Help with my New Lovebird Couple

[Akapandaman]

Hi everybody. I am new here, so I am trying my best to follow your rules. I just wanted some advice on taming two peach-faced I just bought. These are my first birds (besides an African Gray when I was 8 years younger). I bought them from the pet store about a week ago, and I assume they had just about no human contact. They said they were about 7 or 8 months old. I also assume they are a couple (they cuddle every night).

So far they are still skittish with me. When my hand goes into the cage, they freak out and squeak. I can stand right next to the cage, and they will eat although they will look up quickly at me between bites (they are still scared). They won't take millet from my hand yet because they freak out when I put my hand in. They are also fully flighted.

Being new I am not quite sure how i should approach taming these guys. I am scared that maybe I never will tame them because they will bond with each other. I have heard many sad stories about not being able to :( . Any advice on how to get them hand tame will be wonderful. I truly looking forward to hopefully being close with these guys.

Thank you all! :)

[linda040899]

Hi and welcome to Lovebirds Plus Community! Congratulations on your 2 new lovebirds!

It's very normal for lovebirds to be afraid and skiddish when they go to a new home. They are in a whole new environment and they have no experience with it. Birds learn by experience so it will take time for them to learn that you don't intend to make them your next meal. You know you mean them no harm but they will have to learn that. Think of how you feel when you are in a strange place and don't know anyone. That's how they feel.

The best thing you can do right now is just be around them. Talk to them. Sit near them while you eat. Lovebirds are very social and they will most likely begin to eat while you do once they are more comfortable. When you have to put your hands in their cage, do it slowly and do just what you need to do. They will calm down but it could take a while. Remember, the cage is their home and your hand is an intruder!

One of our members, Z28taxman, got 3 parent raised lovebirds from me earlier this year. They are definitely coming around and are not afraid of him but it took time. :)

[Akapandaman]

I appreciate the reply, and I will have to definitely be around them more to make them comfortable. At what point would I start trying to let the come to me? Also do you think I will have problems taming them since they are a couple? Do you have any suggestions in terms of food mixes for them? All I have near me is a pet smart.

Thank you again :)

[linda040899]

If you are near them, you will find that that they will come over to you to interact with you. I would let them do that. There really is no time frame, as each bird is individual. Be aware of clothing color, bright nail polish and even bright lipstick. Birds are not color blind and will be afraid of certain colors. High on that list is red and bright pink. They need to accept you into their flock of 2 and they will do that once they feel safe with you.

Is it harder with 2? Yes and no. Lovebirds tend to be monkey see, monkey do. If one feels comfortable with you, it should be positive reinforcement for the second one. They will always be bonded to each other but as long as you pay attention to them, you will be included in their flock.

As far as food, try and find a Cockatiel seed mix that doesn't have too many pellets in it and you want one with sunflower seed. Lovebirds are native to Africa and African species of parrot have a higher dietary fat requirement. Pellets are traditionally low fat so I limit the amount to less than 20%. Nutriberries and Avi-Cakes are good food choices.

[Akapandaman]

That is everything I think I need to know. Thank you so much for all of the information. I appreciate it !

[linda040899]

We are always here if you need more information! Good luck!

[Pips mom]

I know its very hard with some lovies! I remember what it was like just starting out with birds and wondering if they would ever become trusting and tame. It can take a long time with some, and remember, birds are not domesticated pets like cats and dogs. They live by the rules of the wild! that means they are very protective! They may never be hand tame. My Pip does not like hands at all, but he's still very tame otherwise. Lovebirds are very stubborn also. They want what they want and they don't forget! I always believe in wing clips in the beginning to keep them safe and also to calm them down. The problem is that when you take them somewhere to be clipped, they always clip too many feathers and take away the flight, which you never want to do! If you only clip about 4 flight feathers, it will be enough just to make flying harder and slow them down a bit. That is what you want! The feathers grow out pretty quick with lovies, probably in about 5 or 6 months, the clipped feathers will be gone and replaced with new ones. Lovebirds love to have fun though.......lots of fun looking toys, like swings, and things to chew up and destroy. Mine is a huge fan of the boings.......long, winding, bouncy, rope perch kinda thing. Also they are very curious birds and its usually easy to get their attention with something they like! Good luck with your two!

[Mahad]

Hello i just joined this forum and i recently bought my first birds, there a lovebird couple( because they kiss and cuddle when sleeping and most of the time the male is on bodyguard duty). So there VERY scared of me and anyone else, its understandable there scared of a loud crazy toddler(my brother) but why are they scared of me, i try to make friends, show them youtube videos(makes them a little happy) and i fill there little food box near them so they can know im not a threat. When i bring my finger near both of them jump to somewhere i cant come near of, and they never come near my had to eat food. one time i took there food box when they looked hungry, and i tried to hold it in my hand and hoped they would eat something technically from my hand, but the female looked at me, slightly moved towards the food, but then my brother came screaming. and the. male said something so she jumped to the untouchable zone, and after an hour of slow progress i bought the box 2 inches near her, at which point the male suddenly went supersonic. Im not really that big either, like only a 14 year old. my cousins ringneck lets me pet him, but i meet him extremely rarely.how do i make progress? the male is very scared and the female less so, how do i make any progress, they wont let me come 2 inches near them. Also i saw both of them combining efforts to bite a specific part of there cage many times, along with other parts, they've started to make small bends, how to i show im no threat if they don't give me a chance, does anyone know what i should do?

[linda040899]

Hi and welcome to Lovebirds Plus Community and to the world of being a slave to feathered kids! :)

Let me begin by saying that parrots (lovebirds are parrots) learn trust by experience. You know you won't hurt them but they don't know that. It takes time for them to learn that you don't intend to make them your next meal! In the wild, birds are prey animals. There are some predator birds but most are herbivores rather than carnivores. If they feel threatened, they flee what they perceive to be the danger. In captivity, fleeing is not an option but they go as far away as they can. Many will bite as a last resort to prevent injury. Put yourself in their position. How do you feel when you are in a completely strange new place and you don't know anyone? My first reaction is caution and fear until I become familiar with my surroundings.

You didn't say how long you have had your pair of lovebirds but you have to earn their trust with love, kindness and patience. Patience is the most important thing. When you give them food and water, just do what you have to do and remove your hand from their cage. Your hand is an intruder into their home and the cage is their home. Talk to them. Sit by their cage and let them get used to you without feeling threatened. Try eating a meal next to their cage. Lovebirds are naturally curious and they will eventually come over to see what you are doing. You may find that they will also eat while you are eating.

Take things slowly with no expectations. Not all parrots want to cuddle/snuggle with their slaves. Human hands can be seen as evil and, as responsible pet owners, we need to respect that. Birds are not as domesticated as cats and dogs. They retain wild instincts and understanding that goes a long way to earning the trust relationship that we all want.

Hope this is helpful.

[Mahad]

Hi and welcome to Lovebirds Plus Community and to the world of being a slave to feathered kids! :)

Let me begin by saying that parrots (lovebirds are parrots) learn trust by experience. You know you won't hurt them but they don't know that. It takes time for them to learn that you don't intend to make them your next meal! In the wild, birds are prey animals. There are some predator birds but most are herbivores rather than carnivores. If they feel threatened, they flee what they perceive to be the danger. In captivity, fleeing is not an option but they go as far away as they can. Many will bite as a last resort to prevent injury. Put yourself in their position. How do you feel when you are in a completely strange new place and you don't know anyone? My first reaction is caution and fear until I become familiar with my surroundings.

You didn't say how long you have had your pair of lovebirds but you have to earn their trust with love, kindness and patience. Patience is the most important thing. When you give them food and water, just do what you have to do and remove your hand from their cage. Your hand is an intruder into their home and the cage is their home. Talk to them. Sit by their cage and let them get used to you without feeling threatened. Try eating a meal next to their cage. Lovebirds are naturally curious and they will eventually come over to see what you are doing. You may find that they will also eat while you are eating.

Take things slowly with no expectations. Not all parrots want to cuddle/snuggle with their slaves. Human hands can be seen as evil and, as responsible pet owners, we need to respect that. Birds are not as domesticated as cats and dogs. They retain wild instincts and understanding that goes a long way to earning the trust relationship that we all want.

Hope this is helpful.


Thank you, know i know what to do, i should let them mind there own business for now right? They used to hang out in the house, but about a week ago i moved them to the balcony so they can see the plants and sky and also me when i roam around. I have had them for i think a month now, and till now they will run into there little pot that i put in for them to sleep in and breed and just sit in. they are still scared, but i try to talk to them every once in a while, but when they see me move a little closer to the pot, they tumble into there little house. I occasionally show them things like paper, and clothing pins, and devices, and i think they seem intrigued by the way they look at the things, but i feel like i’ve made a little progress because sometimes they don’t run away and just stare at me or my finger. how long will it take before they stop tumbling away into hiding when i come near?

[linda040899]

It's hard to say just how long it will take with this pair, as each bird is different. I think I would try to spend a lot of time near where they are so they can learn that you mean them no harm. In the wild, birds just fly away from what they think is dangerous. In captivity, they hide so they feel safe. The more you are around them, the more they will feel comfortable with you being there. If you want to try to bribe them with food, millet is fantastic for that. You can hold it in your fingers and just let them come to you for it.

Patience, patience, patience. When you think you've run out of patience, look deeper for more!

[michael]

I'd just like to add here, that things like paper being shuffled about (which sounds like feathers flapping), devices being sounded off (which can be alarming to any parrot), as well the color of your clothing, can be in of itself the cause of your lovebird couple avoiding you. Patience is key here, as well learning how to talk to them. Something I highly encourage.