Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/18/2007

Question
Hello, Chrys I have read your answer to bird solutions and find them
very useful.

 I need your help also {:>). I am one of them who purchase a beautiful
peach face lovebird recently from a pet store and yes he is untamed. I
am on the 3rd day and he is slowly coming along meaning that he was so
afraid of me and would not let me get near him so I comfort him talk to
him "Lenny" very softly and he is so curious so he finally came out of
his cage because I was tearing up newspaper and that just made him want
to join in he was all over in the cage and then he finally flew out.
But will not let me get close to him finally I used a step down command
on the end of my golf club and he calmly step down and I put him back
in
his cage. So do I perhaps have a slight chance he will come to me
instead of using my golf club?
  
 Sign taming my "Len"


Answer
Hi, Chaz.  Thanks for posting!

I think it's too early to tell with your bird!  If you've only owned this bird for 3 or 4 days now, the bird needs time to settle down in his/her new environment in your home and get used to you first.  You might be expecting too much too soon!

You're off to a good start so far.  The fact that your bird was curious as to what you were doing and wanted to join in is a good start.  Does your lovie already know what a step down command is?  If so, you're better off than you think (or did the bird just want to go into it's cage so badly that it stepped down, on a golf club no less!).

It usually helps if you have the bird's wing flight feathers trimmed.  Your bird will still be able to fly, but will not be able to gain altitude.  This would make it easier for you to work with this bird.  Keeping flight feathers trimmed also helps keep a tame bird tame.  

Give your bird more time to settle down, work with your bird slowly and gradually, be sure to always reward positive behavior and never reward negative behavior.  Visit my website for more information you might need in working with your bird:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys