A few questions

[Kenny536]

My male peachface, when I let him out of it's cage, he will go directly in to the plant pot and eat the soil, is this normal? Should I stop him? He only eats the seeds from his bird food, usually nothing else.

Also I've noticed he scratches himself a lot with his beak and feet, is there anything I can do to help him?

I am also concerned about his mental health, he is stuck in his cage a lot with no companions, and since he is a smart bird, I think he needs some toys, the problem is, I just don't know what to get him.

[Keltoth]

My male peachface, when I let him out of it's cage, he will go directly in to the plant pot and eat the soil, is this normal? Should I stop him? He only eats the seeds from his bird food, usually nothing else.

Yes, that is normal. Yes, you should DEFINATELY stop him form doing it, as you have no idea whet kinds of chemical fertilizers and other things harmful to your lovebird may be in the potted soil.

I have read that lovebirds in the wild, if their bodies are low on sodium and other minerals due to drought conditions and other things that contribute to mineral deficiency, will sometimes eat soil in an effort to curb their salt/mineral cravings. If your lovie is on a seed-only diet, I would suggest maybe getting him a mineral block right away so he can start on that, and then start intoducing him to green vegatables like broccoli, spinach leaves, kale, etc. He might not eat a whole lot at first, but I promise you: keep offerning him a small amount daily, and pretty soon he will start testing and then eating them.


Also I've noticed he scratches himself a lot with his beak and feet, is there anything I can do to help him?

This sounds like normal lovebird behavior. Without being able to see what you see, it impossible to state if it is out of the ordinary or not, and in any case none of us on the boards here are certified avian vets. If his scratching seems to be causing him discomfort, the best thing for him and for your own peace of mind would be to have him seen by a certified avian vet in your area.


I am also concerned about his mental health, he is stuck in his cage a lot with no companions, and since he is a smart bird, I think he needs some toys, the problem is, I just don't know what to get him.

Lovebirds DEFINATELY need toys - and don't be upset or discouraged if/when he destroys his toys! That's what lovebirds do - they tear things apart, and the surest sign that you have a toy that your lovebird loves is one that is ripped apart in short order.

Parrot Pinatas are a great first toy for lovebirds. They are made from palm fronds and otehr very shreddable materials that lovebirds really enjoy chewing through, Toys with dangling leather stips are also very popular, as the birds love climbing about in them. Stay away from toys that have bells with clappers in them; they are widely known as a catching hazard and many lovebird have lost toes, parts of beaks and THEIR VERY LIVES from playing with these bells. Additionally, the clapper can be seperated very easily from the bell and the bird can ingest it. Since many of these clappers are made from zinc and tend to stay in teh bird's stomach for long, LONG periods of time, that can lead to zinc poisoning in lovebirds - a particularly nasty way for a lovebird to die.

Hope this was of help! Please let us know how things are going with your bird, and make sure he stays out of that plant soil!

- Eric

[Z28Taxman]

Another note on eating soil. Damp dark soil is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, many of which can be quite nasty and make your bird quite sick. I'd definately take Eric's advice about keeping him from doing it.

[Kenny536]

Thanks, I will tell my brother to keep him away from the soil, and when I come home from college this Friday, I will definitely go to Petco or Petsmart and find him some toys, that is the best place to go for them right? Those are the only places I know. Will they also have these "mineral blocks" at Petco/Petsmart?

Thanks for the help so far.

[Janie]

Petco and Petsmart are both fine when looking for bird toys. Be sure that you inspect every toy before you buy it. Toys with bells and clackers can be dangerous if they aren't attached properly. I usually remove bells and clackers before I hang them for my birds. If you live in an area that has bird fairs, that is a great place to find toys and the price is always less than a retail pet store. We have about 6 bird fairs a year in my area and I buy 90% of my birds toys there. I also have one great bird/fish specialty store and occasionally buy toys there but they are 30 to 50 percent higher than the same toy at a bird fair. Another good place to find toys is from http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ You will have to pay shipping but their toys are usually on sale and I have ordered a few things from them. They also carry a good variety of perches, seeds, etc.

You will find mineral blocks at Petsmart/Petco. None of my birds like those but all three (mine are all three males) love cuttlebone and both stores carry that, too.

[Keltoth]

Thanks, I will tell my brother to keep him away from the soil, and when I come home from college this Friday, I will definitely go to Petco or Petsmart and find him some toys, that is the best place to go for them right? Those are the only places I know. Will they also have these "mineral blocks" at Petco/Petsmart?

Thanks for the help so far.

Yup, I buy my mineral blocks at the local PetSmart store, and all my birds make use of them, to the point that if I have neglected to buy new ones for a couple weeks past when the old, chewed-down ones are taken out, some of my bird will run back and forth along where they know I install the mineral blocks, screaming at me to put it in their cage. :rofl:

The one that I use for my birds is called "Beak Block", and each block has Calcium, Phosphorus, Salt, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Vitamin B12, Vitamin c, Niacin, Panthothenic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin E (all in different quantities, of course).

You can see what the package looks like at this link (http://www.hagen.com/usa/birds/product.cfm?CAT=8&SUBCAT=803&PROD_ID=08821860020101). The websites says it is "for parakeets, canaries, and finches", but I have used it with great sucess for a couple years now.

- Eric

[Kenny536]

Okay, thanks, I will definitely go to Petco and get him a mineral block and some toys when I come home from college this weekend.

My bird is so funny, he will randomly start dancing in his cage (most likely because he needs toys), and sometimes I will stare at it for like a minute and wink at it, and he will start winking back. He has started going on my finger now also, but he is sometimes hesitant, and when he does go on my finger, he is not comfortable there, and almost immediately goes on my shoulder.

Also, this may sound like a stupid question, but my bird is pretty tame and goes on my shoulder whenever he feels like it, is it possible to go outside, like say to check the mail, with him on my shoulder? I know it is risky, but I just want to know if there are particular situations where people have tamed them so well that they can call them at will and go outside with them.

[Keltoth]

My bird is so funny, he will randomly start dancing in his cage (most likely because he needs toys), and sometimes I will stare at it for like a minute and wink at it, and he will start winking back. He has started going on my finger now also, but he is sometimes hesitant, and when he does go on my finger, he is not comfortable there, and almost immediately goes on my shoulder.

Have you tried offering your bird the flat of your hand, rahter than your finger? I ask because one of my lovebirds just does not like fingers at all, and yet she will come to me and stay EVERY time if I offer her my hand, palm side up.

Some parrots (not just lovebirds) just do not like fingers. Since your bird is readily heading to your shoulder, I suspect that he might find your palm more acceptable than your finger, Try it out for a few days, and let us know how it goes...


Also, this may sound like a stupid question, but my bird is pretty tame and goes on my shoulder whenever he feels like it, is it possible to go outside, like say to check the mail, with him on my shoulder? I know it is risky, but I just want to know if there are particular situations where people have tamed them so well that they can call them at will and go outside with them.

I am assuming you live someplace in the world OTHER than New Zealand. If this is true, please: Never, NEVER take your Lovebird outside on your shoulder, clipped or not! There are birds of prey that have no problem taking a little lovie off your shoulder for a nice midday snack - let alone a bird who has become startled and jumped off your shoulder for whatever reason. If you think I am joking, I assure you that I am not. I've had a hawk try to fly through my aviary window to snag one of my singing lovebirds; they are VERY bold predators - to say nothing of neighborhood cats who would pounce on a startled, clipped lovebird and be gone faster than you could react.

Lovebirds on the shoulder outside the home is just a recipe for disaster; it's just not the risk to your friend. If you want to take your lovie outside, take him out in a cage.

- Eric

[snowboardmandy]

Eric,

As one who previously lived in NZ for four months, why is that relevant when considering taking a bird outside???


OH WAIT is it because they have no predators?

[Keltoth]

Yup, I've been told that New Zealand has no native raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons), and I believe they have no native ground-predators as well. In fact, New Zealand is home to the largest parrot species, which also happens to be the only flightless parrot species in the world - the Kakapo [Strigops habroptilus]. They also nest on the ground or below ground, and scientists believe they evolved that way due to the aforementioned lack of native predators. Since the arrival of humans to New Zealand however (and the animals they brought with them), the abscence of predators has changed for the worse, and the Kakapo is now an endangered species.

- Eric

[DebSpace]

:cool: How cool, I didn't know that about New Zealand (as I sit here watching Lord of the Rings for the humpteenth time)! Yes, no way I would go out with my lovies. I have a wildbird-friendly backyard with lots of bird houses and a feeding garden. Just last year, I was out there fighting off crows that were trying to tear a bird house apart for the babies inside. Earlier this Spring, while sitting outside enjoying the bird ambiance, I had a lone finch at the feeder that was whisked away so quickly by a hawk that I felt like I was an extra in a horror movie. I know they have to eat, but it made me feel just aweful.:x

On the Petco and Petsmart note, I have purchased things from them but you do have to watch carefully for safety issues. Not just bells, but some of the Insight toy line have small metal wires that a toe or beak could be caught in. I discovered this when cleaning the cage; I noticed one of the activity toys from that line had a circular wire that my birds had already been successful at bending, leaving a sharp end pointing out. :omg: Another place on the web in addition to the site Janie gave is:

http://www.birdsafestore.com

[Kenny536]

That is interesting, the thing about New Zealand.

I asked this question because once last summer, my parents kept the lovebird in his cage but in the garage for a while because he was too noisy and making a mess.

Anyways, somehow I guess he flew away when the garage door opened, he was in his cage but I forget how exactly. So my dad tells me he is gone, but I refused to give up that easily, I ran out with my little brother, like 4 houses away, we spotted him on a dividing fence between houses, it was just standing there heheheh, so then I slowly came up to him, and he just went on my shoulder like it was no big deal, then I slowly walked to my house, and just as I stepped inside, he flew back to the fence, so I had to do it all over again, but he is back now :}.

I doubt he would have lasted long if I had not found him in time, unless he is like really smart and knows where our house is and how to protect himself until he can get back inside, I'd like to think he is :}.

[Kenny536]

I bought Popatlal two cuttlebones like you guys said, and some millets and toys. But the moment I let him out of his cage, he still goes straight for the plantpot to eat the soil.

[Tango's_Mom]

It might take him sometime to figure out what the cuttlebone is for, millet is usually a BIG hit, and it may also take him sometime to figure out what his new toys are for, especially if he's never had any. Just keep preventing him from getting to the pot. Also you mentioned that he only eats seeds, is this all thats offered or does he pick around other things. Definately getting some vegetables into his diet is important. My bird Tango particularily enjoys brocoli florets and sliced apple (be sure to remove the core and seeds from the slice since the seeds are toxic). Another option is adding some pellets to the diet, just remember that pellets should make up a maximum of 40% of a lovebirds (or any other small parrot) diet. I feed Tango a mixture of Tropimix seed, Tropican pellets and Kaytee Pretty Bird fruit flavoured pellets (only a few of these, they're his favorite).

[Kenny536]

Well I've had the two cuttlebones in his cage for over a month, still goes for soil. So I should give him fruits and vegetables? Does it matter if I just get it from my fridge or does it have to be some sort of specialized bird food. Yeah he loved the millets, they're all gone, I'll have to go buy some more, and a new toy, since he never looks at the toy I bought him.

[Tango's_Mom]

Well I've had the two cuttlebones in his cage for over a month, still goes for soil. So I should give him fruits and vegetables? Does it matter if I just get it from my fridge or does it have to be some sort of specialized bird food. Yeah he loved the millets, they're all gone, I'll have to go buy some more, and a new toy, since he never looks at the toy I bought him.

You can feed him regular vegetables that you eat, make sure you wash them well, most lovies don't seem to go for fruits, they seem to like veggies better, Apple is the only fruit Tango will eat and I believe it Barb on here whose lovies like banana, but mostly they go for veggies, as was mentioned before dark green vegetables are great because of the nutritional value, they also seemed to be the most readily accepted, and it will probably take at least a few days of offering the same thing to get him to try it. You might also consider adding some vitamins and minerals to the food if he doesn't seem to be using the cuttlebone.

[Janie]

Well I've had the two cuttlebones in his cage for over a month, still goes for soil. So I should give him fruits and vegetables? Does it matter if I just get it from my fridge or does it have to be some sort of specialized bird food. Yeah he loved the millets, they're all gone, I'll have to go buy some more, and a new toy, since he never looks at the toy I bought him.

Millet is bird candy, so my vet says, and should not be given daily. My birds get millet once a week or less. You said "toy" and it should be plural, "toys!" I'd suggest at least 3 toys, a couple of different type perches and a swing as a minimum for any cage. I have a toy basket with about 25 toys in it and change the cage toys around every few weeks. The cage that is shared by two has one large boing, a round rope swing and at least 6 different toys hanging in different areas plus three types of perches.

Jenna is right, lovies prefer vegetables over fruit so that is what I'd start with. Broccoli seems to be a favorite and it is the first thing I offered Oliver, a bird who at 6 or 7 years old had never eaten anything but seed. It took three weeks of coaxing, begging, pleading, etc. but he finally took a nibble and now eats is almost daily. He likes it raw. My other two were offered veggies as soon as I got them at 9 weeks old and they love corn, peas, carrots, broccoli and kale. One of the two also loves dehydrated fruit and occasionally a bit of raw apple. They all three love birdie cornbread. Changing eating habits takes a long time and a lot of patience and persistence. It can be done. Good luck! :)