How do you know......

[gbird]

If your fid really loves you? Seriously, how do you know if it's real or just because you feed him, and play with them....what are the signs of real love?

[Alyce Johnson]

When they draw the blood of anyone else who tries to come between the two of you!

My macaw considers my husband her great "rival" since she's sure I'm her "mate". On the other hand, our eldest GC conure is convinced my husband his her personal property, and will bite chunks out of me if I try to come between the two of them when they're together. (She's perfectly nice to me when he's not around - but she doesn't love me like she does him.)

You can just tell. Yesterday my macaw (who is blind) came down onto the little "porch" door of her cage and made "kissy" noises at me - without me doing it first. She just wanted a kiss! She wanted some affection from me. She also likes to groom me. She will very gently "groom" my eyelashes and the corners of my eyes & she will run her dry little tongue all over my face, check inside my ears & so on. It's really sweet!

And of course, I love her dearly too - it's truly a two way love affair!
People comment on it who see us interact. They say how clear it is that we love each other.

You can just tell if they've bonded with someone. It takes time though, for that bond to develop. They have to be given the chance to develop trust in you, and affection for you. They can tell if you're doing special little things for them & really care for them & usually they'll reciprocate over time...you just have to love them first, and have faith that they'll come to love you over time.

Conures, especially the aratinga genus like yours, are especially fiesty by nature, IME. So it takes some time to develop a special bond with such a high spirited creature. On the other hand, they're really social and love to be with their flock mates! Also, they're very smart, and will definitely notice if you bring them special food treats, or give them a nice large pan of clean lukewarm water to bathe in, for example. They're very sensitive to modifications made for their comfort. So if you "pander" to your little birdie, it will warm up to you more and more as time goes on.

Conures are capable of being very possessive and very tightly bonded to "their" person. So if you don't feel you have that special bond yet with your bird, please don't despair. Yours is also still just a baby and will need to test it's independence. (Which typically might involve nipping you and being a bit "rebellious" - it's sorta like the "terrible twos" in human toddlers! ) But don't worry - s/he will outgrow that phase. If you're wondering how your bird feels about you it's probably just that it's not an adult yet, and is still trying to figure out it's place in the world. Once it is more mature, it will "settle in" and then it will be more likely to develop a stronger, more adult bond to the chosen person.

[gbird]

Yeah, Baby does the exact same kind of grooming thing. He also loves to cuddle. His new trick is to climb inside whatever I'm wearing....turn over on his back with just his head sticking out the neck line, and sit there for hours, purring, and nibbling gently on my finger.

I was just wondering. I'm a bit insecure, and wondered if it was real love, or just a pet who knows where his next meal is coming from...lol

Thanx

[dmina]

Here is a name idea...
I was looking at that beautiful bird of yours.. and it reminds me of Spumoni...
You know, the ice cream... I don't know why...it just came to me... LOL
I don't know if it is spelled right either..

Well I know my birds love me when they are playing and doing their own stuff and I stop what I am doing and sit down... and they come running over to me for some lovin'
and I smile...
Denise


Oh well after reading I guess your birdy does have a name.... sorry.. In your signature line it says Name & Sex ? so I thought you could not decide on a name....LOL...my mistake...

[Tiki]

All my adult birds are fully flighted. They can fly anywhere they want to. Yet they choose to me with me even when I don't have any treats. I walk in the room and they are all over me! When I bring them in the bedroom, they fly down and give me sweet little birdie kisses! If a bird chooses to be with you, that's a very good sign he loves you! If they greet you with happy chirps and whistles, they are excited to see you.

[gbird]

Originally Posted by dmina

Here is a name idea...
I was looking at that beautiful bird of yours.. and it reminds me of Spumoni...
You know, the ice cream... I don't know why...it just came to me... LOL
I don't know if it is spelled right either..

Well I know my birds love me when they are playing and doing their own stuff and I stop what I am doing and sit down... and they come running over to me for some lovin'
and I smile...
Denise


Oh well after reading I guess your birdy does have a name.... sorry.. In your signature line it says Name & Sex ? so I thought you could not decide on a name....LOL...my mistake...

thanx for the name idea...it's definetly cute. I call him Baby, because thats what I've called him since we got him at Petco. The ? is because I've had him sexed, but haven't gotten the results yet. No matter what I call him/her he'll always be my baby

[RingneckedPrincess]

I know both of mine 'love me' in their own special fid way...you just know it when they do...

Dani

[Missi]

If your fid can fly......

If you're in the room with her and there are many other possibilities to land and perch on (especially things taller than myself since birds like to be up at the highest point) but she flies to you instead. That's how I know

[gbird]

His wings are clipped, but he likes to jump off his playgym at me. Like just now, he jumped and landed in my coffee.....just his one foot....silly little beast.

[Valo's Moirana]

what about the exitment when you come home? the look you get when you quickly leave the room (like "hey, take me with you") although the fid's on the playgym? the fact that he snuggles up against you for protection when you take him outside and he's not sure about what's going on? the spontaneous rub against your face without treats or other incentive? the blinking of little bird eyes when you talk sweet to him? the fact that he'd let you do anything, but is suspicous of other people?

i can find tons in little valo *sigh* 7 more hours before i can go home...