New Lovebird Owner - Advice Appreciated

Hi everyone! I recently rehomed a baby 4 month old Lovebird. I've had him for about 2 days, and was just looking for some advice.

I have a few toys in his cage. a ladder, swing, a shredding toy, and a mirror (I've covered the mirror because I've heard too many negative things about birds and mirrors, I mainly put it in to see if he'd play with the bell that's attached). The only toy he really uses is the ladder, but most of the time he just sits on the top perch or in one of the corners of the cage.

I had some millet in the cage, but I noticed that he was only eating the millet and not the food I had out for him. I bought some pellets, mixed them with the seeds (I asked the previous owner and he told me that he fed him half pellets, half seeds), and sprinkled some crushed millet on top to try to get him to start eating that instead.

Also, I'm letting him out of the cage to wander around my room in hopes that he'll get more comfortable with the environment quicker. He's okay with me getting pretty close to him, but he gets a little freaked out when my hands are by him. He won't step up on a perch when I try, but I can use it to guide him back to his cage.

Is there anything I could be doing better? Should I not let him out of the cage so soon? I've tried feeding him strawberries and apples, but he wouldn't go for either of those. Are there methods I can use to get him to trust my hands? I've tried holding out millet towards him but he doesn't go for it.

I'm sorry for this wall of text, but I have so many questions and I feel this would be the easiest way to get some feedback. Any response is greatly appreciated!

You are doing great!

Welcome to you!! Congratulations on your new baby. Here’s a thread you may find useful. You could sit near the cage and read it out loud to your new friend. By the way, we love pictures so please feel free to start spamming us with them!

Tips for Bonding and Building Trus...orums.com/showthread.php?t=49144&share_type=t


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Inger said:

Welcome to you!! Congratulations on your new baby. Here’s a thread you may find useful. You could sit near the cage and read it out loud to your new friend. By the way, we love pictures so please feel free to start spamming us with them!

Tips for Bonding and Building Trus...orums.com/showthread.php?t=49144&share_type=t


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Click to expand...

If you can tell me how to post pictures on forums, I'd be most happy to follow up! But also, your link isn't working for me unfortunately

Ok I’m gonna try again.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...forums.com/showthread.php?t=6287&share_type=t


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...orums.com/showthread.php?t=49144&share_type=t

That’s better!

Inger said:

Ok I’m gonna try again.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...forums.com/showthread.php?t=6287&share_type=t


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...orums.com/showthread.php?t=49144&share_type=t

That’s better!

Click to expand...

Thanks! Here's the first picture of my baby Peach (I'm not sure why it's posting a link to my album instead of the picture itself, but it's going to have to do haha)
http://www.parrotforums.com/members/mrnubby-albums-peach-birb-picture20231-first-day-peach.jpeg

Awww Peach! You’re beautiful.


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Omg what a cutie

Does he love the toys? I'm just asking because i'm a new lovebird owner too, and mine doesn't have these things in the cage, maybe I should buy some

Anesz said:

Omg what a cutie

Does he love the toys? I'm just asking because i'm a new lovebird owner too, and mine doesn't have these things in the cage, maybe I should buy some

Click to expand...

He hasn't played too much with the shredding toy, but he sits on the ladder quite a bit. Last night was the first time he used the swing so I think he just needs to get more comfortable. My previous owner said that he liked mirror toys but I'm not going to put a mirror in the cage.

2 days is a mere instant in the life of your lovie. do not force anything at this point, let him explore ( safely) his cage and surroundings.

Diet: seeds and millet are not a sustainable diet fo him. After he is comfortable in his new digs, you want to introduce appropriate sized pellets ( many dif kinds on the market - I use Roudyboush, but there are other top brands). SO his diet should wind up to be 5-10% seeds and millet, 40-50% of the good veggie kind, and 30% fruits of the healthy kind. But do this transition slowly and thee are many pointers and tricks to use to switch him over. ANd thos proportions arenot hard and fast , but rough approximates. Good luck!

I recently brought home a 4 month old peach face. Ive had her for a little over a month now. And she is slowly learning to step up but is pretty much a velcro bird. Always go at the birds pace, the first two days went real slow, she didnt eat much and lost some body weight so she stayed in the cage to get use to it. Day 3 she was eating well but did not want to come fully, she would just hang out at the door. At this point i left the cage door open and started to play lovebird videos from you tube on my phone(ones with them talking) and she would fly over to be and hang out. I did this for 2 days and that was it... now she flies over to me to hang out and climb into my shirt. Just yesterday she has started to come to me on command and has an interest in preening me. As far as fruit goes, i think lovebirds like veggies more than fruit, Loki has been liking the green beans I've cut up for her.

wrench13 said:

2 days is a mere instant in the life of your lovie. do not force anything at this point, let him explore ( safely) his cage and surroundings.

Diet: seeds and millet are not a sustainable diet fo him. After he is comfortable in his new digs, you want to introduce appropriate sized pellets ( many dif kinds on the market - I use Roudyboush, but there are other top brands). SO his diet should wind up to be 5-10% seeds and millet, 40-50% of the good veggie kind, and 30% fruits of the healthy kind. But do this transition slowly and thee are many pointers and tricks to use to switch him over. ANd thos proportions arenot hard and fast , but rough approximates. Good luck!

Click to expand...

I'll start looking at that brand when I go through more of his current food. It'd be wasteful (in my opinion) to buy more food and not use either of the new bags I already got him. I'll keep it in mind though for later down the road!

Fair enough on the wasteful comment, I get that.
I'd still get a transitioning bag of food now. Just mix 'em up! Then the change isn't too sudden, either.
Each time a new fid has entered the flock, after quarantine, I've left cage doors open. The cage is their safe space where there is food and water - they'll go back eventually, or be willing to be encouraged back, as you do. It gives them a chance to meet their neighbours, and to approach me, as they please. (Neighbours met under supervision).

Anesz said:

I'm not going to put a mirror in the cage.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the answer I've heard a lot bad things about the mirror too. They become harassed and crazy when they see one.