Tips on Helping a Lovebird Warm Up?

[SlenderSphere]

Hello! This is the first time I've posted to any forum in a long while, but I thought it would be extremely helpful to garner some tips. I recently purchased a Peach-Faced Lovebird last Saturday that I have named Palmer. I also purchased the necessities (larger cage, toys, cuttlebone, etc.) and have him placed next to a dresser so he doesn't have to patrol as many sides of the cage. I plan to get his wings clipped tomorrow, as people have said that it makes them a bit more dependent towards you.

I understand that you can't expect any animal to immediately grow onto you.

I just have a few questions regarding him:

1. Most of the time he is afraid of hands. If you place your hand near him outside of his cage he will fly to another perch and chirp once or twice. If you attempt to hand-feed him or even place your hand inside to change food or water, he flies in many different directions and makes a lot of noise. I say most because there have been times where he has eaten kale while i was holding it in my fingers, and even times I have been able to pet his tummy and cheek through the bars. How can I slowly help him get used to my hands?

2. The person I purchased the bird from said his colors haven't come through all the way because he is a minimum 2 months old. When should I expect the coloration on his face become bolder?

3. Are lovebirds able to lose their voices for a short time? On the second day of staying with me, lots of noise was made. When I woke up the next morning, he had sounded a bit raspy and still does to some extent. He can chirp clearly, but they are occasional. I had searched it up and only came up with pages telling about how he can be sick. Should I ask the vet about this when I take him to get his wings clipped?

4. What are the best toys for a lovebird? So far I have a wooden swing, a ladder, and a series of plastic rings with a bell on the end. I am interested in the plastic balls with bells inside of them for when he eventually comes outside of his cage, but other than that they are all the toys. I plan to purchase more soon. Any suggestions?

Hopefully you can help me give my lovebird the best home he can have! Thank you! <3

P.S. Here is a picture of him!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Palmer, thanks for joining!

I have no experience with Lovebirds, but we have many enthusiastic members who count them as treasured companions. It generally take time for a bird to feel comfortable and responsive in a new home. Much depends on the species, age, past experience, and your home. Taking a slow and supportive approach is best, and certainly providing the basics of safety, shelter (cage) and proper nutrition.

You may find the following helpful:
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[YUMgrinder]

I'd like to hear from others, but I feel like being extra handsy is helpful in getting a small bird like a lovebird to be ok with being picked up. I got my lovebird from the shelter and the lady that had him for 3 years worked there. She told me and showed me how to avoid her beak when cleaning the cage and stuff cause once she was able to reach, she'd take a chunk out of your skin.

I had her stepping up and no biting in one day. I just kept picking her up and talking nicely and petting her. A little strict grab of the beak when she nipped was all it took to stop it. She still lunges at my gf if she's in her cage (territorial?) but almost never for me. She's a sweetheart. also, showing them that they can bite and it doesn't bother me helps. they learn that biting doesn't get a response.

About his voice, my lovebird has a very wide range with her voice. She chirps and squeaks and warbles. It's extremely cute and she mimics my gf when she clicks her tongue. Her voice sounds raspy sometimes but I guess I don't exactly know what you mean completely by raspy.

I haven't had much luck in getting my lovebird to play although she does seem to like hanging items likes swings and the loop chew toys I hang from their living room perch. I also haven't had much luck in getting her to take treats. So I can't answer those questions. birds will have their favorite toys so get a wide variety and see what he likes, then you will know what toys to replenish once they become wore out.

My lovebird is a specatular flyer. She can hover and land on me without me even knowing she's there. So light on her feet. Yes I believe in clipping them from the start to encourage bonding. At first, boomer would fly back to her cage as soon as she could, I didn't clip her cause I enjoyed watching her fly (she doesn't show any signs of being a danger to herself as she could change directions on a dime, larger birds not so graceful sometimes) and now she doesn't fly unless she really wants to go to her perch or I initiate her flight by showing her where I want to go and gently doing a toss motion to get her up in the air although she rarely goes where I tell her, but she almost always goes to the same places, her cage or the perch or the couch. Anyways I tend to ramble so I will leave it at that. Lovebirds are amazing and so darn cute I am thinking of getting a male for my little girl and seeing if she wants to start a family.

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ YUMgrinder "I am thinking of getting a male for my little girl and seeing if she wants to start a family"

Are you sure about this, you may find this link informative? I do not believe it is hang a box and leave them to it, you will need to have equipment even if its never used as you cannot guess how the parents will do with chicks and any signs of them not coping and it's all over to you!

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/lovebirdbreeding.html#1

 

[YUMgrinder]

@ YUMgrinder "I am thinking of getting a male for my little girl and seeing if she wants to start a family"

Are you sure about this, you may find this link informative? I do not believe it is hang a box and leave them to it, you will need to have equipment even if its never used as you cannot guess how the parents will do with chicks and any signs of them not coping and it's all over to you!

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/lovebirdbreeding.html#1

Thank you for the link! I have not bred or cared for baby parrots ever so it currently is just a thought. Boomer lays eggs every year apparently and she's over 3 years old so she should have solid instincts on caring for a family? Anyways I am prepared to get the equipment I need in case I need to step in but my first thought is to let the parents raise them. I've bottle fed other animal infants, not any birds, but would like to learn. I've been throwing the idea around in my head that I want to breed my parrots later down the road. My parrots are all very young at this point anyways. I want doesn't mean I will. I think I would be good at it though but who knows...

 

[LordTriggs]

Don't wing clip to make them dependent on you please!

Sure it may take a couple more days to tame them but they'll be all the better for it. use the link scott provided, it will take time but they live long so what does an extra few days matter. It's also necessary to allow them flight for a minimum of 6 months to develop their muscles and air sacks helping them be healthy

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ YUMgrinder "I am thinking of getting a male for my little girl and seeing if she wants to start a family"

Are you sure about this, you may find this link informative? I do not believe it is hang a box and leave them to it, you will need to have equipment even if its never used as you cannot guess how the parents will do with chicks and any signs of them not coping and it's all over to you!

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/lovebirdbreeding.html#1

Thank you for the link! I have not bred or cared for baby parrots ever so it currently is just a thought. Boomer lays eggs every year apparently and she's over 3 years old so she should have solid instincts on caring for a family? Anyways I am prepared to get the equipment I need in case I need to step in but my first thought is to let the parents raise them. I've bottle fed other animal infants, not any birds, but would like to learn. I've been throwing the idea around in my head that I want to breed my parrots later down the road. My parrots are all very young at this point anyways. I want doesn't mean I will. I think I would be good at it though but who knows...

You may find in terms of tameness and wanting to know you they wont bother, something to think about. Also if everything goes to plan raising healthy chicks then the next thing is to find good homes?

 

[YUMgrinder]

Don't wing clip to make them dependent on you please!

Sure it may take a couple more days to tame them but they'll be all the better for it. use the link scott provided, it will take time but they live long so what does an extra few days matter. It's also necessary to allow them flight for a minimum of 6 months to develop their muscles and air sacks helping them be healthy

just remember they can be a risk to themselves if not clipped. And a scared, amateur flier can smash into a wall or window. BUT I personally feel a bird should also be allowed to learn. soo... I guess it'll end up being a decision of preference. Do you clip them, allow them to settle in and by the time their feathers have returned they will be much less skiddish, or do you allow them to learn to fly while also having the stress of a new home? I know that ALL birds sold from my local petstore come clipped already so I don't think it's absolutely necessary for them learn before being clipped since all their breeders do it. but I suspect a bird that has learned to fly will have a happier and more confident life in the long run.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I personally am not a fan of wing clipping. But, clipping to make them more dependent on you is wrong and cruel. The bird is forced to step up and stay with you, what you may think of as bonding is really the bird being terrified but having no choice. As to clipping for safety, it's a lot more work with a flighted bird, but well worth it because the bird is happy and healthy. You need to disable your ceiling fans, install screens on your windows, cover windows with curtains or blinds, close doors behind you, and recall train your bird but in return your bird is so much happier and so much more interesting than a bird that just sits on a stand all day. And people with clipped birds miss out on their birds flying to them because they want to, not because they are forced. As to birds crashing into walls and windows if scared, experienced fliers that have never been clipped never crash into things. My cockatiel, Ducky, is fully flighted. My conure, Kermit, was clipped by the breeder but can still fly. The flighted cockatiel has NEVER crashed into anything since he learned to fly after his feathers grew out. He flies laps around the room and sometimes gets close to a wall, but always quickly turns around with such precision that it's never been a problem. The clipped conure can still fly in a straight line, but cannot gain altitude, fly very fast, or turn corners. He cannot avoid objects such as walls and windows because he cannot make those quick reactions like Ducky. He has hit a wall twice so far and once he fell into a crevice that was hard to reach. He was fine, but would have been much safer if he could fly well. Another time I was closing a door and Ducky was flying after me. He got pretty close to being crushed by the door, but turned around very quickly and avoided it. If he was clipped, he would not have been so lucky. Clipped birds can still fly, but clumsily and they are more susceptible to some dangers than flighted birds, such as getting stepped on while walking on the floor and not being able to get away, falling in the toilet from not being able to fly upward and avoid it, and getting crushed by doors. And clipped birds can still fly away if taken outside and startled. But if clipped to the point they cannot fly, they can injure themselves by crash landing in an attempt to fly. So clipped birds are not necessarily safer, but susceptible to different kinds of accidents.

 

[LordTriggs]

yes a good point. If they're in danger of hurting themselves being flighted then clip but IMO that's the only reason to.

If you do decide to clip please remember that if they get outside they can and will fly off so don't leave windows open ETC when they're out and of course watch where you step!

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

When people say their flighted birds crash into things and hurt themselves, those birds were previously clipped. When their feathers grew back, they didn't have the coordination to fly well and avoid objects. Birds that have never been clipped don't crash into things, they are strong fliers and learn to avoid objects when they are young. People try and let their birds feathers regrow but when they see that they aren't confident flyers, they clip them again and don't give them time to improve their flight skills. Ducky was previously clipped, but I allowed him to learn how to fly in my bird room, which has no ceiling fans and curtains on the windows. Now that he knows how to fly and avoid objects he has no problem with flying around the house. My budgie was only very lightly clipped when we got her, but she stays in the bird room because she isn't fully tame and she would be difficult to catch if she flew around the house. I'm just so desperate for Kermit to grow his feathers back so he can really experience flight. Currently I'm working on recall training him right now, and he's doing well except that he's a little hesitant since he's not very confident in his abilities. Ducky is recall trained, and Bluebell isn't trained just because she never leaves the bird room. I wish more people would understand that birds are meant to fly and that they shouldn't get a bird if they're going to render it flightless.