Need 2 cents input.

[magenta93]

Hello everyone,

I have yet another thing I need every ones opinion on. Now this is just a thought we haven't set it up on stone we were tossing around this idea. My hubby really really wants to get a hand feed lovebird as that will more than likely have the best chance of being cuddly like he would like.

Now here is where I would like you guys input if we do get a hand feed one and after the 30 days of quarantine should I house the new bird with the other lovebirds or should I keep him/her separate in its own cage for good or what? Would she/he pick up the other lovebirds un-trusting hand feelings and then not want to be cuddly??

I know that lovebirds should be with lovebirds and it's kind of being obvious that the lovebirds and the Tiels get along but the Lovebirds do bully the poor Tiels. They love to chase them off from the top of the Tiels cage when they are out then try and pretend they are all innocent about it. You know that look (what I didn't do anything. I have no idea why they flew off the top of the cage) and yet look all innocent and sweet. :)

OK any advice, comment will be greatly appreciate it. As I said it's not set in stone but I would like to plan if we do and really consider what I need to do and get if we do. Thank you guys.



Veronica

[The Outlaw]

Veronica:

Lovebirds are probably the most misnamed of the species. They tend to be either very sweet or just rotten little things. I understand that the females are usually the worst offenders in that department.

As a rule, the MINIMUM quarantine time is 45 days. Its especially important to quarantine lovies, tiels and other smaller species, for they are rarely veted in the aviaries that normally produce them. Consequently, they tend to be the bearers of a lot of nasty little germs. As a matter of fact, its considered dicey to even keep lovies around larger parrots such as macaws because of this.

[Monica]

If the lovebirds are bullying the tiels then it's best not to have them out together. Lovebirds DO NOT need to be with another lovebird, and if handled daily, they can be fine on their own. It would be fine if you kept the new lovebird in it's own cage away from the others. It's usually the opposite way around, if one bird sees another bird being cuddly or friendly, they usually start being friendly themselves, though its never a guarantee...

[Mr Five]

Originally Posted by magenta93

Hello everyone,

I have yet another thing I need every ones opinion on. Now this is just a thought we haven't set it up on stone we were tossing around this idea. My hubby really really wants to get a hand feed lovebird as that will more than likely have the best chance of being cuddly like he would like.

Now here is where I would like you guys input if we do get a hand feed one and after the 30 days of quarantine should I house the new bird with the other lovebirds or should I keep him/her separate in its own cage for good or what? Would she/he pick up the other lovebirds un-trusting hand feelings and then not want to be cuddly??

Veronica

Now this is a hard one to answer. We have lovebirds that are not handfeed that are tame and then some that are handfeed that have turned wild. We have the tame ones housed with untamed ones. The ones that we handle and that is the key word are the tamer ones. Because they are handled all the time this has kept them feeling secure with us even when we put them back in the cages that there are others that are not so tame.

This being said the most important then is that you or your hubby interact with the bird all the time. Keeping the trust up no matter where you house them is something that if you're going to keep the bird cuddly you'll have to do.

[magenta93]

Hello,

Thank you so much for the advice. :). I been trying to handle the birds as much as I can. The lovebirds put up a fight when I try and take them out. While now the Tiels just freely climb up my hand and then onto my shoulder.

I am starting to think the reason the Lovebirds have been bulling the Tiels is because they are Jelouse. Though I don't know how to fix that. I take the Lovebirds out first and bring them upstairs first (We ave a day cage and a night cage. When i'm downstairs they are downstairs with me and when I'm upstairs they are in the same room with me.) and the Tiels always come second to them. Should I stop bringing them up first and bring them Second?

Veronica the curious and full of questions.

[Monica]

That's the way peachface lovebirds are! They bully other birds! You may never actually be able to get them to stop because it's something that comes naturally to them unless they were raised right next to cockatiels and other birds, or if they lived in a mixed flight aviary where all the birds got along... Otherwise, well it's not something you can actually get them to stop doing!

[Mr Five]

We call this a Tiel Roundup
Note the lovebird. She like chasing the tiels

[Eliza]

Mr. Five -- that first photo is a scream! Wee little lovie chasin' those big ol' tiels... TOO FUNNY

[Freedomoflight]

Pictures speak a thousand words...thanks for those photos- they are priceless!

[CrazyBirdLady]

Think of lovebirds as the Jack Russel Terriers of the bird world. Lots of personality in a little package. Peachfaces are the most aggressive of the popular pet species and yes, will go after Tiels (as you can see in the pictures Mr.Five posted). Luckily, that little lovie was only about 12 weeks old and was just having fun chasing them, there wasn't a lot of aggression, but the hens, when nesting, can be handfuls.
Try handling the lovebirds in another room. They'll be more inclined to interact with you, or your husband, if there are no other birds to distract them. Lovebirds are naturally curious (ok, nosy as all get out ) and will get into anything and everything. Distraction sometimes works with them, other times it does not. You might consider giving equal alone time to the lovies and to the Tiels as the Tiels would really appreciate the time without worrying about crazy little parrots chasing them.
Try just leaving the cage door open for the lovebirds to let them out. Their cage is their domain and many don't like hands being put into the cage. Are the lovies wings clipped? If not, it's a great training aid and gives a little bit of attitude adjustment ;)