The new bird...

[goldnyght]

We got her about two weeks ago, so thus far I was thinking maybe she just wasn't settle in yet, but as I said, its been a couple of weeks.

To the problem: The little birdy girl is sometimes very calm about being picked up (peeping, but not biting or squawking or elsewise) but most of the time she bites. Hard. She's actually drawn blood (which is something I've never seen my baby pete boy do) a few times, and I'm starting to wonder what's going on? I've tried luring her onto my hand (got fingers, knuckles, followed by arm and neck bitten) I've tried picking her up the way I pick up Pete (thumb down to stand on, other fingers curled to hide under) and she tore up the inside of my hands, heck, I even tried the perch trick (tore up the perch and hid under the cabinet).

I'm at a complete loss, help!

[kimsbirds]

In a nutshell....

Your birdie isn't ready to be handled! There is no trust in you yet, so forcing the issue isn't going to be beneficial at all. Sounds like you need to slow down and let this bird set the pace!!:) How long will this all take? Who knows....a few weeks, months? Trust can't be given a time-frame, and your bird is telling you that you're moving too fast. Patience is needed to win over this one....I hope you'll sit back and get to know one another through simple talking, chirping and establishing a regular routine of care that your bird requires. :)
Best of Luck !
K

[Janie]

I agree with Kimmie. I adopted an older bird that was tame and stepped up from day one (long before I got him) but I did not attempt to hold him for at least 2 months after getting him. Some birds don't like being held so before I attempted it, I wanted to be sure Oliver had learned to trust me. My favorite lovebird book, "The Lovebird Handbook" says that taming might take up to six months. I doubt it would take that long but I would let your new bird go at his/her pace. I'm sure that already having a bird that doesn't mind being handled makes it a little harder to be patient with a new one but that is what I'd suggest. :)

[goldnyght]

it isn't so much that I want to push it (pete is loving enough for me several times over) It's that sometimes I need to get her back in her cage and can't wait for her to wander in by herself. This leaves me three options: grab the lovie and stick her in (most practical), shoo the lovie in with something else (questionable as she tends to get under low furniture), or leave her out while I'm gone. (The door, apparently is not lovie proof and she can squeeze under it, putting her in cat territory with a butchered clip job)

[Lindades264]

Hello,
I agree with the others. I also use "The Lovebird Handbook". You can get the same info on parrotparrot.com. One of my babies (Baby is her name), started to bite me at about 2 months of age. A few things that I learned are: invite her up and do not pick her up; never put my hands in her cage; talk to her when she bites and explain that this is not acceptable; take her into a room away from the other birds and spend one on one time with her. She rarely ever bites me and it is usually to let me know she is not happy about something. I have learned to respect her and invite her up. She does come onto my hand when she wishes to, not when I want her to. Hope this helps. Bye for now. Linda

[Lindades264]

Yes, I totally understand this. It is sometimes difficult to get the bird back in the cage. Can you just let her out when you are going to be home until she is trained. If not, maybe you could entice her with millet, hang it in the cage. I have one bird similar to yours, who does not like to be touched, he runs from my hands, he does not bite though. I was able to teach him 'home'. When I say 'home' he goes back into his cage. All this does take time and patience. Bye for now.

[Janie]

Leaving her out is not an option. Mine are in a bird proof room and I would never leave them out when I leave the house. I agree with Linda's suggestion of letting her out when you know you won't be pushed for time to get her back in. I really do feel for you because this is something that I never had to deal with. My last two were pulled and hand fed and I could hold them the day I brought them home. They have no fear of hands and learned to step up very quickly after I got them. They also did not and do not mind at all if I grab them but neither was afraid of anything and that was obvious. I gave Oliver a lot more distance for the first couple of months because I felt he needed it, being re-homed at his age. But, even he was easy because he has never once failed to "step-up" when I put my finger up to him and told him to.

The millet suggestion is a good one, too. I need to work on that "home" command! I like that idea! I think Linda (board owner) uses that with a few of her larger parrots. :)

[Oscar]

When I first got Oscar and Zoey,(both hand raised and fed) Oscar was always the biter!Zoey would be at the door waiting to come out when we would enter the room never batting an eyelash at our hands.. well oscar loved loved loved to hide in the back of the cage refusing to budge! So what we used to do, was really fuse over Zoey, whislting to her, treating her to veggies and snacks, of course in the same room oscar was in soo he could see all the loveable action ahha! eventually he would venture out to us and come over very willingly!. i would never pick him up i would just place my hand beside him when he was near and he soon came very familiar with my hand and steps up and got a treat.. so as you could probably figure he was soon the one who wanted to always come out and play! Now he is just the sweetest lovie!he cuddles in my neck and never bites! so don't ya worry! in time your lovie will come to you! all it takes is time!

[goldnyght]

Yeah, I try to only let her out when I know I have time, but things are very very hectic in the house right now (my boyfriend is fighting for custody of his son and things are getting very ugly) and people keep coming up to visit (I don't want to scare her more) So a lot of the time I end up having to rush her back in, against my better judgement. She is hesitantly eating millet while I hold it, if I stand at arms length merely because PEte gets nibbles nearly every time he steps up.

(sighs) Difficult poor little baby.

[Lindades264]

Hi,

A couple other things have come to mind with the additional info you have provided. Is it possible she senses your stress? If so, please spend time talking with her calmly when there is no commotion in the house. Another thing, do you cover her? My birds need at least 10 hours of dark time each night. Also, when there are many visitors to the house, maybe cover her, it may be too overwhelming for her. I cover my birds when I have company if I think it may be too much for them. These are just a few things that have come to mind. Keep up the good work. You are doing a good job.

[sdgilley]

Along the lines of Linda's advice, if things are too hectic in my livingroom I move my birds to my bedroom. They prefer the livingroom, but sometimes it's too much.