Lief Update

[eenkopjekoffie]

Hello everyone!

I have been away from the computer for a few days, so I just thought I would say hi upon my return, and update you all on how things are going with my lovie, Lief.

I have had him for three weeks now, (which will make him about 13 weeks old) and he is happily at home here. He's taking millet from me, and this last week has even let me stroke him several times, and come to perch on me to take millet during his out of cage time. I think that is pretty good :happy:

The only thing I find not good, is that he also has a tendency to screech really ear-piercingly. I have read that they do this for attention or when they are bored, and of course I expect some noise, he is a bird after all lol. The only trouble, is that sometimes it can actually hurt my ears (and head lol) and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how I can limit him from doing it? I am not talking of the normal chirping, etc. just the screeching. Any words of wisdom?

Apart from this, everything is just fine, and I will have some pics coming soon for you all too!

Yours in feathers,
John

[linda040899]

Hi John,
Sounds like everything is going well with your new lovie! You've made a lot of progress in 3 weeks! Sometimes that trust relationship can take months to build, especially if you are working with an abused bird. Young ones have no prior history to relate to so they are a bit easier.

Lovebirds do have their "loud" moments, that's for sure! I find those moments tend to be at certain times of the day and you may find those calls diminish as he's with you longer. They will never go away, simply because he's bird. Just be thankful that you are not listening to a Maxaw or a Cockatoo!

[KiwiMango]

Sounds like he gets really excited to see you. Mango does that to me when he gets really happy to see me and jumps to the side of my ear before he lets out the screeeeeechhhh! Lief is in love:)

[Z28Taxman]

Sorry, I can't help you there. I tend to encourage Ditto to screech! :eek:

[Mandolin]

I find Kameko screeches the most when she is happiest on our shoulders, right next to our ears. Those happy screeches will cause our ears to ring for a good 15 minutes after. I can't complain though because, like Dave, we tend to encourage her by whistling back and forth :lol. If Lief is anything like Kameko, as he grows and becomes more confident and more attached to you, he will also find other ways to make noise to get your attention. Kameko, for instance, will bang her cage door up and down (she lifts it up to the top and drops it, its like a hammer to your head :D), not only ring her bells but clang them agianst the cage, and sooo many more. Even with all of the noise it is nice to know they love you and want your attention :)

[DebSpace]

Yeah, some major decibals from such little creatures ;) - Nip screeches when she wants my attention. It is always accompanied by wing flapping and a cascade of sounds. Try not to be visually reactive and it might lessen. It seems Nip just does this few times a day now, but she did it a lot when I first brought her home. The only reason I can think of is that I don't respond to her melodramacally like I did then. If I'm in the same room with her when she does it, instead of giving her a show complete with a verbal "OMG, what was THAT?", I just speak to her quietly, almost in a whisper: "yes, pretty girl, I hear ya."

[Z28Taxman]

Yeah, some major decibals from such little creatures ;) - Nip screeches when she wants my attention. It is always accompanied by wing flapping and a cascade of sounds. Try not to be visually reactive and it might lessen. It seems Nip just does this few times a day now, but she did it a lot when I first brought her home. The only reason I can think of is that I don't respond to her melodramacally like I did then. If I'm in the same room with her when she does it, instead of giving her a show complete with a verbal "OMG, what was THAT?", I just speak to her quietly, almost in a whisper: "yes, pretty girl, I hear ya."

You really don't want me at your house then. I screech and flap my arms right back at Ditto to get him really wound up. I like hyper lovies! :rofl:

[Janie]

Sorry, I can't help you there. I tend to encourage Ditto to screech! :eek:


:lol, me too, Dave! I am forever trying to get all three going at the same time! The more, the merrier! :D I figure it's good lung exercise! ;)

[DebSpace]

Could we get a video clip of that, Dave?!:rofl::lol Okay, I admit that I've been known to do a little "wing-flapping" myself from time to time. ;)

[bellarains]

John,

Lief does indeed sound like he's settling in nicely. I can tell you are crazy about him:)

The only advice I can offer on the screeching is, when he does this, answer him. Birds make contact calls, and since you are his flock, Lief is most likely just interacting with you. Instead of making the screeching noise though, try a low whistle, and then say, "shhhh", then make the low whistle again. I'm not saying this is going to work for you, but it works for us. I think they are taking their cue from us, and if we make a quiet whistle back, then they call back in a quiet whistle.

All that said, and assuming it works for you, you are still going to get the loud screech from time to time. When mine screech loudly, they are telling me, "HEY!!!!!! It's time, get me out NOW!!!!!!":lol

[Z28Taxman]

John,

Lief does indeed sound like he's settling in nicely. I can tell you are crazy about him:)

The only advice I can offer on the screeching is, when he does this, answer him. Birds make contact calls, and since you are his flock, Lief is most likely just interacting with you. Instead of making the screeching noise though, try a low whistle, and then say, "shhhh", then make the low whistle again. I'm not saying this is going to work for you, but it works for us. I think they are taking their cue from us, and if we make a quiet whistle back, then they call back in a quiet whistle.

All that said, and assuming it works for you, you are still going to get the loud screech from time to time. When mine screech loudly, they are telling me, "HEY!!!!!! It's time, get me out NOW!!!!!!":lol

Ok if you really want him to quiet down you could do as Lori said and answer him. Ditto will go nuts if I leave the room until I answer him.

What also works with Ditto if I want him to not be quite so loud is to change chirps. He loves the sparrows outside and mimics their chirps perfectly. So if he's really wound up I'll just make little sparrow chirps and he'll usually change to them.