the cage. She might be freaking out and might fly into the window and break her neck, or escape if the windows are open. Once arrived, set up her cage right away, with the toys that she knows and the food she is familiar with and likes the most and put it in the part of the room with the least traffic, like a furthest corner. Respect her night rest, especially the first night, use a cage cover and maybe a thin fleece blanket, they absorb the sounds pretty good. Don't pack up her stuff in the boxes, but have it at hand in the car, it will make your life much easier when you are moving in.

Once she is in her cage that she is familiar with, with her toys and snacks, she should be fine. A tent is a good idea as well, she can hide there if there is too much traffic in the room with the people and boxes and stuff.