New home, new owner, same old questions!

[Miyaki]

Sunset is finally here :D Just looking at him makes me squeal for joy. But of course I have a few things I'd like to ask.

Should I wait a few days before adding new toys and start handling him?
He's two years old and his old owner was handling him earlier today and he was fine, but he's scared of me. I know I'm new and thats normal, but I'd like to know when I should start working with him to build that bond. And he has hardly any toys so what are some I should get him?

His old owner didn't give him veggies much, only as a treat, but aren't veggies suppose to be an important part of the diet? From all I've read the answer to that is a yes, so should I start putting carrots and broccoli in and seeing what he does?

PS - Here is a piccy of my little Sunset! <3
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Miyakii/Sunset01.jpg

[Janie]

Oh my goodness, he is just beautiful! :) Reminds me so much of my lovie,Oliver....also adopted.

Oliver had been handled by his former owner but same as your situation, I was a stranger to him so this is what I did in the first few weeks: First off, I had never had a pet bird and w/o the help of this forum, I hate to think of the mistakes I might have made. But, as I said, he had been handled and was very friendly as far as stepping up and sitting on my shoulder. Originally I kept him in an upstairs bedroom and went in and spend lots of time with him (cage open) just talking to him and reading "The Lovebird Handbook" to him. He listened and got used to my voice and I learned about lovebirds! :D After the first week I bought a second cage that we put downstairs where he could be in the thick of things and around all family members. He liked that. :D He did continue to sleep in the upstairs cage but spent his days downstairs either in the cage, on top of the cage or on my shoulder. After a month I was so anxious to hold him but was horrified that I might hurt him so I asked his former owner "how" to go about it and she said, "for heavens sake, just pick him up!" :lol I did and that was that.....been holding him ever since, 4 years now.

If Sunset will take a shoulder ride, that would be a good way to start the bonding. Is he clipped? Oliver was when I got him and I continued to have him clipped for 2 1/2 more years until I realized that in his case, it wasn't necessary. I think that many birds do better with a wing clip and especially when they are in a new home. Try offering him millet from your fingers and just talk, talk, talk to him. I think they really love the attention more than anything else and will bond faster when they get plenty of it.

If he was taking veggies as a treat, that is a good thing! I would offer them daily or at least every other day. If she told you what his favorites are, try those first and then add more as time goes by. My flock and I swear by the birdie cornbread (recipe in the diet section) so you might want to give that a try, too.

Oliver never had liked toys much and we think he might have had an accident with a toy when he was younger, who knows. I bought everything I could think of that might interest him but if it moved, it frightened him so instead of hanging toys inside his cage, I laid them on top of his cage and sometimes, he would chew and pick at them. He was horrified of a swing (very unusual for a lovie) so I took that out after a few tries. Now that I've added two more, much younger lovies, Oliver is a lot more playful, probably from watching them play. As far as what to buy, it's hard to say but I would suggest a swing and something with soft wood for chewing. Some lovies like shinny toys, some don't. You just have to try things slowly and see what interest him. Maybe playing with if first where he can see you might help him realize that he can also play with it. Be sure to inspect ALL toys that you buy. Bells (the clacker) can be dangerous and so can loose threads, etc. My two that do love toys have about 6 to 10 in their cage (that includes a boing and a swing) and I change some of them out every week or two. Sometimes they will ignore a toy the first time I add it but then love it later on.

I'd also recommend a few different type perches. Rope, wood, etc.

Good luck....that picture just took my breath away! :D

[michael]

Thanks for sharing :) ! Even though Sunset is two years old, he looks just like a sweet baby :p . Goofy would be more than willing to share his broccoli with him!.............Goofy lovebird and Michael

[Miyaki]

Wow Janie, thanks you for so much info!

I have been handling him, but when I hold him in my hand he bites me alot (not hard though). With his previous owner he never bit at all. I did take him for a shoulder ride today so I guess I will start with that. I also talked to him all day. I guess I'll keep working from there. He flew around my room a few times but didnt know where to land so he ended up on me. Hehe, he is such a cutie.

I will definately go look for toys tomorrow as well, I have a friend who's Lovie adores this little tent shaped swing that he sleeps in, Im thinking of getting him one, are they any good?

[Janie]

Ahhhh, a Happy Hut, also called a "cozy".....and yes, some birds love them. If Sunset has never slept in one, he might like it immediately and he might think it's a big bad monster! :D I bought one for Oliver but it really did scare him so much that I immediately took it out of his cage. I tried putting it on top of the cage, hopping he'd eventually investigate it but that never happened. Keep in mind, he was already around 7 when I adopted him and had never seen a happy hut so I'm not surprised that he never "took" to sleeping in one. On the other hand, Big Boi and Shy loved theirs from the first night I put it in the cage! They slept together in the same cozy for at least 6 months but as their bond lessened, I added a second one and now they both have their own. I removed them in the morning, put toys in place of the cozies, and add the cozies back at night. Warning: Cozies/happy huts can cause very nesty behavior in hens but if Sunset is a male, that won't be a problem. If you buy one be sure to check it daily to make sure there are no loose threads, etc. Birdies like to chew on....everything! :D

Since Sunset hasn't been exposed to many toys I would add only a couple to start and again, if YOU play with them in front of him, he might take the hint from you. :) Since you have a friend with a lovie maybe your friend can share ideas on which toys her/his bird likes most. IF you are offered any "used" toys, be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly before you put them in Sunset's cage.

When you say he bites a lot, is it a bite that hurts or just a little nibble? Lots of lovies like to use their beak to explore and to hang on when they are climbing but I don't consider that biting.

BTW, many don't like to be petted except on their beaks or head so as you see him warming up to you, you might want to gently rub his head and beak. :) It's been my experience that adopting a somewhat friendly lovebird and then showering him with care, love and attention (much more than he ever had before) will lead to a very happy relationship for both of you. :) I have the sweetest relationship with Oliver (his former owner is amazed every time she sees him now) and I do believe that just like a rescue dog or cat, he appreciates me and understands how much I love him. That bond did not happen over night and probably took a good six months for him to realize that I will always love and take good care of him. :)

[Miyaki]

He got onto my finger this morning!!! He is now sitting on my shoulder but he wont hop off hehe. Which is fine, he is such a cutie ehehehehehe! He still bites me though, but its more of a nibble like you said. And he's making grnding noises with his beak, this means he's happy right?

[Janie]

YES!!!!! Beak grinding is a wonderful thing!!!!!! As good a sign as you'll get that your lovebird is HAPPY! :D:D:D Oliver sits on my shoulder, usually under my hair and grinds away.

Keep working on the "step-up" command. Every time you hold out your finger ask him to "step-up" (or you can use any word as long as you use it every time) and you can even gently put your finger right up to his chest which will automatically tend to make them want to step onto your finger. Teaching him to step up is important and can help out a lot if he flies to the floor or somewhere else that he should not be. Oliver already knew how to step up when I adopted him but it was the first thing I taught my younger two when I got them. I think it took about 2 weeks for them.

[Kathryn]

Miyaki,
It sounds like you and Sunset are off to a great start on a wonderful relationship!! Congratulations!
Janie has given you such wonderful advice so I don't need to add any.
Enjoy your beautiful little Normal Green Peachface. Does that look like a little orange on his bib? He could have an Orange Face gene in there somewhere too.

[carrier]

What a beauty! :D

Welcome to the wonderful world of being owned by a lovie!;)

[Keltoth]

He's a cute little guy. He definately has a Dark Factor, so he would be referred to as a Jade (Wild Green with one Dark Factor).

Hope to hear more good news about him!

- Eric

[Miyaki]

Nothing to new to report. He hasn't gotten on my finger since this morning, though every now and then he'll fly to my head and I'll move him to my shoulder. 95&#37; of the time he sits exactly where he's sitting in the picture and just watches me or preens himself. He is so silly.

I got him another perch and a toy with bits of paper and string that he can chew on but he hasn't shown much interest yet. I also bought him a cuttlebone and some Spray Millet. He loved the stuff and made a mess of my floor hehe.

Some new pics!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Miyakii/Sunset/Sunset02.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Miyakii/Sunset/Sunset03.jpg

[Miyaki]

Question!

As Sunset sits on my shoulder, he starts to click his beak very very fast and make little breathing noises and walk side to side constantly. Sometimes he'll walk to my other shoulder and do the same thing then back to the starting shoulder. What does this mean? He did it for atleast 15 minutes straight before I had to start getting ready to go and had to put him back. It was very cute, I hope it means he likes me lots!

[welovekiwi1]

Haha Your sn is Miyaki while my name is Miyako. What a conincidence

[Janie]

Question!

As Sunset sits on my shoulder, he starts to click his beak very very fast and make little breathing noises and walk side to side constantly. Sometimes he'll walk to my other shoulder and do the same thing then back to the starting shoulder. What does this mean? He did it for atleast 15 minutes straight before I had to start getting ready to go and had to put him back. It was very cute, I hope it means he likes me lots!

OH YEAH, he likes you a whole lot! ;) That is a mating move and sounds like he is courting you! :D:D:D I was so flattered the first time Oliver did that! Still am!

[Miyaki]

OH YEAH, he likes you a whole lot! ;) That is a mating move and sounds like he is courting you! :D:D:D I was so flattered the first time Oliver did that! Still am!


Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy! I was a bit worried that he might be really scared or something!

[Janie]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy! I was a bit worried that he might be really scared or something!

I was very worried the first time Oliver did that, about a month or 2 after I adopted him. I immediately called a couple of forum friends to find out what the heck was going on! :lol He would turn and turn and turn in circles, scratch one cheek and clicky, clicky, clicky! So cute! :) My hubby was waiting for me to lay an egg! :rotfl

[Miyaki]

I was very worried the first time Oliver did that, about a month or 2 after I adopted him. I immediately called a couple of forum friends to find out what the heck was going on! :lol He would turn and turn and turn in circles, scratch one cheek and clicky, clicky, clicky! So cute! :) My hubby was waiting for me to lay an egg! :rotfl

Aww! Thats funny! :D Sunset has become a big hit in my family since his first day. I didn't think everyone would like him as much as they do. And now he flies to me and sits on my shoulder for hours hehehe.

[thebubbleking]

No one can resist a cute lovie :D