Bonded Pair- One aggressive

One aggressive - update, more questions!

Hi there, I recently bought myself a bonded pair of Lutino Peachfaced lovebirds - I am confident that they are a male/female pair although they are not blood DNA'd for confirmation. One is banded and I believe this is the female (Peaches), she is very, VERY territorial and aggressive about her cage and mate.

I am unable to put my hands any where in or near the cage with out getting aggressively bitten (blood!!). She will shy away from my hand if its covered in a towel tho (only way I can stick my hand in), so I am curious as to how I can gain her confidence that my hand is not a bad thing?

The previous owner did not do much with them - she allowed them to free fly nearly all day as she was very busy with a young child and one on the way - so will clipping their wings help? I have cats so I do not want to leave them defenseless and unable to fly at all. I do lock my cats up before letting them out I promise you!!

Thanks for any help or tips you can offer - I HAVE SOOO MANY MORE QUESTIONS!!! But will try to limit this to one thing for now!

Okay, females are normally more aggressive and lovebirds are notorious for being cage aggressive as well (I also speak from experience with two cage aggressive lovies, one more violent than her brother...)

You may not get rid of that behaviour, however, you can try minimizing it by offering millet and other treats and see if you can show her that your hand is not a threat and see if she can associate your hand with treats.


But I know the pain. My female lovebird is a handful, can't feed her without a bite or two myself, but outside of the cage she's a total sweetie... and snugglebug. that's lovebirds for you lol

Try offering millet from outside the cage first though. Respect her space. The cage is her space. Try to find a compromise between her and you. Show her that your hands won't violate her space while at the same time she may settle down. Only put your hands in her cage when you feed/water/clean. Otherwise, let her come out of the cage on her own once you let her out of the cage. Don't reach for her, let her call the shots.

I call it a mutual agreement. You agree to respect her space as much as possible and she should settle down in time as well.

Thanks for the advice! I have noticed that they come right to me when out of the cage and "preen" my hair! She is also very nippy about my hands when outside of the cage as well. I will put a few of those tips to good use! Thank you!

Re: One Aggressive BITER, further question on how to tame

DallyTsuka said:

Okay, females are normally more aggressive and lovebirds are notorious for being cage aggressive as well (I also speak from experience with two cage aggressive lovies, one more violent than her brother...)

You may not get rid of that behaviour, however, you can try minimizing it by offering millet and other treats and see if you can show her that your hand is not a threat and see if she can associate your hand with treats.


But I know the pain. My female lovebird is a handful, can't feed her without a bite or two myself, but outside of the cage she's a total sweetie... and snugglebug. that's lovebirds for you lol

Try offering millet from outside the cage first though. Respect her space. The cage is her space. Try to find a compromise between her and you. Show her that your hands won't violate her space while at the same time she may settle down. Only put your hands in her cage when you feed/water/clean. Otherwise, let her come out of the cage on her own once you let her out of the cage. Don't reach for her, let her call the shots.

I call it a mutual agreement. You agree to respect her space as much as possible and she should settle down in time as well.

Click to expand...

So I have been offering my hand with the millet like suggested and making sounds and soft words with it. Also taking it back with "no bite" when she takes a try at my fingers. They get excited when they see the millet, so hopefully this will work! I have to wear an oven mitt to do ANYTHING in the cage still, she attacks (and wont let go!!!!) any piece of skin she sees. Currently sporting 4 nasty nips on my arm from trying to remove a bath without adequate coverage....

My question is this: Should I curb their freedom by clipping their wings???
ALL PERSPECTIVES ON this are welcome please!! I understand this is a touchy subject. I do want them to fly, but currently when they are out she will sit on my head and shoulder and had bitten me. I don't want her to have "dominance" over me - whech I think she feels she does currently. So, keep them cage bound till nipping under control? If someone could help me with both these issues, I would be much appreciated!!

Here's the complete set up for Peaches and TomTom. I added a cuttlebone, a new perch, pellet food and happy hut... Previous owner didn't have a cuttlebone!! :52: If I can fix it in anyway, suggestions are welcome!

they dont have dominance over people by sitting on your head or shoulder. thats an old misconception. most with large parrots dont recommend it because of the possibility to bites to the face.

wing clipping will not do much for the cage aggression unfortunately either. keeping her in the cage will also make the biting worse. it can take some time for the biting to settle down. i would suggest food dishes you can access on the outside of the cage. it will make both of you guys happier. your hands dont go in and you dont get bit



remove the happy hut, its a nest to female birds, it will make her aggression much worse. you dont want breeding as the hormones make this situation worse. not just that but both are lutino lovebirds, which can result in weaker babies so should be avoided in breeding.

Fair enough. I did get an unviable egg last week (was smashed on the bottom of cage) Kinda freaked me out as breeding isn't really my intention! The food containers are accessible from the outside - thank god! - but she's got a good reach!! LOL! I don't really see much difference in her with the hut tho....it's open on both ends, so she will still see this as a nest?
I actually was able to refill food today (after I posted the question) without her going after me! Lotsa praise for that! So the suggestion of the millet thing might be working! *fingeres crossed and bandaged*

I asked about the wing clipping since it goes either way depending on who you read for research - I totally agree that it won't help the cage aggression, but ur sure about the head/shoulder thing? Most research I read said it's a dominant thing.... I am just sick of her flying to my shoulder/head and biting my ear or neck - you should see the bruise I have there!

DallyTsuka - Thanks for being so patient with me! I tried to PM you a thanks, but I only have 9 posts and can't yet! Apparently I need to post 20 times before I can PM a member! LOL You seem very knowledgable and I am eager to learn everything you know about my little nippers...

the information about birds being higher up being dominant is an oolllld thought, but its been proven wrong in recent years.

if she is flying and attacking you, then you may want to clip her. for your safety. but thats your decision and i certainly wont judge for that.

trust me on that hut being seen as a nest! it will eventually.


my suggestion if you want a snuggly place for them to sleep, try a fleece swing. i'll see if i can dig up an old photo of one of mine, you can make them easily with lots of patience

ill post it once i find it, plus some other alternatives you may like

Thanks! You are rite about the hut... I am pretty sure they were.... well, YOU KNOW!! LOL! So tomorrow it's out! I would very much like to see what you mean about the fleece swing.. I will google it and see if I can find anything there also.. When u find it or alternatives, please let me know.
I won't be clipping her wings anytime soon - if i do at all - i tried to "birdie buritto" her once to read her band and she was very squiggly and scared, so don't want to traumatize her further...
Other than the hut, was the set up for them ok? (see above photo)

and no problem helping out

here's some alternatives ive used in the past

fleece ledges and snuggle toys are always a good option. the ledge i made here is an ooollld one, this one is different than the one you see made in the video (the video ones i have made too, just cant find all the photos right now, needed a whole new computer and old photos are scattered on various photobucket accounts lol)

cant seem to find my fleece perch swings


this isnt my video, but shows you how to make one of these ledges.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouk6h7mPki8"]How to make fleece platform perch for parrots - YouTube[/ame]

Thank so much! I will practice my sewing skills making one of these. Hopefully between this perch and the millet trick I can gain her confidence.... I think once she come around TomTom will be more accepting too. Rite now, he just hides behind his woman! Lol
Thanks, i have alot of work to do...

it can be done! its harder to tame down a pair, but you can do it with lots of patience.

i got my two as babies, theyre brother and sister and it took me a very long time to tame them. it took almost a year and a half to fully tame munch (the female). the male took longer but hes a naturally timid bird and very independent. i dont mind since that is his personality.

my female munch is a LOT like yours. very aggressive with the cage, very bossy and bold. it took a long time for her to settle down, but once ive earned her trust, ive gotten the best friend i've never had LOL shes a very sweet bird, in her own bossy way.

i think you will do well with these two, and im glad you are putting in so much thought into them. taming is hard work, keep in mind it can take years to fully bond with them, but its so worth it. so never lose hope, keep trying!

ask lots of questions and try new things. theres different ways of doing things. what works for some may not work for others.

food bribery is one of the best methods, but some birds dont go for it. yours respond to millet, so food bribery and respecting their space is helpful. let them go to you, try not to force your company upon them and they should relax around you and see you as a flock member

Being I am a stay at home mummy and my last one doesnt start school for two more years, I think I can do this... I have wanted lovebirds for awhile now, but have to admit I wasnt expecting such a strong minded little *AHEM*!! LOL She is definitely teaching me the value of patience.... When I let them out to exercise I am gonna keep abit of millet on me for when I become their landing pad! Thanks for all the tips and tricks!

No problem! Being a stay at home mom will really help the bonding process with more time at home to spend with them. Good luck and keep us updated!