New Lovebird

Ok, so I got another lovie(sibling to my other) and she hasnt been held as much and is cage aggressive. Once outside shes ok somewhat.

Friends that I got her(both) from say that I should start right away with handling her to get her use to me, but others say I should give her a few days to settle in.

So what should I do? She is really cage aggressive(lunging(sp?), biting, feathers puffed up and trying to get away.) Once out, she sorta settle down, but will try to get away from ur hand when taking her off another surface....but doesnt bite as hard or no bite at all outside cage.........

A few pointers on how to go about things would be nice since so many different opinions from friends......

Give her time. She has to trust you before you can handle her. She needs to get used to her new family and new environment. Talk to her and respect her cues. If she's lunging at you, back off.

Basil had not been handled at all when we got him. He'd been with us about 4 months before I could let him out of his cage because I had no way to getting him back in. In the last month (we've had him 7 months), he has learned to step up and not be as afraid of my hands.

Be patient, she will learn to trust and love you.

Females tend to be cage-territorial. My pet female lovebird (ten years old) is a total witch about her cage. I have to open the door and let her come out (she's flighted and flies out to us when she wants a visit). Once she's about 2-3 feet from her cage, a newborn baby could hold her without risk of a bite. In fact, in ten years she's NEVER bitten away from her cage. She's sweet and loving and tame to ANYONE (and a favorite of our many visitors). Over the years, we just learned not to make it an issue and leave her alone when she's in her cage. Females tend to just be hard-wired that way (and I guess this one would of made a GREAT mom). My pet male lovebird, I can stick my hand right in his cage. Many people I talk to say the same about their males.

When she's in a calm state of mind, try feeding her millet or food by hand when she's inside the cage.

Millet works great because you can feed it through the cage bars and work your way towards feeding through the cage door. The idea is to allow the bird to come to you and learn to trust you on his or her own terms.

Ok, been working with her everyday just about......and Im home all day n shes maybe 3ft away from where I sit so I talk to her all day.
Ive been hand feeding her millet n occasionally frosted mini wheats(2-3wk).
Shes now coming out of cage on her own. When I hand feed, she'll still bite me before coming onto my hand to eat her millet and once on, she'll try biting my other hand if I move it.

NOW, should I say "Ouch" or something else when she does bite? I dont do anything physically when she does...I just let her and see what she does....usually steps up on finger(while biting other finger or hand).

She isnt biting hard enough to draw blood....more like a really strong clothes pin pressure.
Also, she doesnt "attack" me thru her cage bars anymore like she used to, so thats good Im thinking.

Now another thing, she will flutter from her cage to land on me, but will still bite if I attempt to get her to step up......my question is why? If she wants to be near/on me, whats the thinking of her for biting me?

Thanks again people!!!

She may enjoy spending time near you, just not specifically *on* you, unless it's on her terms rather than yours... i.e. she'll come and sit on you when she feels like it, but not when you ask her to. Or perhaps she's not exactly comfortable with your hands? Or maybe it's because she's not ready to do what you ask of her?

Saying "ouch" can do one of two things... she may learn that it hurts you, or she may find it entertaining to do that, and will bite again just to hear you say it. It would be better to try and figure out what's causing her to bite and then avoid getting bitten, so you can't reward her for biting. Easier said than done, I know!

Can you try distracting her with a toy or leather strip or something before she bites? Or just continue working with her and the millet until she can step up reliably?