HEYA EVERYONE.

[cam98]

HI from England.
My name is Cameron (but you can call me Cam if you want)I lived in south africa before i came to England in south africa I was given 6 lovebird chicks by a friend I had no experience at all but accepted them as i knew theyed probably have a better chance of survival with me.I managed to save 1 chick wich i called swut.He was a wonderful bird and i loved him loads but unfortunately i had to leave him in south africa.I now(in England) currently own two lovebirds called Ying and Yang.Ying is a red faced lutino and Yang is a creamino with a pinkish/orange forehead, there both completely wild and always zoom into there nestbox at 5000000 miles per hour(faster than lightning I swear they should be called lightning and sound :) )whenever I come into the room.Speaking about nestboxes they currently have a few eggs(I cant check without scaring them)wich they are in the procces of incubating I dont know if there fertile ill just hope for the best.If the eggs do hatch im hoping to handraise one chick. :eek:
Any suggestions on how to make lovies tame'er without catching them :D and also on how to get them to try new fruits and vegies would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks loads
CAM

[bellarains]

Hi Cam,

The best way to earn a lovies trust is to talk to them, chirp back to them when they chirp, and interact with them everyday, but..... let them come to you of their own accord. As they learn that you are not going to hurt them, only care and love for them, they will start to accept you as part of their flock. Some birds never take to hands, but you will have a relationship with them.

As far as fruits and veggies, offer them daily, and eat some in front of them making "YUMMM" noises in excited tones. Lovies love excited tones, and generally if you have it, they want it :)

Keep us updated on your progress, and please post us some pics in the photo forum of your little ones.

TTYL,

Lori

[mangotiki]

half of my birds would not touch anything at all that i chopped up. i bought some broccoli slaw, which is shredded broccoli, carrot and cabbage, and they all went nuts for it. I think that was because of two things...first, it was not as moist as the veggies i chopped/shredded myself, and two, it was shaped in long stringy shapes. some other suggestions are making a carrot perch, hanging things from the top of the cage, stringing veggies and fruits on a string (looks like a toy), using a dish other than their food dish, and making birdy bread, in which you can hide anything they wont try. there are some good recipes here in one of the forums.

once you are finished with the babies, i would remove the nest box. sit near the cage and talk to them, try offering millet through the bars. eventually they will take things from your hands, and you can try to coax them onto a perch with some millet. My Malibu only got millet when she came to me. Eventually she started to fly to me when she was out of her cage, I think she was looking for some. She still hates hands, though, but will sit on my shoulder when she feels like it.

As far asthe babies, the general consensus here is that if you spend alot of time socializing the babies, from when their eyes open, it is possible to have a nice tame bird that is parent fed (alot healthier, safer and easier) than hand feeding. I am trying that right now.

good luck. let us knowhow it goes with the eggies.

Traci

[cam98]

Hi everyone
Thanks for the information tonight i found a infertile egg at the bottom of the cage, :( cracked. does anyone know what this means or what i must do??????
Thanks loads
CAM

[bellarains]

Hey Cam,

If the egg is cracked and leaking, toss it out. If it is not leaking, you can put in a nestbox. If there is any doubt, I would toss it out, as bacteria can build up if it leaks.

TTYL,

Lori

[mangotiki]

Cam, I just thought I would ask just in case...do you have anything in the nest box for the hen to nest in?

Traci

[cam98]

Traci
Ive got lots of palm fronds wich Ying has covered the nestbox with.
CAM