behavior advice

[RonNe08]

Hi I have 5 1/2 month old lovie named Monty. I have posted about him before when I first got him 3 months ago. All of the advice I received has been working. I just have one problem. Monty is not afraid of me anymore he does not run away from me when i come near his cage or offer him food from my hands he is getting used to me, however now that he is not afraid he always tries to bite me. When I put food in is cage he comes down from his perch and tries to bite me. When I offer food from my hand he used to take the food now he lunges and goes for my fingers. when i come sit to play with him he comes down and tries to bite. I don't know if he thinks it is a game or if he is just getting aggressive. And he is not excited to come out of his cage anymore. He likes being in there making a mess and tearing away at his toys. i am glad he likes his cage now but I know he needs to have interaction outside the cage. I heard lovies can go back to being wild pretty quickly. So now that you have the back story does anyone have advice on how to stop the biting and how to get him to come out of his cage again. I saw on a website where they were toweling the bird to get him out. I don't know if that is good or not. the bird didn't seem to like it. I had to towel Monty a couple of times when I first got him to get him back in his cage now he does not want to leave his cage. any advice would be appreciated. sorry for the long post.

[shosh]

No apologies!!! I've posted and read WAY longer!!
Ah..lovebirds. Perplexing little darlings, aren't they!!??
It's always such a feeling of betrayal when they start biting but take heart in knowing you are NOT ALONE!!

I find lovies, like many birds, go through stages. Sounds like your little Monty is growing up and learning he can bite and it hurts and isn't that FUN!! He is also becoming more territorial about his cage is not appreciating your hand invading his home. My lovies went through the same thing....and they still have their hand in the cage moments ( Bindi , approx. 9 months, is going through that now) so when she bites, she doesn't come out until she is nice.

Biting needs to be discouraged, whether Monty is biting out of fun or aggression or whatever. A firm "NO BITING" and "BAD BIRD" help. Don't yell and TRY not to react with anger or howling at a bite ( I say try because the little darling's beak can pack a punch.) just remain in control and be stern and firm, like you are reprimanding a bad 3 year old.
I have heard some who do the shaking of the hand thing ( earthquake) when they bite although I'm not a big fan because I have heard as well that the bird will then start to feel as if your hand, arm, etc. is NOT a safe place to land.

With Bam-Bam, my other peach-faced, I had to resort to the "naughty corner"...well, it was a naughty carry case. He was SO BAD and bit SO HARD then when he did, he was put in the naughty cage, on the floor for a good 5 to 10 minutes. It worked wonders....he was always much more humble and gentler when he got out. He doesn't need it anymore so something must have worked.

As for coming out....it just sounds like the cage is a lot of fun ( and that is a good thing). Given how much shredding and tearing is going on....every wonder whether Monty is a girl!! Hormones also start to kick in around the 6 month stage so, again, try not to take it TOO personally.
Leave the cage door open....let Monty come out on his own if he doesn't want to have you stick your hand in. His natural curiousity will eventually kick in...make sure you've got some cool stuff for him to do OUTSIDE the cage as well. I have toys on top of the cage and some stuff hanging from a chain from the ceiling above their cage. They also LOVE to fly into the bathroom and ruin my towel and my housecoat. So OUT time has to also be FUN time!

Good luck and let me know how it goes....and remember: THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

[Flappuccino]

Good advice above from shosh.
I too, have a female lovie I always thought of as a boy- until she laid 6 eggs!
She was handfed/socialized by me from the age of 2 weeks. Imagine my suprise when my sweet little angel began to bite me!
It was at about the age of 4 to 6 months. She decided I could only put my hand in one of the many doors of her cage. In the bottom right door, I can put my hand in and she'll just roll around in it, giving me kisses, and wanting to be rubbed under her wings. Any other door- and watch out!
At the 4-6 mark, she would chomp down on my neck, too, with no warning.
I began to hold her when she started biting, with her beak in the crook of my index finger. and say "no bite". I did this everytime. I didn't yell, or make a big fuss, and I continued to put her and kiss her all over like nothing was wrong. Now she buries her little head in there for comfort when she's startled or tired.
Obviously, if you try this method, don't cover the nostrils and your finger goes on the bottom half of upper beak.
I don't think I'd use toweling to catch a bird except in an emergency. If he sees you chasing him around with a big floppy towel, how is he going to feel safe in one at the vet's office? He does need to get used to it, but slowly and gently after a relaxed play session while you're holding him, maybe.
My Jack is 1 1/2 now and NEVER bites me.
Good luck with little Monty!

[CraftQueen]

You've already received lots of good advice. Just remember that lovebirds birds go through a puberty of sorts at about 6 months. And ALL birds go through the breeding season. This is why so many people give up their birds and pass it off as the birds being mean, they are just hormonal and are going to experience breeding season whether they are with a mate or not. For lovebirds the breeding season seems to be from October, through Winter & Spring. I am sure that in the Wild they are going to lay as many clutches as Weather will permit, this is also why it's so hard to get them to stop breeding. Survival of the Fittest and all that.

A lot of handfed lovebirds will nip fingers when they are out because they are letting you know they are hungry, syringes and fingers look similar to them and they know food comes from your Hand...You can put food in the palm of your hand and it will help with this.

During the Breeding Season, I don't think force holding your bird at this time is a good idea. He/she has no idea why they are hormonal or why they are in trouble for doing what comes natural. I just let them be grumpy and when their "Breeding Season" passes they are back to their sweet selves. One thing you can do however, is move the cage to a different location and rearrange every thing in the cage. Move the toys and move the perches. This helps distract them a little bit. Cool the room off a little bit where they are and put them to bed earlier. Warmer temperatures and Longer daylight hours indicate time for breeding. And if you're bird is in a main part of the house move them to a room where you can shut the door and they can have full peace and quiet. Good Luck.

[RonNe08]

Thanks for the tips I am going to try and see if I can get my Monty to come out of his cage on his own.

I have to admit I have not been stern with him on the biting thing. I am like one of those parents who thinks everything their child does is cute. So when he does bite me I usually laugh and tell him not to be a mean bird. I will get more stern with him. I never yell at him and i realize when i don't react to his biting he gets kind of puzzled and will stop for a little bit but then just goes right back to biting.

i thought about the possibility that monty maybe a girl. i have not had him sexed. i also read somewhere that having a happy hut in may make them more aggressive. i was thinking about taking it out and replacing it with another toy.

i will try the no biting and the naughty corner. i have a small cage i have for if i have to quarantine a bird. it is just sitting around so maybe i will use it for the naughty corner.

thanks again guys . i will let you all know how things are going.

[Flappuccino]

Alot of folks have had success with the "naughty corner"- but many have found that if you have a bird who genuinely does not want to be with you, putting him away every time he bites may actually reinforce the behavior.
He learns that all he has to do is bite you in order for you to leave him alone.
If you have a bird who wants to be with you, but is a biter, I'm sure this method works for them.
You are correct- yelling would not help your bird in the bonding process. Just speak in a tone that says you mean business when you tell him "no biting". They are very good at reading people, so turn him so he's looking right at you when you say it. I usually had my finger on his beak when I said this. Just gently- it doesn't take any pressure to keep him from opening his mouth wide enough to bite.
Whatever method you choose- I hope it works out well for you and your little one!

[CraftQueen]

Lovebirds love a hidy hut of any sort. If you think it is a problem, you can remove it during the day and only put it in for Monty to use at bedtime.