My Lovebirds taming a little backwards?

[Alexander]

I've been trying to encourage my lovebird to step onto my hand with some millet, but it usually eats up to the point where it can see my hand, than wanders off to eat some of its regular seed.

However, after talking with one of the assistants at our vet, I picked up the lovebird (after much yelling and hopping around on its part, I might add) and began to cradle it in my hands. Of course, it made its scared crying sound for a few minutes while I tried to calm it, before it went silent. Holding it in one hand, I had it snuggled against my chest (It was sitting in my hand, not being "held" there, with its beak nestled against my fingers.)

Now, I know the bird was happy being snuggled (it actually started beak grinding in my hand, which was quite reassuring for me, atleast), it even let me touch my cheek and nose to its back. But, when I raised my free hand to stroke and preen its feathers, I could feel it tense up, and it even flinched when I started touching it with my hand. (It however didn't flinch when I touched it to my cheek/nose) :confused:

Long story short, anyone with experience in taming know why my lovebird hates fingers, but has no problem with faces or being held? **

** Its also fair to mention that my lovebird has never done anything more nibble on me, which leads me to believe that its not a biter by nature.

[goldnyght]

well....Pete doesn't like individual fingers (I can't do "step up" with only one finger), but he doesn't mind two or more fingers together... I have no idea why though so I don't think I'm much help :X

[bellarains]

It sounds like everything is going well. While they accept a snuggle next to the heart/chest, and even faces seem to be acceptable, hands take a little time for some.

I think they see our hands/fingers as possibly big talons. Imagine a big talon coming at you, and that may be how your lovie feels. Once you learned the thing attached to that talon only wants to love and care for you, you would start to trust it, and hopefully so will your lovie. The key is to let your lovie accept your hands on his/her terms. Offer a finger to step up, or sometimes a closed hand offered to step up on works well too. If s/he doesn't accept it, offer your forearm. If that is not acceptable, offer a spare perch to step onto. Offer the finger first, then the closed hand, then the forearm, and all failing, offer the perch. This way, whatever method s/he chooses, it was his/her choice;)

If your lovies is accepting snuggling, I'm sure it won't take long for him/her to start trusting you, and then you guys can work on step ups, and step downs. It does make the in and out of the cage process much easier:)

Good luck, and don't get discouraged. It really does sound like you are making wonderful progress.