Does Rebel Hate Me?

[rigidneophyte]

Ok so It's been about a week and I've been going in two to three times a day and feeding and watering him, as well as talking in a low voice and even recently rubbing his nose, however no matter what my efforts are he still bites and squeals and runs even when I approach the cage! Im thinking giving up and taking him back to the pet shop and saving up for a breeder bought bird.

Any suggestions?

[Katy]

Don't give up on him! It'll take time, but he'll eventually realize that you're not going to hurt him and he'll become a cute little velcro birdie. Just keep doing what you're doing. Having a routine helps. He'll get used to the idea that you're not going to leave him alone or hurt him. Give him a chance. I bet it will come eventually :)

[rigidneophyte]

thats the other thing, on saturday i'm leaving for a week.

[bellarains]

I would hate to see Rebel go back to the petshop. It is your choice of course, but one week is really not that long for a bird to adapt, especially one that has not been handled on a consistant basis.

I have never heard of a bird that did not respond in time, to the love and care that was provided. The one thing you might do is try to find another lovebird who is hand tamed, and this might help Rebel see that you are one to be trusted. If you want them together, you will need another mask, or another male(if Rebel is for sure a male) so that they can not reproduce if you get a another mutation. Just be prepared, as there is no guarantee that two birds will accept each other, and of course you have quarantine to observe, and also an introduction time period, which can take up to 6 months or more. Some accept each other fairly quickly, others take longer, and some never do. Slow introduction is key though.

I don't know if this was something you were thinking of, but it might be a solution to a couple of things. One, you keep Rebel. Two, you get a hand tamed lovie. Three, Rebel will learn to trust you, and four, well, you get two babies(always good), and they have each other(also good):)

Good luck on your decision. Rebel is a gorgeous mask, and even though he's not a snuggle bird, I'm sure he has alot of love to give. In time, he will come around. It took me about 6 months to get Lacey hand tamed, and now, no one could pay me enough to take her away. She's my Lacey LuLu angel:D

[rigidneophyte]

but what about leaving for a week? if i decide to keep him, won't that just prolong the time to tame him. actually i've thought about it, I think i should return him, it seems that maskes aren't cuddle birds, like what I wanted.


Nvm, I can't find the recipt... i'm stuck with him, but Its a good thing, I do love that bird..

[Janie]

The best book I have on lovebirds is "The Lovebird Handbook" by Vera Appleyard. I read there and have read here many, many times that it can take up to six months to tame a lovie. I assumed you'd read enough around the board to see the advice that is given over and over. It takes time and a week is practically no time at all. Yes, if you make any progress before you turn around and leave for a week, you probably will have to start over again. Isn't it worth that to you? Did someone in the store tell you that you've have a snugly bird immediately? Did you do any research or talk to others with lovebirds before you bought Rebel?

All three of my birds came to me as tame as could be and it still took several weeks to a couple of months to earn their trust. You get back what you put into it.

[Rubygem]

I can't help but to think about the people that go through basic training...if they only gave it a week, we would never have anyone in the military.. :lol: And if someone were to go to a new place with nothing familiar, how quickly would they be to trust everything around them....hmmmm something to think about IMO. How can someone expect a small animal to trust a complete stranger in just a few days? Even when my handfed babies go home to a new home, I'm sure it takes a little time for them to get use to the new surroundings....I'm glad I breed from the home, and everyone has to make an appointment to come see the babies, because of it being an extra effort, most do not buy on impulse, which means that they get to go to homes that can't just change there minds because the new owners don't have patience.

Even though I'm still waiting for Olivia to show back up on my door step:omg: :D

Jeanette

[LauraO]

I in NO WAY think Rebel hates you. The pics you posted showed that he will get close to you and the fact that he let's you touch his beak is BIG as well. Birds are wild animals and it takes tons of time and patience to build trust. My first lovie, Zimber is now six years old. He was a petstore bird and the wildest thing you could imagine. He not only hated hands, he was deathly scared of humans in general. All we had to do is twitch and he would divebomb off curtain rods, shelves, his cage, the television. He wasn't flighted during these plummets and would fall hard to the ground and run all over the place. It was a slow arduous process but today I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT imagine our life without Zimber. He still hates hands, but he is the kindest most gentle lovie we have. He is stick trained so will step up on a dowel to get moved/play. He is also fully flighted and spends most of his time, since becoming a widower, on my husband, me and my brother in law clammering for love and to play.

Leaving for a week will, of course, set you and Rebel back a bit, but remember a well cared for lovie can live 15+ years. What's a week in that time frame? Just when I was starting to build a relationship with my Zimber, I left for 3 weeks. When I first came back we had a set back, but in the scope of six years and several trips away from him it's not done a lot. I would just make sure that you have someone to care for his daily needs and talk to him if possible.

It's become obvious that my feelings are once you bring a pet into your home, it's your responsibility to make it a happy member of your family no matter what. You chose to bring that cute little cuddly thing into your life, and just cause your feeling discourage doesn't give you the right to throw that little guy away. There is also no guarantee that another lovie will be any better even from a breeder.

You are several yards ahead with Rebel than I was with my Zimber. Just give it time and you will reap rewards you never thought possible:D .

[butterfly1061]

Even though I'm still waiting for Olivia to show back up on my door step:omg: :D
Nope, she's staying with me. She'd miss her momma and her Daisy too. This is one little biter who's stayin' put cause she's my girl :D

[rigidneophyte]

I was under the impression that after a week i would notice a diffrence, and I didn't plus his attitude today was disturbing, before I left for one night I could rub his beak to the point he would almost fall asleep, bending his head down and everything, and today he won't let me near him.

I also figured it would be cruel to leave him for a whole week when its so early in the taming process.

[BarbieH]

Remember that birds are wild animals at heart. They are not domesticated. Their trust may seem to come and go, especially in the early stages of your relationship; but they are still building up that trust. It does take time.

Where would you be leaving your bird for that week? Who would be taking care of him while you are gone? We had to leave our Gracie-bird for about 10 days shortly after we adopted her, and we got a very nice welcome back when we returned. :) She showed that she recognized us.

You also seem to have a lot of expectations for this little Rebel's behavior. Try to put them aside, and instead accept Rebel for what she is. :):)

Not all birds are velcro birds. They each have their own personalities. I think you have come a long way, but in a week's time you may not be able to see it. After a couple of months, look back and see how things are compared to how they used to be.

Best wishes

[Tango's_Mom]

1 week is NOT alot of time for a new bird to adjust to his surroundings, Tango was a hand fed petstore bird and he was not comfortable with me at all in the first week, I have now had him for almost 2 months and now he is very happy to sit on me, take treats from my hand and he is now very slowly accepting me petting him, he still does not allow me to pick him up and will not sit in my hand but we're getting there, he also started a biting phase a couple weeks ago and I am slowly learning how to avoid bites and keep him happy, he now willingly comes to me from his cage and will sit with me for ages, but it has to be on his terms, soon I will start dowel training and I'm sure that will help as well, I honestly think your giving up to soon, I don't mean to sound harsh but YOU are responsible for your pets, so you had better be in for the long haul, and if your willing to give up after just 1 week because it's not going exactly as you imagined, well then frankly, it doesn't sound like you are ready for the commitment that a owning a pet requires.

Again, sorry if I sound harsh but I have seen too many pets end up neglected or abandoned because they were no longer convienient.

[LauraO]

I was under the impression that after a week i would notice a diffrence, and I didn't plus his attitude today was disturbing, before I left for one night I could rub his beak to the point he would almost fall asleep, bending his head down and everything, and today he won't let me near him, which in turn will make your work with him more successful and rewarding.

I also figured it would be cruel to leave him for a whole week when its so early in the taming process.

It's also important to realize that birds have moods. They are not like dogs and enjoy a petting any time us humans want to give one out. I can't even go up and pet/pick-up/play with my tamest birds whenever I feel like it. They also have to be in the mood. Actually, yesterday my CAG was sitting with my husband and he said "Mijo won't let me pet him." and I said "so, he doesn't want to be petted." My husband replied by saying, "well he let's you pet him," and my reply to that was, "not when he doesn't want to be petted I can't":x :x. You got to get to know Rebel and his moods, which is all part of the process. The more time you spend with him and you guys to get know each other the more each of you will understand what the other does and doesn't want.

I am sorry someone gave you the impression that birds can be friendly and tamed down in a week. That is incorrect! Rebel is a sweet thing and if you keep at it, you will see he/she is a great bird.

[sdgilley]

Hi,
Changes in behavior like that can also be from changes in sleep. When I first got Peter (my green mask) I didn't let him get enough sleep. They need a good 10 hours or so of sleep. I put mine to bed at 9pm and get them up by 7am. It made a HUGE difference in Peter's attitude. BarbieH was the one that clued me in on that wisdom! I'll never forget it. I put my birds in my bedroom and cover them up. If I'm watching TV, I do it quietly. If I have to talk to someone, I leave the room.

Good luck. My Peter is the funniest clown and I wouldn't trade him for anything. I have a cuddly bird, too, but Peter is still my first very special bird. I hope Rebel can be that for you - give him time.

[linda040899]

Again, sorry if I sound harsh but I have seen too many pets end up neglected or abandoned because they were no longer convienient.
Very true statement, Jenna!
I have 5 larger parrots that live with me and I have to accept each one for who/what they are. Three of them absolutely love to cuddle (on their terms) and 2 don't like to be touched at all or no more than necessary. Ginger, my CAG, is very social/loves to interact. She will go into her cage on command but will not step up. Georgia, my female Military Macaw, would like nothing better than to see me in a pile of small pieces on the floor (most of the time). When she's feeling social, she's really very charming!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that each bird is different and you have to get to know your own bird, expectations put aside. Rebel can turn out to be a wonderful companion, but you have to give him a chance. :)

[Lindades264]

Hello,

I have read all the correspondence up to this point and agree with everyone. I hope you keep Rebel. Lovebirds have their own personalities. You need to get to know Rebel and Rebel needs to get to know you. This takes time. I think the Lovebird Handbook as mentioned by Janie is a must have. I also have read this over and over. All the info is on the authors webpage parrotparrot.com. I had my first bird 2 years before I found the book and boy do I understand him far better, I have actually been able to train him since I have bought the book and referred to the website countless times. To be honest, I do not think I understood his intellect before. Therefore I could not respect this. I am certain that the two of you will bond, maybe not in a snuggly way, but you will bond. As mentioned above, birds are wild at heart. They are very social, and need alot of stimulation. You may be forcing yourself on Rebel. Maybe slow down a bit. Rebel is young, you will have him for many years to come. Trust takes time. You will be rewarded if you stick it out. Best of luck. Keep us posted.

P.S. I do not think the vacation will matter at all in the long run.

[rigidneophyte]

I don't mean to sound harsh but YOU are responsible for your pets, so you had better be in for the long haul, and if your willing to give up after just 1 week because it's not going exactly as you imagined, well then frankly, it doesn't sound like you are ready for the commitment that a owning a pet requires.

Again, sorry if I sound harsh but I have seen too many pets end up neglected or abandoned because they were no longer convienient.


i actually was worried that i wouldn't be the right owner, thats why i was going to return him, but i do have the time and patience, i just didn't know how much he needed at the time and it worried me.

[LauraO]

i actually was worried that i wouldn't be the right owner, thats why i was going to return him, but i do have the time and patience, i just didn't know how much he needed at the time and it worried me.


This is a very valid concern as there are more misconceptions about lovies than truths for most first time owners, and even seasoned owners for that matter. Please keep us updated on your work with Rebel. We love to hear about your progress, but also concerns, questions and thoughts :D .