You are here:

Birds--General/Taming a crazy lovebird

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/10/2006


Question
Hello,
I hand-fed/raised a baby peachface lovebird, but for some reason he is terrified of me(at least my hands) I have tried just about everything to get him to bond. I had a lovebird before, and had no problem what so ever. It seems that the one I have now loved me when I was raising him but as soon as he was weaned he turned against me especially after we cliped his wings. What can I do? he is starting to bite, before he would just run.
Thanks

Answer
Hi, Anna.  Thanks for posting.

If you handfed this baby lovebird (how long did you handfeed this bird and at what age did you start handfeeding?), and if he is terrified of you/your hands, then something went wrong during the process.  I don't know what you can do in this situation.  Were you handfeeding this lovebird with baby parrot handfeeding formula using a handfeeding syringe?  Did you pull the baby from the parents completely at about 10 days of age and handfeed 4 times per day?  At what age did he wean?  Clipping of wings itself shouldn't affect tameness...did something happen in the process of clipping the wings?  Did you clip them correctly (perhaps something is amiss causing the bad behavior)?

In order to help you, I need as much detailed information about what has happened in this lovebird's life up to now.

Biting is a learned behavior in caged bird's.  This lovebird has learned from humans that biting gets him what he wants.  

Thanks.

Chrys  

Birds--General

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.