new lovebird tips on taming

hi
ive had my lovebird called Pip for 2wks, the shop said he is last years bird so not sure on exact age. ive been sitting next to the cage talking to him and placing my hand in there for short periods. he loves millet and will take from my hand - as long as its a long millet and he stretches over from a distance.

ive been trying to get him to step up on a stick as he doesn't like my hands anywhere near him, he will only put one foot on the stick and grip on to the bars with the other. when he put one foot on I praise him and offer the millet but he scatters off.

was just wondering if I was going about it the wrong way? also I leave his door open while im sitting there to see if he will come out by himself (which he hasn't) is this a good idea or should he stay in the cage until he is tame - not sure he will get tame?
I read some where that a lady got her bird out daily wether they wanted to or not and that's how her lovie got tamed - whats your view on this technique, im not too keen on that idea?

any help is much appreciated thanks

personally i dont like the idea of forcing him out...i mean how does that even work? he starts to like you because you forced him out?? that makes no sense to my mind at all.
you should keep trying to let him out in a bird safe place. are his wings clipped? if not find a small area and make sure that wherever he flies you will be able to reach him. whether he is in or out he wont be any tamer.

let me tell you what i did to tame my lovie. put the cage somewhere steady and your level while sitting down. so you have to be sitting comfortable somewhere with the cage close to you.

when your lovie is hungry and starts to eat remove all his food sources. i know, i know it sounds cruel but he wont starve i promise.

put the food in your hands (it has to be pellets or seeds, so not millet) and put your hand in the cage. stay still no matter how much your lovie screams or goes crazy and acts like the boogie man is out to get him

play with your mobile or computer. read a book or something. it took my lovie 30 mins before he decided to try and grab a seed from my hand....and run away. !!remember to keep your hand as still as possible at all times!!

he will slowly stop running away every time he grabs a seed/pellet and just stay near your hand. soon he might even put a foot on your hand!! dont worry next time you do it you wont hve to wait as much as you did the first time )))

to tell you truth i have no idea how long it took for my lovie to be absoloutly tame. you see it is a process. that i am still going through. every day we are getting a little closer. example: my bird would step on my hand and isnt bothered by my hand near him but he didnt like me petting his head. but since last week he DEMANDS that i pet his head.

hope i helped!! best of luck with you lovie :3

hi
thanks for your reply, no I didn't like the thought of forcing him out, just asking if any one else does/has done this method.
he's wings are clipped, but he can still fly about just not up to a door frame height.
I have put his cage right next to the sofa where I sit and watch tv/ be on laptop etc...
I will try putting his food on my hand tomorrow see how it goes.

I wouldn't rush anything, lovebirds can't be rushed and some will never like hands. I would spend time talking to him while he's inside the cage. You can keep the door open as long as he's in a safe place where he wouldn't hurt himself if he flies out. Is his wings clipped?

Personally I would just spend a lot of time just talking to him before asking him to step up or anything else. It took my eldest lovie near 5 months to feel completely comfortable around me so I'd take it sloooow.

he is clipped, I do leave the door open when im sitting next to him. he came down to eat so I moved his bowl right near the door, took him a good half hr or so to pluck the courage to come to his bowl. tomorrow (uk here 10pm right now) I will put the food on my hand when he goes to eat.
thanks

I would never force him. The key to bonding is earning you birds trust, which is hard to do if you are scaring it everyday. What you are already doing sounds good. Take things as slow as your bird needs. When he is ready things will happen. Keep up the good work. It sounds like you're on the right track and making progress already.

so today I put pips food on my hand and had my hand flat on the cage floor for over an hour (yes my hand lost all feeling haha) he didn't eat off my hand but I could see he really wanted to get some food, he ate some food that had fallen a little way from my hand but its good he came to the cage floor right?
he spotted his bowl just outside the cage so I moved it away and he flew out, im guessing toward his bowl. he stepped on the stick and I placed him back in the cage.
at the moment - after a break, im holding his food bowl in my hand in the cage and he came closer but he's still not confident yet..... will keep you informed

It is really good if he chooses to come closer to your hand on his own! It means he is getting more comfortable! Good work!

The fact that he is comfortable to eat while your hands are there is a great thing!! Definitly keep trying. And wow 1 hour? ! Now thats commitment, you have a lot of paitence which is great. Im absoloutly positive you will have a great bond with your birdie )) ♡♡

A tip: maybe try keeping your hand near a perch instead of the floor. Unless you think he is more shaken up with your hand there. Everybird is different