Taming my new lovebird

[Tango's_Mom]

I brought home my new lovebird one week ago and am looking for advise on taming it. I have started spending alot of time in the room where I keep it talking to him, reading to him or even just watching tv. A few days ago I started working on sitting with my hand in the cage to get him used to my hand, but I don't seem to be having much success, it will let me get my hand within a few inches if I go very slowly, and let me hold it there for a minute or two as long as I stay very still, but even then it seems wary. It's a five month old, hand-raised bird.

So, I'm just wondering if you guys have any ideas to help me form a bond with this bird? This is my first bird and I'm worried that since I only have one bird, if it takes to long for him to bond with me that he'll start to get lonely and I don't want him to get depressed.

Thanks,

Jenna

[kimsbirds]

Welcome Jenna!

We're glad you found our forum..there's lots of great tips on training and care of lovebirds so you'll want to check out http://www.cottageworks.com/robinsnest/guide.htm to get started.

As for forming a bond with your new bird, all I can honestly suggest is PATIENCE!! Approach this very slowly, and let your bird set the pace. Never force him/her to do something (unless of course it's an emergency).
Spend as much time as you possibly can just talking, answering it's chirps and whistles and noises. Your bird needs to learn who you are, that it can trust you, that you're a part of it's flock now. Rushing him won't pay off and infact, it can set you back many weeks.
If you're in the same room and it's been birdie-proofed, you can leave the cage door open (provided your birdie has had it's wingies trimmed for safety) and see if he'll come out for a bit. He might just sit on top of the cage, he may fly a bit...but he needs to learn that you are present in his every day needs and adventures. Never force him to sit with you, don't chase him with a gloved hand, don't invade his cage space.
Soon enough, maybe weeks or maybe months, your birdie will come to you on it's own terms. Once birdie trusts you, step ups are the first lesson. He'll need to understand that when you give the command, he must sit on either your finger, or a perch that you offer. Treats can convince a lovie to take that last leap into a relationship with you, and sunflower or millet is always accepted.
Remember to take this v e r y s l o w l y and the rewards will be sooo worth it !!
Best of Luck
Kimmie

PS Always remember to get birdie a checkup by an avian vet in your area...diseases and infections can be very difficult to detect by sight alone. http://aav.org/vet-lookup/
This link will help you find a qualified vet in your area.

[linda040899]

Hi Jenna,
Picture yourself in a strange location where you don't know anything about anything or anyone. First reaction? Caution! This is pretty much how your new lovie feels right now. While you realize that you mean him no harm, it will take time before he realizes it! Like Kim said, a trust relationship takes time/patience and there are no shortcuts. Your lovebird has to feel comfortable and it has to be on his terms. Once you get the relationship you want, you will find it's worth its weight in gold! I know there are a several bird "experts" that claim you can tame your bird in a matter of 30 minutes. Trust those of us here that will tell you that it won't happen that quickly, at least not permanently.

Sounds like you are doing everything you should be doing. Keep up the good work! :)

[archer]

Hey there!

I bought a hand fed lovie and pretty much tamed... but when i got her home. it took me a while before I was able to hold her. Actually she was the one who decided it was time. She flew to my shoulders and went for a "ride". She was still shy but she was with me :)

So I guess... just let the lovie decide when it is best to bond. Just give 'em lots of care and food :D

[mandy]

With my Biscuit, I just took a gamble, opened the cage and let her roam my room. After a few minutes, i picked her up and put her back in her cage. Mind you, she was a hand raised bird. I think allowing her to explore the room will be beneficial for both of you. Good luck to your taming and watch those fingers!:lol

[Tango's_Mom]

the only concerns I have with letting Tango out of his cage to roam around are
1) There are certain spots, (under the couch for instance), that I can't block off, and I'm worried about him getting under there and deciding that he doesn't want to come out

2) That he's still pretty scared of me and eventually I will need to catch him to put him back and I'm afraid either I won't be able to catch him or if I do, it will scare him so that either he won't want to come out of his cage or he will end up even more scared of me.

What do you guys think, am I being paranoid or should I give it a try and see how it goes?

[Janie]

If there is one single spot where you don't want Tango to go.....that's where he'll go! :lol It's almost like they can read your mind and while you're thinking, "don't go there", yep that's where they'll go.

What about taking him into a dimly lit bathroom (mirrors and commode covered) and letting him interact with you there for about 15 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day? That method has been successful for many people and in a small space you can keep him safe while he's out. A good place to start working on the "step-up" command, too.

As Kim and Linda said, time and patience are the two things to remember. All three of my birds came to me tame but I did have to build the trust and that does take time. :)

[BarbieH]

Hi Jenna;

I'm not comfortable letting my lovies roam, even with their wings clipped. As you noticed, there are places around the house where a small bird can get into real trouble -- and they can do that very easily.

If you want to open the cage door to see if Tango will come out on her own, take the entire cage into a small room that you can make safe, like the bathroom. Close the toilet seat, make sure all cupboard doors are shut, and bring the light levels down so Tango can remain calm. Don't try to force her out, let her come on her own. Give yourself and Tango plenty of time, so you can get her back in the cage again once she comes out.

Best wishes, :)

[Tango's_Mom]

Ok so tomorrow's the big day, I get off work at noon, so I will take Tango to my newly birdy proofed bathroom and open the cage door to see if he feels like exploring, It's basement bathroom so he can't possibly reach the only window as his wings are clipped, the mirror is small and easily covered, the shower door is frosted glass so you can't see through it, the only cupboard is easily locked and all cleaning products are kept in the upstairs bathroom. If there is anything I seem to have forgotten please let me know, I've got a good long book, in case he would prefer that I appear to be ignoring him and all afternoon to give us plenty of time.

Now all I've got to worry about is finding something soft to sit on:p

[Janie]

Jenna,

Don't forget to put the lid down on the commode! :D

I hope it goes well but even if Tango is very shy a time or two, keep at it. Maybe 15 minutes each "bathroom" visit. :)

[Tango's_Mom]

Ok, so I made attempt number 1 today, I sat quietly and read near the cage while Tango decided if he felt like exploring, I sat for maybe 45 minutes since it took him about 20-25 minutes to figure out that the door was open. He wasn't willing to come out but he did sit in the open door way for quite a while watching me, hopefully his curiosity will get the better of him and he'll decide to try a little adventure, I bought some nutriberries to use as treats cause a few people I've talked to say they make great rewards, so I've got those on hand if he decides I'm not to scary to take treats from:p .

Thanks for all the advice guys and I'll keep you posted, also if anyone has any other tricks of the trade feel free to share them.

[Janie]

Jenna, Tango coming to the door is a big first step! :D I know that some will hop right out and onto a shoulder or finger but most are very, very shy (and scared) when they get to their new home. I'll bet you'll see progress every time, every day!

I don't know if Tango will accept nutriberries or any treat directly from your hand. My two hand fed lovies will eat anything from my hand but my tamest lovie will not. He isn't afraid of hands but other than a millet spray, he won't eat from mine. You might try putting a few nutriberries in a treat cup, on the floor right outside the cage. Speaking of millet spray.....that is another very good treat that Tango might go for.

Keep us posted.....:D

[kimsbirds]

YAYYYYYYYYYY Tango !!!
Sittin on that cage door IS big progress !! Each day you'll find Tango will venture just a bit further into the human world. Once he is used to your voice and your presence, taming will come so easily!! Patience is SOOO worth the payoff !!!
Kimmie

[Tango's_Mom]

Another day, another baby step,

Today was day 3 of birdie bathroom visits and today he actually ventured out of the cage!!! He didn't go very far from the door, just climbed on the front of the cage for a minute or two and then went back to sitting in the doorway.

Now the next challenge, tomorrow is the day when I do the weekly disinfecting of the cage, and I have to get him out of the cage, I put him in the carrier while I clean, last week i just reached in and pulled him out of the cage and put him in the carrier, but now that we're making progress I don't want to scare him and cause a setback. What do you guys suggest for getting him in the carrier with the least amount of stress?

Also do you think I should take him for a bathroom visit before or after cleaning, or jus forget it for tomorrow to limit his stress?

[graushill]

I'm not the best one to give advice on taming because none of my birds are really all that tame, and the ones that are, I think it's more due to their personality than to any of the things I've tried :). But I was thinking maybe you could lure him to his carrier cage by placing millet or some other treat he loves just inside the carrier and then leaving it in plain sight of his regular cage, with both doors open. It might take a little while, but most lovies can't resist millet :).

Hope this helps a little!

Gloria

[Tango's_Mom]

:rofl: YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!:rofl:
Tango made his first venture all the way out of the cage today, He didn't come to me and he didn't stay out long, but he was out, he ventured about a foot or two away from his cage, briefly, before fluttering back to the cage door.

:blush: :D YAAAAAYYYY!!!!!:D:blush:

[kimsbirds]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY TANGOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:happy: :rofl: :happy:

[BarbieH]

Way to go, Tango!!!! :happy: :happy: :happy:

[Tango's_Mom]

OK so today he came out right away when he saw that I had some millet to offer, He even ate a little bit with me holding onto the other end. I also gave him his first shower with the spritzer bottle today, seeing as he has been completely ignoring his bathing dish. At first he was a little scared of the bottle, but then he realized that it really felt pretty good and stayed in one spot, preening and ruffling his feathers.

[Tango's_Mom]

:happy: :D Wooohoooo!!!!!!!!:D :happy:
Huge progress today, for the last couple of days he has been willing to sit on my pantleg or in my hand if i cover it in a towel to eat some millet, but today he came out, did alot more exploring, including, climbing all over me, I was sitting on the floor while he was wandering around and he climbed up my pant leg, up the back of my shirt, hung out on the neck of my shirt at the back for a bit (that tickles ALOT) and then proceeded to climb my ponytail and perch on my head, which he apparently thought was great. Now I have to figure out how to teach him that there are better places to hang out than mom's hair, like my shoulder:p .

On the downside he is still afraid of my hands, he doesn't seem as bad but he still won't let me touch him, I afraid I made a bit of a mistake today in that respect, he was eating some millet of my towel covered hand and i was slowly approaching with my free hand, he seemed fine then he reached around with his beak and grabbed my finger, it didn't hurt but I pulled away out of reflex, I realize now that it was probably just a test bite, but it seems I failed the test:( the strange part is that if I hold even a tiny bit of millet in my fingers he'll eat it no problem, even if it mean rubbing his beak right up to my fingers, but if i offer it to him on the palm of my hand he will have nothing to do with it, I just can't figure him out.

[BarbieH]

Hooray Tango!!! And congratulations Jenna! :D

It's not too unusual for a bird that's just starting to get brave outside of its cage, to perch on its pet's (that's you) head. People with larger birds really have to be careful about that, as it could be a sign of dominance. With a young lovie though, and at this stage of your relationship, I'd say it's more about Tango trying to feel as safe as possible.

I went through the same thing when Gracie was learning her way around. She always wanted to perch up high. Eventually she found her way down to shoulder level.

If he keeps doing this after about a week, by that time he should be comfortable enough for you to help him get lower. When he does, make sure you reward him, either with cheerful praise or food. (Reward him when he does *anything* that you want him to repeat.)

Until then, wear hats. It'll help your hair stay cleaner. ;)

Great job!

[Ti & Me!]

YAY TANGO!! Wow Jenna you have made amazing progress I am doing the exact same thing with Ti Amo! He wasn’t as scared of coming out of his cage as Tango was but he’s still scared of me. HE slowly gets closer to me all the time. I haven’t tried giving Ti millet yet so I’m going to try that next! Keep up the great work guys!

[Tango's_Mom]

the last couple of days he seems to be going backwards, all he wants to do is sit on top of his cage, I'm pretty sure that he's not sick or anything since he acts completely normal in his cage. I'm wondering if it might be better to let him come out of the cage and sit on top in the room the cage is in, then pick himup from there and carry him to the bathroom and then let him roam without the cage as a distraction, the problem with that though is that he is still afraid of my hands and when he is out of the cage he is almost impossible to catch without towelling him and I don't want to scare him more. I'm not sure what I should do. What do you guys think?

[Janie]

Jenna, I think different days bring on different behavior sometimes and for no good reason. Doesn't necessarily means your training/taming is going backwards but that Tango just wants to do it his way right now.

Can you carry him into the bathroom while he's inside the cage, open the cage and after he comes out remove the cage, take it out of the bathroom so that it won't be a distraction? If you can carry the cage with him on top to the bathroom, fine, but if you have to towel him to get him from the top of the cage to the bathroom, I'd try the first suggestion. I know that there are times when a bird has to be toweled to be caught but I would avoid that if at all possible and especially while you're working on trust issues with Tango.

[Tango's_Mom]

Ok so luring him down off the cage with millet in the bathroom and then hiding the cage seemed to work really well, when the cage was gone he seemed to stay pretty close to me.

Now, here's the thing, he'll sit on pretty much any part of me as long as it's covered, my pants and shirt, and my hands and arms if I cover them with a towel or blanket (he's still a little iffy about the shoulder), but won't come anywhere near my bare skin, if he gets brave enough to approach it he usually just gives it a little nip, I don't think he's trying to bite, I think it's more of a test bite , and runs back to somewhere covered.

He also seems to be afraid of hands, he will eat millet from my hand if I'm grasping the spray with my fingers, even if it is just a tiny little peice, he doesn't seem to mind coming close to my fingers to get the millet when I hold the millet in my fingers, but he won't take it out of the palm of my hand nor will he let any hand that does not have millet in it anywhere near him, even if I hold my hand in the exact same position as if there was millet in it, any ideas why this is and also why he seems to be afraid of bare skin?

[Tango's_Mom]

Today, he spent quite a bit of time sitting on my shoulder, he also kept "beaking" my cheek and hair, it didn't hurt and he didn't seem to be trying to bite, even when he caught a bit of skin he didn't bite down hard (he had a really great chance to give me a lovie eyebrow peircing), he also seems a little less afraid of my hands, he doesn't shy away from them quite as much, and today he reached out and nibbled on them, he bit a little harder then when he was grabbing the skin on my cheek but nowhere near hard enough to break skin, I think it is just his way of figuring out what those things are, what do you guys think, is this a good thing or should I be trying to discourage it?

Also, once he is competely comfortable with me (it will be a while I know) how do I go from him wanting to be with me as long as his cage isn't around to wanting to be with me regardless, or is it something that just kind of happens?

[Kathryn]

Jenna, your patience is paying off. Tango and you have made wonderful progress.
It's an evolutionary process with the cage. That is Tango's sanctuary, security haven. He will always go back to it when he is tired of playing or needs some alone time.
Perhaps setting up a play gym in your room for Tango will give him opportunity to explore and play close to you when he is outside the cage .

[summoora]

I know this is a really old thread, but it is linked to in a sticky, and I wanted to add something:
With budgies (I'm assuming the same applies to lovebirds) when you millet train, after you have them eating from a pincer grasp (holding the millet like, say, a pencil), you start offering it in a flat palm. They will initially not be comfortable taking the millet this way, but it is to get them accustomed to the shape of your hand and to desensitize them to it. Your flat palm is about the size of the entire bird and can be quite intimidating. Millet training this way helps to take away that fear of the hand, so you can eventually do things like stepping up, head scratches, and hopefully holding the bird with as little stress as possible when wing clipping, administering meds, etc.