1 step forward, 2 steps back...

[Eliza]

Problem: Beetle will not step-up onto my hand or a perch while he is in his cage.

How I dealt with that: For the time being, I thought it would be best to let Beetle come out of the cage on his own terms. I've been sitting by his open cage when it's playtime and he'll wander out withing a few minutes. One day he just decided to climb to the top of the cage, walk around and climb back in for a bath That was rather amusing, as he managed to soak both himself and me.

Today I asked him to step up and the little bugger tried to bite me. I had a knee-jerk reaction and pulled my hand away. I suppose Beetle found that amusing (or to his advantage) as he tried to do it again. I said, "No bite!" and at that, he hopped off the cage and fluttered to the floor

So for the remainder of free time this AM I just talked nice to Beetle as he played about on an empty rabbit cage. I used a perch to have him step up as a precaution when it came time for me to get ready for work. He was rather good about that -- he didn't put up a fuss or resist being brought back to his cage.

I'm hoping that things are moving in the right direction... I'm the first to suggest that folks use a mix of patience and persistance but I'm that last to follow my own advice.

Ugh. Who would have thought that such a WEE darling bird would have so much piss & vinegar

-e-

[CrazyBirdLady]

Eliza,

The little ones can be very stubborn (to say the least), but you might have more success letting him come out of the cage on his own, then once he's out asking him to step up and working on that command well away from his cage. I've found lovebirds listen better when away from their domain. Once he has that command mastered, try it from just outside his cage door. Bribe him, have a piece of millet sprig in your hand, or sunflowers seeds...they seem to follow their stomach everywhere, so it might be worth a try!

[shadoes]

heh its nots just the little ones. My myers refuses to step up inside the cage. Once he is out he does better. For days he will take food from my hand then something will spook him and he will hide in the corner of his cage.

[Eliza]

Thanks for the feedback...

Beetle is coming out of the cage nicely on his own: I open the door, check his food/water bowls and then sit down in front of the cage. Within a few minutes (usually under 5) he's out of the cage.

He's still somewhat reluctant to step up onto a perch but will. He will attack my hands now, though, which had me in hysterics this morning... I burst into tears over this wee little thing wanting to eat my hands.

I'll just keep working on it, though! Things can't get worse, right?

-e-

[Lori L]

Awwwm it is awfully hard not to take a bite personal, you're thinkin, I love you and I'm so good to you and gentle and you want a piece of me????

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by jetanlori

Awwwm it is awfully hard not to take a bite personal, you're thinkin, I love you and I'm so good to you and gentle and you want a piece of me????

I know!

I mean, if Beetle doesn't want to be Mr. Cuddle Bird, fine. I just want us BOTH to be OK w/ my hands, as that's always a good thing.

He's still young, though (he'll be 6 mos in February). I just need to be patient and diligent...

I think that the beak thing brings back bad memories, too. I never got bit by my budgies... except when Kudzu died. He had been sick and we had only returned from the vet an hour or so before he died. I was holding him and just before he passed on, he clamped onto my finger and wouldn't let go


I'm just over-sensitive, too. In fact, it's a little embarrassing to think that at 31, I'm intimidated by a 6" tall bird

-e-

[Lori L]

Originally Posted by ejw829

I'm just over-sensitive, too. In fact, it's a little embarrassing to think that at 31, I'm intimidated by a 6" tall bird -e-

You are not overly sensitive, I am older than you and terrified of getting bit, I'm shocked that when Charm bit me I was able to not yell, maybe I'm getting braver

[Eliza]

Beetle is now lunging for my hands, so I have to be extra-cautious when I'm dealing with him.

To be specific, he's fine if I'm changing food & water but if I even attempt to get him to step-up in the cage, it's a no-go. And he doesn't want to be touched when outside of the cage, either.

Very disheartening... But I'll keep on keepin' on, as they say. I want him to be happy (which he seems to be -- he chirps away and plays most of the day) and healthy, first and foremost. I'd like him to at least tolerate my presence... but maybe that's asking too much of him.

-e-

[CrazyBirdLady]

Have you tried handling Beetle in another room, out of sight of the cage? Being that territorial about the cage is leading me to ask the next question: Are you sure Beetle is a HE? All of my cage aggressive lovebirds are hens.
What I've learned with my biters is that sometimes you just have to learn to simply learn when the bites are coming and avoid them or distract the bird.
We have one hen in particular who we call the "pit viper". She will draw blood and hang on tight if you get your hand in or close to her cage. Get her away from the cage or in another room and she'll happily sit on you and even step-up. We have another hen who bites, not quite as hard, and what we've learned to do is just let her get a bite in and continue to do what we are doing, no reaction (as hard as it can be to not screech and dance around at times ) and she just stops because she realizes she's not getting her way. It's a trial and error process with a biter. Sometimes you can reverse or modify that behavior..other times you end up learning to live with it.

Keep the faith!