Hi everyone!
I'm a first time lovebird owner but long time lover. I received my first ever birdie on my birthday about a week ago, his name is Blu. I call him a "he" even though he hasn't been gender determined yet, but his name fits for both! I has told he was hand fed and tamed, but he absolutely doesn't seem like it.
The first day I had him I took some bad advise from my dad, who says his mother had birds around the house all the time. He told me to just reach in his carrier cage and grab him. I had to chase him around his cage until I caught him and he was terrified. I learned that this wasn't going to work with him and didn't want to push him.
He has a huge day cage filled with toys and a little mirror with a perch and a sleeping/travel cage, which is small and fits inside the larger cage with ease. At first, when it was time for bed I'd use my hand to almost scare him into his cage. He is absolutely terrified of my hand and me in general. However, he doesn't mind my two kitties at all. Koco the male cat is scared of Blu and keeps his distance. Muffin the female is curious and will sit by the cage without putting her paws on it and will sniff her. Blu actually comes close to Muffin and will let himself be sniffed out, but not with me.
I like leaving the cage open for him while I'm in the room, no kitties yet, and he will glide around (he is clipped). He's not shy to explore, he simply doesn't like me yet.
I understand its crazy scary for him right now, so I decided to stop trying to touch him altogether. When its bed time I will put his little cage inside the large one and bring it towards him. He hops in and I close the door. During the day I do the same but let him out in the big cage. I also try to change his food and water one if he is in the opposite side of the cage.
He will not even try getting close to millet or fruit, so I cant exactly coax him towards my hand. The one thing that has worked is me cupping his food dish in my hand and have him eat from it.
I set his cage next to my bed or on a side table in the couch so he can be near me but feel safe. I talk to him a lot and make my own commentary on whatever I watching just to get him used to me.
Is there anything I can do to help him feel more comfortable with me and his space?
Thank you!