Lovebird advise

[mageicial]

Hi, I found a lovebird outside of my house 2 days ago and at first I thought it was a baby bird (since it was small and I have no experience with birds so I didn't know that it's a lovebird). It doesn't seem to know how to fly well, and so I took it into the house.

I noticed that there is a band on one of its legs and I tried searching for its owner through Google and various social media but I can't find anyone looking for a missing bird.

Since it's here with me, I bought some perches, a cage, and food for (him?). I also read up about birds and if I'm not wrong, it's a Avorio Cobalto Violetto (is there another name for it?)

Currently I am feeding it with Vitakraft African for lovebirds and some fruits like apple and grapes.

I guess that it is still not used to the environment and my family members. Whenever I change the water and food in its cage, it will always climb to the highest point and opposite of where I am. I also tried putting my hand near it (outside of the cage), and it will walk away.

Yesterday night, it kept making this sound which I'm assuming that its happy? I managed to got it on video and uploaded it on YouTube [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdJKj7Q_5Wk&feature=youtu.be"]Lovebird chirping - YouTube[/ame]

It is also constantly trying to get out of the cage. Sometimes it will become super active and start climbing all around and pacing back and forth at ground level.


I need help as this is the first time I'm having a pet bird.
What other food should I feed it? I read articles that suggested things like bread, vegetable, and even chicken?!
Should I let it come out of its cage? Or should I let it get used to me first?
How to you make sure that it doesn't poop on me?
Is there a way to tell its age? And for gender, is there really no way to tell other than blood test?
How should I bath it? Do I just place a bowl of water and it will do the job itself?
Do they need beds? Currently it sleep at the highest point in the cage.

Thanks so much for reading this!

 

[EAI]

Thank god you were able to help/her. The first thing that should be done is to take him/her to an AVIAN certified vet. They might have the band number in the record and can locate their owner. And being in the open, it's susceptible to multiple diseases. It'll most likely get a wing clip to prevent flying off again.

Your lovebird doesn't seem to be afraid of hands, he/she just needs to get used to them, being that their a new thing. Try offering treats: millets,sunflowers, dried-bird-safe-fruits and see what he likes. Every time you walk near, offer him treats and see if he's intrigued by your presence.

The cage is quite small, but if you do let the Lovebird out for at least an hour a day, it should be fine. In your case, try let him get used to you first. Do you have any other pets in the house?
Lovebirds are known escapee's and will try everything to get out. Try take the cage to a bathroom (make sure no fumes or smells are in their like candles, air fresheners) and let the bird out on it's own. My experience is that if you let him/her explore they might want to start climbing on you and that's how they might start bonding.

Chicken should be in small quantities, as well as eggs. Try putting in cuttle bone, the beak seems fine and not overgrown but might he (sorry, I'll refer to it as a male so it's easier) need some extra calcium. Most fruits and vegetables are safe for birds-the big "NO's" are avocado, caffeine, sugar, salt, dairy, and of course-chocolate. Non-toxic for birds list and a list of things that are toxic for birds.

He'll poop on you anyways, there's no guarantee that he won't. Best results (on a small bird) are when you let it dry, flick it off, and wipe off the rest with a wet paper towel.

The age would be nearly impossible, the picture suggests an older bird. Rule of thumb is that a female is stockier than a male, but you can also use feathers. Avian Biotech is a cheap easy way to test.

Try see if he likes to bathe on his own, you don't want him afraid of spray bottles and having to bathe!

They don't need beds, the closest bird bed you'll get is a bird hut (some are dangerous). But the cage would be too small to accommodate one. Sleeping at the highest point is natural, it's where they feel safest sleeping.

 

[mageicial]

Thanks EAI. I'm planning to get a new cage for him as the current one is a used one that is very old.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-S02/dp/B0012DOXE8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413181237&sr=1-1&keywords=Vision+S02]Amazon.com : Vision Bird Cage Model S02 - Small : Pet Supplies[/ame]
Is this cage too small (the width)


[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-L01/dp/B0012DOXFC/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413182041&sr=1-6"]http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-L01/dp/B0012DOXFC/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413182041&sr=1-6[/ame]


Which cage is better or do you have other recommendations?



If I let the bird out, how do I get it back in? Lure it using food?

And what sound is it making in the video?

 

[EAI]

I personally choose a longer cage than a higher cage but both seem perfectly fine to house a Lovebird.

You can simply place your bird back in the cage by having him/her on a perch and putting him/her back inside. The larger the door the easier it is IME. I usually take Gizmo out 2 hours before he gets hungry, that makes him more eager to get back inside his cage. But luring it with food is completely fine too, try leave the cage door open so when he's/she's hungry they'll just go inside.

I haven't paid much attention to vocalization but I believe that could be a flock call? Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[mageicial]

I tried letting it out of its cage (it took more than 10 minutes to get out with the doors wide open) and it started flying all around and refusing to come to me. It kept trying to fly out of the window and bumped into it a few times. I guess that I have to let it get used to me before letting it out again...

 

[EAI]

Parrots aren't like dogs and can take a while for them to bond with you.

First off, though, is to close the windows to make sure your lovebird won't try to fly out again. It's a heated topic, but if you plan on bonding try take him/her into a vet to get a wing trim. This is supposed to help make your bird more dependent on you speeding up the taming process.
This doesn't mean you should force or try to speed the training, but it should make it easier.

Continue spending time around your bird so he/she'll know you better and have a better trust with you.

 

[Taw5106]

Welcome aboard, lol. My first was a budgie parakeet I found shivering on the window seal OUTSIDE in February when I was around 13. I ran and told my mother, we went outside, leaving the front door open looking for him and he flew inside the house. We had to get food and a cage. He was so happy with his cage he wouldn't come out, lol. We named our blue budgie Tweety to go with our orange and white cat Sylvester, lol. It made perfect sense at the time.

Be patient, give him time to warm up and get use to his new surroundings. Food is a winner to help build comfort in my book. Talk and whistle at him, he will come muni ate back and those are great building blocks.

 

[mageicial]

In the first 2 days, he didn't really chirp. But after that, every morning and evening, he will chirp for an hour or more and even "communicate" with other birds outside. If he heard some bird noises, he will just join in.

When I let it out yesterday, it started flying very quickly. On the first day before we caught him, I noticed that it didn't really have the energy to fly. I'm guessing that he has been lost for weeks or even months and he didn't get enough food out there in the wild.

 

[EAI]

Being domesticated parrots, they don't have the opportunity to forage everyday as if in the wild. So if your parrot flew away, it wouldn't have a clue on finding food since food was given to them.
Thats why foraging toys are really recommended. Not only does it help with their mental health it stimulates their natural instincts and behavior in the wild.

Glad to hear he's getting accustomed to his environment! Again, I'd recommend a wing trim to make sure he won't be able to fly out or hurt himself. Also, try placing stickers on windows or the mirrors - better to cover it completely - so he'll know he can't fly outside.

Were you able to take him an avian vet?