I thought I knew a bit about bird behaviour. HELP MEEEE!!!!

[Betrisher]

Arash, thank you for taking the time to write of your experiences with your birds. I'm afraid I could never bring myself to strike such a tiny creature, even though she's so vicious with me. I have actually been having some success with a stick smeared with honey. The bird is happy to chew on the honey end of the stick while we change the water and clean the cage out, so that's a huge improvement.

If it turns out that we can't eventually tame our bird, she will simply become an aviary bird and live out her life in the best cage we can make available to her. We haven't given up, though, and hope our Petrucchia will come round one day. In the meantime, why don't you try using a distraction (like my stick with honey)? It might work better for you than physically hitting the bird? Best of luck with it, anyway.

 

[Betrisher]

Thanks to you too, wrench13. I've kept birds for most of my life and I would never ever hit one. Not ever. Not for any reason. I like a challenge and so this little one will be our family project for a while as we try to calm her as far as we can and help her to expend her energies for good, not ill.

 

[Terry57]

hello I'm sorry to tell my exprience maybe some people condem and pĺease be polite if anybody think it's not good or animal abuse or what ever but it's realy necessary some times. I have 7 lovebirds peach faced (I bought 4 and they breed now they are 7) and I really love all of them but 2 of them are really agressive one female that she's not tamed and scare of me so much and one male which it's tamed(these 2 are not related each other and they are in seperate cages).the male realy have tendency to bite my fingers and he did it so many times and even draw a blood! as like you. but he needs to know who is the boss here when I see he is in bite formation then I slap him(very highly controled slap to avoid any damage) and then he fears me and I can handle his doughter and his mate which they are not wild and will not bite and after a while male comes and sit on my hand beside his mate and his doughter with out trying to bite because he knows I will slap him and shout at him if he want's to bite. and never ever allow non of your birds sit on your head because they think they are boss and will act savage on you even if they are realy tamed and acting good! I never even allow them to sit on my shoulders only on my hands.
trust me it realy works shout at her and very controled slap (you must be so careful when you are punishim her their body is so small and vulnrable)when she bites you. and avoid to handle her, these kind of birds will be forever savage only handle and cudle male then she will acts better and she will come and sit on your hand it maybe takes one month or maybe more but she must afraid of you and know you are the boss fore ever.
and never allow your birds be outside when any body is not taking care of them it's realy important and dangrous! they maybe sit on floor and you must know they are on floor to avoid stepping on them or sitting on door ... and many other dangrus places plus mine realy like to chew electrical cord! you must see all these things and avoid any problem and never allow your birds be outside of cage more than 30 minutes because mine sometimes begging for being out and when I pass there cage they realy look upset but I'm always outside untile night if in weekend I allow them be out for many hours then they will feel depression during the other days of week they must use to be outside for maybe 15 or 30 minutes because if allow them one day being out for 4 hours and one day you allow them 10 minutes be outside of cage they will feel they are in prison!

Please do NOT slap your bird...they are tiny and could get hurt very badly. This also is not a viable method of training. Gaining their trust is the best way to train, I believe that fear based training is unproductive. I also find shouting at them to be counterproductive as well. I have taken in many birds with trust issues, and it breaks my heart to see their fear until they realize that this is a safe place. All are now able to be handled, and it was through showing them love and respect. It sometimes take years to get through to them, but in my opinion it is well worth the time and patience invested.

 

[Arash]

I must say your method of training these birds is typically not advised here and many other parrot forums. Hitting or as you put it smacking them is dangerous for the bird, the smallest excess force could really damage them. And animals in general, and parrots in particular, do not respond well to negative punishment. It may have worked for you in your special case, but to the OP, please refrain from using this method, or think this is a common training method. There isn't a parrot known that can not be coaxed into specific behaviour by using positive reinforcement ( ie: his favorite treat ).

Yes you are right I'm not a specialist and I didn't mean to realy hit bird I slapped him with 2 fingers only few times before, and just only male which saddenly bite my fingers when I take them out for few minutes fly outside of cage! and imagine an annoying nasty bite which then you shout at him then aftar that it couse panic on female and their doughter which they are realy behaving good. I tought must find a way to stop that and I read many advises on many forums but they didn't work for me (or it's better to say maybe I wasnt patient enough) for sadden bite from a tamed lovebird and I tested this fear based method only on one of my lovebirds for less than 2 months and maybe it doesn't work permanently.

 

[Arash]

Arash, thank you for taking the time to write of your experiences with your birds. I'm afraid I could never bring myself to strike such a tiny creature, even though she's so vicious with me. I have actually been having some success with a stick smeared with honey. The bird is happy to chew on the honey end of the stick while we change the water and clean the cage out, so that's a huge improvement.

If it turns out that we can't eventually tame our bird, she will simply become an aviary bird and live out her life in the best cage we can make available to her. We haven't given up, though, and hope our Petrucchia will come round one day. In the meantime, why don't you try using a distraction (like my stick with honey)? It might work better for you than physically hitting the bird? Best of luck with it, anyway.

You are very welcome. You can do it it is obviuse you are relly paitient and kind person. Actually my case is realy different male saddenly bite or when I touch female or their chick(is 3 months ) inside cage bite me but I realy like him as others just I didn't like his behavior.
I hope not but if you decide to seperate your lovebirds be sure they are not mate because seperating a pare of lovebirds which are mate I guess upseting them.

 

[Arash]

hello I'm sorry to tell my exprience maybe some people condem and pĺease be polite if anybody think it's not good or animal abuse or what ever but it's realy necessary some times. I have 7 lovebirds peach faced (I bought 4 and they breed now they are 7) and I really love all of them but 2 of them are really agressive one female that she's not tamed and scare of me so much and one male which it's tamed(these 2 are not related each other and they are in seperate cages).the male realy have tendency to bite my fingers and he did it so many times and even draw a blood! as like you. but he needs to know who is the boss here when I see he is in bite formation then I slap him(very highly controled slap to avoid any damage) and then he fears me and I can handle his doughter and his mate which they are not wild and will not bite and after a while male comes and sit on my hand beside his mate and his doughter with out trying to bite because he knows I will slap him and shout at him if he want's to bite. and never ever allow non of your birds sit on your head because they think they are boss and will act savage on you even if they are realy tamed and acting good! I never even allow them to sit on my shoulders only on my hands.
trust me it realy works shout at her and very controled slap (you must be so careful when you are punishim her their body is so small and vulnrable)when she bites you. and avoid to handle her, these kind of birds will be forever savage only handle and cudle male then she will acts better and she will come and sit on your hand it maybe takes one month or maybe more but she must afraid of you and know you are the boss fore ever.
and never allow your birds be outside when any body is not taking care of them it's realy important and dangrous! they maybe sit on floor and you must know they are on floor to avoid stepping on them or sitting on door ... and many other dangrus places plus mine realy like to chew electrical cord! you must see all these things and avoid any problem and never allow your birds be outside of cage more than 30 minutes because mine sometimes begging for being out and when I pass there cage they realy look upset but I'm always outside untile night if in weekend I allow them be out for many hours then they will feel depression during the other days of week they must use to be outside for maybe 15 or 30 minutes because if allow them one day being out for 4 hours and one day you allow them 10 minutes be outside of cage they will feel they are in prison!

Please do NOT slap your bird...they are tiny and could get hurt very badly. This also is not a viable method of training. Gaining their trust is the best way to train, I believe that fear based training is unproductive. I also find shouting at them to be counterproductive as well. I have taken in many birds with trust issues, and it breaks my heart to see their fear until they realize that this is a safe place. All are now able to be handled, and it was through showing them love and respect. It sometimes take years to get through to them, but in my opinion it is well worth the time and patience invested.

thank you I will take your advise. Actualy when I got this pare they were wild and I really wanted to tame them and I did it few months ago, I tamed them and they trust at me. My problem was sadden bite from male and being very aggressive inside a cage and it fixed by some controlled punishment on him ( but as you said I will change my method) I share their photo in atachment now I took it

 

[Anansi]

I just want to cosign on what others have already said as regards striking a bird. I'm not trying to pile on or anything, but rather I think it important enough to emphasize the point. One should never, under any circumstances, strike a bird. It will certainly make them fear you, but it will just as certainly damage your relationship with them. And even more importantly, it bears too great a risk of injuring or even killing the bird. A human's strength is far in excess of any bird's, enough so as to render corporal punishment out of the question. Please consider alternative methods for dealing with your bird's aggression. (EDIT: I posted this before seeing that you have decided to try a different approach with your birds. I'm so glad to read that! You'll find that it will be more than worth it.)

Trish, my friend! I am sorry you and Matt are going through this with Miss Petrucchia. (That name is so you! Hahaha!) Yes, I think separating her for the time being is your best bet (In separate rooms, if possible). And Tracey's suggestion of the use of a perch for picking her up is solid advice, even for one as determined as your vicious little darling. You need only make the adjustment of purchasing/making a T-perch. Then she wouldn't be able to run the length of the perch to reach you. Your hand would be on the trunk of the T rather than within reach of her flesh-rending beak.

Further, after separating her you might want to work on target training from within her cage. Just use a target stick and point to areas within her cage. Any such interactive activity will serve as a bonding experience... given enough time. And, of course, reward handsomely!

Given the extent and... motivated nature of her aggression, it will likely take time. Time and patience... and LOTS of bribery. But I think you can win through. You need only be just a wee bit more determined than she.

 

[BruceTheQuail]

I have had a number of lovies. The hens tend to become very cage aggressive in breeding season. Even our senior hen was an absolute terror in her younger days, when we would travel and they were being looked after, people would put gardening gloves on to change their food and water.

I had another hen who was worse, she would latch on and not let go even if you shook your hand, and drew quite a bit of blood. We had paper at the bottom of the cage back then, she would hide underneath it and sneak up on you when your hand was in the cage then pop out like a shark snapping away.

Dont euthenase the bird. If she went into an avairy, she'd be fine. It isnt true that they pine and die in an avairy, give them a week with the other birds and they regain their flock mentality, most of the time.

But what you need to do if you want to take away the nasty behavior is to get rid of anything that might be making her nesty. Take out any paper from the cage, or leaves or other nesting material. No happy huts, hammocks, or nesting boxes. The cage has to be plain, maybe with just a few toys. Dont overfeed them or give them too much sun because that also induces the nesting drive. Essentially anything that a lovie might find romantic, take out.

If she already has eggs and they are viable, then you'll just have to weather the storm. If she doesnt, then throw out the eggs as soon as she lays them.

We've been through what is going on with you, trying to curtail the nesting drive is the best way to tackle it IMO.

 

[DerTier]

There are numerous force free training sites for all species, no animal will respond in a healthy manner to what they see is you attacking them for no reason. That's all I will say on the matter as this is a trigger topic

 

[Betrisher]

Arash, I had to smile when I saw your photo. Our pair of lovebirds is exactly the same colour as yours. They're so pretty - like little jewels.

I'm finding that if I offer Petrucchia the stick with honey on the end, she's happy enough to chew on it for a short while before she comes to bite me. Also, it seems to be my hands she's really afraid of, so I've begun hiding them under a rag when I clean the cage and refresh the seed and water. She doesn't see the hands and stays a lot calmer, although she will still run up my arm to bite my face if I'm not careful.

We've begun keeping the cage close by the family as much as we can so Petrucchia gets used to seeing us and our hands. Maybe one day she'll lose her fear, maybe not. I have a feeling this will take lots of time, but that's OK. I have time.

I wish you luck with your bird. I certainly know how disappointing (and painful) it is when they bite.

Thank you for listening to the advice of our members! We've all had difficult birds to care for and we all know that slapping and shouting just don't work. If you slap and shout at your bird, he will NEVER trust you in the way you want. He might stop being naughty at first because you hurt him, but he will never love you the way you would want him to. It's good that you will try being patient with him. I think you will win that way.

Good luck with your little yellow bird. I hope he relaxes and becomes a sweet pet for you.

 

[Betrisher]

Hey Bruce! Thanks for your great advice! It really helps knowing others have had the same problem. Yes, we've taken all the paper and 'romantic' accessories out of the cage but (look away, those of you with an aversion to things of a sexy nature) - she's doing unutterable things to her whiffle balls! Not sitting on them like eggs, but sitting on them like - um - something else. It's *cringeworthy*! My poor son is very innocent even though he's forty and this new behaviour is driving him to distraction. This morning, he said 'Mum, I KNOW she's doing it again! I can hear the bells tinkling! Make her stop it!'

So the whiffle balls have to go as well.

I'll get some shreddy gumtree branches for her to pick at. Surely she won't see that as nesting material since it's so dry and spiky? I'll have to see how it pans out. If I can get another pair of Lovies from somewhere, I'm pretty sure I'll end up putting the Peachies in the aviary with the Masks. Our previous flock was four of each type and they got on well together. I think the Masks might get a bit aggro if they outnumber the Peachies, though, hence my search for another pair.

One other piece of news I have to share is that hubby and I were visiting our new house today and sitting having a quiet coffee under the trees. What should shoot by but a Pale-Headed Rosella! Wow! I've seen them in the area before, but only ever one or two. If this bloke is going to be a regular visitor to our place, I'll be a very happy chappie indeed!

LOL! Hubby has a hate-complex about the massive gumtrees (35 - 40m) my Mum planted forty years ago. He thinks they're nice enough, but resents the amount of twigs, branches and leaf litter they drop in the yard. Me, I LOVE 'em! At any given moment, there'll be dozens of birds of one kind or another yelling their little syrinxes out at top volume from our gumtrees. I think I can safely say I have arrived at that happy state: 'crazy old bird lady'.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Ah bless your son, still laughing at "make her stop!" Perhaps some whiffle balls without bells???

So looking forward to you taking up photography and seeing loads of pics of these Pale Headed Rosella's? Very happy for you, sounds idyllic.

Welcome to the 'crazy old bird lady club' very select you know, not just anyone can join!

 

[Scott]

So much of this thread highlights the best of ParrotForums! Difficult and divisive issues are well discussed and result in positive changes for the silent audience.... our birds!

 

[BruceTheQuail]

Haha, sounds similar to our female bunny who used to hump balloons. I'd draw little rabbit faces on the front, she'd have a go then they'd pop from her claws.

Our girls will shred anything is they are nesty, the trick is not to let it accumulate - so take the bits out each night.

With the avairy, I read somewhere that at least 3 pairs is OK, but less than that and they will fight. We have a pair of masks and a pair of cinniminos (sp?), even though the masked are smaller they try to be dominant when we let them out together (I'm pretty sure they are both girls, actually), but I've seen large avairies where they all seem to be fine together.

 

[Arash]

Arash, I had to smile when I saw your photo. Our pair of lovebirds is exactly the same colour as yours. They're so pretty - like little jewels.

I'm finding that if I offer Petrucchia the stick with honey on the end, she's happy enough to chew on it for a short while before she comes to bite me. Also, it seems to be my hands she's really afraid of, so I've begun hiding them under a rag when I clean the cage and refresh the seed and water. She doesn't see the hands and stays a lot calmer, although she will still run up my arm to bite my face if I'm not careful.

We've begun keeping the cage close by the family as much as we can so Petrucchia gets used to seeing us and our hands. Maybe one day she'll lose her fear, maybe not. I have a feeling this will take lots of time, but that's OK. I have time.

I wish you luck with your bird. I certainly know how disappointing (and painful) it is when they bite.

Thank you for listening to the advice of our members! We've all had difficult birds to care for and we all know that slapping and shouting just don't work. If you slap and shout at your bird, he will NEVER trust you in the way you want. He might stop being naughty at first because you hurt him, but he will never love you the way you would want him to. It's good that you will try being patient with him. I think you will win that way.

Good luck with your little yellow bird. I hope he relaxes and becomes a sweet pet for you.

Thank you very much. Lovebirds are so cute and adorable.
I accepted my method was wrong there are many exprienced people here like you which they know better than me how to treat with a birds and all said it was wrong. I will try my best to use other methods with out shouting and punishment to stop my little cute bird bitting me.

 

[Laurasea]

Read this from the beginning....this hormonal love bird had a terrible , hormonal life , laying eggs , stuck in breeding mode, started plucking, and just recently passed from egg binding, laid an egg and found dead with one still inside her..... These two birds were never separated in the end a cage divider was put in, but they were side by side. And she died. So love bird owners going through non stop egg laying take note, and do everything possible to knock them out of egg laying...

 

[PenClem]

Read this from the beginning....this hormonal love bird had a terrible , hormonal life , laying eggs , stuck in breeding mode, started plucking, and just recently passed from egg binding, laid an egg and found dead with one still inside her..... These two birds were never separated in the end a cage divider was put in, but they were side by side. And she died. So love bird owners going through non stop egg laying take note, and do everything possible to knock them out of egg laying...

I'm glad you bumped this thread, Laurasea. I read the whole thread and was sad to see how it ended for this little girl. As you may know from my posts, I have an aggressive Lovie hen with whom I'm currently working and it's an on-going struggle to make much headway. I've had her since she was 7 w/o and she's 3 y/o now and has turned into a bit of a lil' monster. The behaviorist attributed her behavior to a fear of my hands rather than hormones though. I think it may be a bit of both. I do everything I can to ensure she doesn't lay eggs or get "nesty" as I am terrified of egg-binding and what that can entail. My only hope is that she'll settle down and be a happy, well-adjusted bird again.

 

[gracebowen]

I don't know if y'all remember when I got Cora. It's been awhile now. She is still very hands off. She gets nesty quite often. She still occasionally bites me. I still can't touch her.

She will however land on my head and on me. She will step onto my shoulder. She will occasionally step into my arm. She will step onto a hanger. She will bath in my hands but still bites (pinches) me.
And best of all she just started taking food out of my hand. The she bit me when it was gone lol.

 

[gracebowen]

Her bites aren't hard and rarely break the skin.

 

[Anansi]

I don't know if y'all remember when I got Cora. It's been awhile now. She is still very hands off. She gets nesty quite often. She still occasionally bites me. I still can't touch her.

She will however land on my head and on me. She will step onto my shoulder. She will occasionally step into my arm. She will step onto a hanger. She will bath in my hands but still bites (pinches) me.
And best of all she just started taking food out of my hand. The she bit me when it was gone lol.

Nice! It sounds like you've made some progress with her. Baby steps, right?

I remember the feeling when I first got my mother's VERY hands off budgies to put one of their tiny feet on my finger and cautiously nibble food from my open hand for the first time. Nothing like it. My birds have learned to talk, fetch, discern between colors and more, but there's just something about that first moment a bird lowers his/her guard enough to venture onto your hand. Considering the relative immensity of our hands to their tiny little bodies, that's a lot of trust. It's special.