Taming my birds

[Pugwinkle]

I've had my lovebirds for about a week now. I just moved them to their large flight cage this morning and would like to begin attempting to tame them if that will be possible. The breeder told me that the female had not been hand fed and is about 3 years old and has never been tame. The male was handfed as a baby and is about 2 years old but is no longer tame.

Any suggestions on how I can begin to earn their trust?

Another question I have is about wing clipping. The breeder told me that I should not clip their wings since wing clipping should be done continually and from a very young age which has not been done with these two birds. Any input would be appreciated.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Actually... breeder is backward.

They have proven that allowing a baby to fledge and learn to fly proficiently BEFORE the first wingclip is majorly beneficial.

They can be clipped for taming and training... then allowed to grow back out and be flighted if you choose.

[Pugwinkle]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

Actually... breeder is backward.

They have proven that allowing a baby to fledge and learn to fly proficiently BEFORE the first wingclip is majorly beneficial.

They can be clipped for taming and training... then allowed to grow back out and be flighted if you choose.

You misunderstood me I think. The breeder did say that the bird must be able to learn how to fly proficiently before clipping the wings but that you must continue to keep clipping the wings to be fair to the bird. She said to clip these birds wings at this age, having not had it done since they were much younger, would be the equivalent to you and I losing our legs. She doesn't feel it would be fair to the bird since they have been flighted for so long.

[shosh]

Hi Pug, Shosh here again...your fellow Ontarian.
I disagree with the vet....I rescued two lovebirds recently. One can't fly because she is lame from self-mutilation ( nicely recovered, though)but will probably never fly ( and I WISH she would)
. The other certainly could and was completely untamed and terrified of my hands.
He was supposed to be about 4. I tried, in vain, to train him while he was flighted...Absolutely impossible. I'd get near, he'd fly away. The only way to get him onto my hand was to wait till he was too tired to fly anymore....I also tried taking him into a separate room which gave me equivalent results. Both approaches defeat the object of gaining trust.
So...I called the vet and we agreed that clipping was the only way to go.
Now, we haven't gotten 100% results but I can tell you that he goes onto my hand...well, he'll still bite me if he is in or on his cage but things are much better.
Essentially, he flies...doesn't get very far ( and he does realize by now that he can't fly as well so he is more cautious than at the beginning of the clip)and there I am to save the day. He HATES the finger...so I cup my hand and he kind of siddles in to it where I can cuddle him and kiss his back ( don't DARE try for the front yet or I'll lose my nose or lip.)
I am NOT a proponent of wing clipping and my other lovebirds and budgies have their wings and I like it that way. But I don't believe that I would've stood a chance with this guy....he was too old, too scared and too fast for me to gain his trust......and I got bit a whole hell of lot before we did the clip and only a little since.
My opinion....the wings will grow back....having a bird you can handle ( even if it may not be PERFECT is so much more rewarding than a bird you can just look at.) Go for the clip as long as you need to.....I do not believe the bird will suffer any and the payoff is worth the brief confusion on his part ( they will adapt to the flight change...quickly..and they can still fly a bit...

[Addicted to Tequila]

Originally Posted by Pugwinkle

You misunderstood me I think. The breeder did say that the bird must be able to learn how to fly proficiently before clipping the wings but that you must continue to keep clipping the wings to be fair to the bird. She said to clip these birds wings at this age, having not had it done since they were much younger, would be the equivalent to you and I losing our legs. She doesn't feel it would be fair to the bird since they have been flighted for so long.

Nope. I used to do rehome and rescue work. Clipping in NO way makes a bird feel totally helpless. It DOES calm aggression. It does make the bird more reliant on you... and they realize that. And that is a good thing. If you ever had an 11 year old Amazon fly straight at your face and try and re-enact a scene from Hitchcock's "The Birds"... you would have no problem CHEWING the feathers off that bird if you could not find the scissors! LOL

They adjust just fine. Then you can let the feathers grow back in and see if he still behaves... or if he will really get much more out of being clipped than he is losing from it.

Look at it this way...

Unclipped:
Not socialized. Not able to come out much. Not able to realize how good a nice scritch is. Not able to go room to room with me. Not able to play interactive games with me. Not able to go visiting. Not able to be trained (I hesitate to say reprimanded) not to bite me. Not able to learn to step-up or at least come when called. May crash into a window or wall and do himself harm.

Clipped:
Cannot enjoy the freedom of flying. Cannot get as much exercise. May get eaten or attacked by other pets in house... or stepped on by humans.



Remember... they do grow back. It is not like a permanent change that cannot be undone. It will just give you a few months to socialize the little fellow and teach him that humans are FRIENDS.

[shosh]

Hey Pug...
I won't be heading out to Brampton for the bird show, simply because I was JUST at one. The other one I mentioned was in Guelph....it's a weekend bird convention, actually, with speakers and workshops.
Doesn't work for me this year, but my girlfriend and I will definitely be signing up for next year ( staying a night at a hotel) and making a weekend of it.
Here' the link, in case you are interested...

Canadian Parrot Conference

[Pugwinkle]

Originally Posted by shosh

Hey Pug...
I won't be heading out to Brampton for the bird show, simply because I was JUST at one. The other one I mentioned was in Guelph....it's a weekend bird convention, actually, with speakers and workshops.
Doesn't work for me this year, but my girlfriend and I will definitely be signing up for next year ( staying a night at a hotel) and making a weekend of it.
Here' the link, in case you are interested...

Canadian Parrot Conference

Thanks for the link. Christine at Parrrodise Perch had given me a pamphlet on that one in Guelph. It does look interesting.

Sorry to hear that you won't be coming to Brampton.

[myloviebabies08]

Just incase someone hasnt responded to your question about gaining trust with your birds,clicker training is a good idea.

[Pugwinkle]

Originally Posted by myloviebabies08

Just incase someone hasnt responded to your question about gaining trust with your birds,clicker training is a good idea.

Thanks, I did see a book about clicker training for birds. I have done it with my pugs but never with a bird.