How to Tame a New Lovebird

Question
Hi Chrys.

Cedar just seems scared of me in general. The pet store assures me he was hand raised...but when I do take him out he runs away and tries to hide from me.

He will eat out of my fingers when I offer him some millet in his cage, but refuses to come out and sit anywhere near me. He runs to the other side of the room and glaces apprehensively at me from behind various objects.

Would handling him in a smaller room be better?

Thanks

Sheryl

-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Hi Chrys

I just got a baby lovebird a couple of days ago to replace one that just recently died. My new lovebird (Cedar) is about 6 months old and the petstore I got him from usually sells hand-raised birds. The only problem is that little kids will ususally put their hands in the birds' cages and torment the lovebirds, so Cedar is having a hard time learning to trust me.

Any idea what I can do to try build a loving and caring relationship with my new little guy?

I don't know where to start!

Answer -
Hi, Sheryl.  Thanks for posting!

Your new lovie may not have had enough time yet to settle down in his new environment in your home, nor has s/he had time to get used to you yet.  The amount of time this might take depends on the individual situation.  

I recommend you find out for sure if your lovebird was, in fact, handfed as a baby...it is important to know if s/he was imprinted on humans as a baby (makes taming easier and knowing where to start in the process).  

Once your lovebird seems to be settled down, open his/her cage door and let s/he come out on his/her own.  You can then start to interact with s/he a little just to see how s/he reacts to you.  This reaction will tell you what steps you need to take next.

To gain trust with your lovebird, when you're watching TV in the evening or surfing the net, washing dishes, folding laundry, etc., let your lovie sit with you (on your shoulder, on the chair arm, etc.).  When you have dinner, let your lovie sit with you (give s/he some of your dinner), etc.  If you have problems from the beginning with your new bird, you may have to take s/he into another room, away from the cage and other distractions, and work with s/he slowly and gradually, but this depends on how s/he reacts initially.  Your lovebird may fear your fingers/hands because of the poking/prodding from the pet stop and you may have to live with this if you can't bring her around (some birds never get over their fear of fingers).

My website has additional information that might help you:

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

Come back with any questions.

Chrys


Answer
Hi again, Sheryl.

If you've only had this bird a few days/week, s/he is likely scared of you!  You're new to the bird and so is it's new surroundings.  This is why you need to let s/he settle down before trying to do anything.  Let the bird tell you when s/he is ready.  This doesn't mean you have to ignore your new lovie...just take things at his/her speed.  Don't force the bird to do anything right away.  Give s/he some time.  

Your lovie may have been handfed as a baby, but if s/he is 6 months old now, and been in a pet shop for a while, then this explains the bird's behavior.  The lovebird was probably weaned at about 2 months of age, then has spent several months (?) in the pet shop where customers likely poked and prodded at your bird all day.  This is one way  parrots learn to distrust humans and to hate fingers!  Your goal is to rebuild this trust, but it takes knowledge on your part, time, and patience.

I don't think you should take your lovie into another room yet, at this point in time...it could make matters worse.  I think s/he probably needs more time to get used to it's new surroundings.  If this lovie imprinted on humans as a baby, this should come back.  It may take time, but as your new lovie gets used to you and his/her new environment in your home, things should get better.  Don't ignore your bird and you can try to do as much as you can with him/her, but don't force the issue yet.  I know you're anxious, but give it some time!  

Chrys