Help I don't know what to do.

[trtldove76]

Well it all started when my daughter wanted a lovebird. So I called around trying to find a breeder or newspaper add and or rescue. I finally found one at the local pet store. The pet store person told me they were hand feed but haven't been handled in awhile. That the breeder who sells threw them just quit and that was the last of the birds. So I went ahead and brought one home. I bought her a huge cage and a ton of toys.

She didn't have the black band around her beak that I would later find out means she wasn't young.

She wouldn't let us put our hands in her cage with out torpedo attack and follows a vicious bite that she would clamp on for dear life and dig until blood was poring out. I am not joking.

However when we would open her door she would fly out and land on our heads or shoulder and snuggle up to you and coo and pur and she was so sweet. But you still couldn't show her your fingers or she would go into this attack mode.

I clean her cage everyday give her fresh fruits and veggies (that she doesn't eat) but I give them to her anyway just in case and of course fresh water and seeds.

I also change her toys out every other week.

I have as of the last couple of months started trying to show her my hand is safe. So I started by putting my hand where she could see it but just out side of her comfort zone. Then every day I would test that comfort zone just a tiny bit. I made it in as far as my fingers at the door. But she wont let me any further, this is after 2 months a couple of times a day of trying. When I started this whole thing she stopped flying to me and snuggling and wont even come and see me anymore. My children are scared of her so run and hide when I open the cage.

This morning was my last straw. I was just putting fresh veggies in her cage and I hovered my hand while talking to her softly and she started to attack my hand and I kept dodging her moving it away a little to a more comfortable place for her but she didn't stop she kept coming and so I put my hand down so she wouldn't be freaking out any more she couldn't attack my hand so she flew out and landed on my shoulder grabbed a hold of my lip and I didn't scream I swear I just stood there hoping she would let go. She didn't so I reached up with my hand and hating my hand more she let go and attacked my hand and again wouldn't let go. By this time my husband brought a towel over grabbed her up and put her in her cage where she was still screeching madly. She bit my lip and cut it open and my hand has seen better days.

I don't want to give up on her but I don't know what to do. Any help or suggestions or anything. Thank you. And sorry for being so long winded I just wanted you to know what has been done.


I also posted in the lovebird board before finding this thred.

[Quito's Qage]

I'm so sorry. You must be devastated after trying so hard, and then to be hurt like that. I wish I could make some suggestions, but it sounds like you've been trying all the right things. Hopefully someone with more lovebird experience will be along soon to help. It may be a situation that she's just not going to adapt to.

[Cindy215]

I'm sorry to hear about this poor Lovebird and her problems and your lip and hand!. IMO this breeder was liquidating his breeding stock and she is totally overwhelmed. Probably a lifetime breeder and they just didnt tell you. Thank you for still wanting to help her. You may not have had a "special needs" bird in mind but they are all deserving, imo, of a home and she's gotten the shaft somehow by her former "breeder".

A breeding hen Lovebird is quite something. They are normally VERY committed and dillegent. And can be just as "non-human" friendly. Which is what makes them great parents.

So her become so sweet and friendly is really a great thing and makes me thing something "acute" happened. Or I guess it could have been the coaxing with the hands. Do you have alot of kids could something have happened with them? Or visiting kids? (no offense)

If she wasnt a breeder then she was really neglected and just left in a cage all the time, imo.

My perception is first, she has no clue what happened to her life. Second she probably was split from her mate and grieving and confused. Also probably in hormonal imbalance. And never handled and has no idea about reading humans so she's struggling to understand. The recent attacking can be many things. First fear but even they try to alert their mates with bites it's hard to say without being there.

Thank you for keeping your cool it's hard to do and it hurts! You could have easily thrown her and a serious injury could have happened so thanks.

FIRST make sure she is getting a LONG night of dark sleep just like it's doing outside including dusk and dawn. It's very important to her hormones and frame of mind. Follow a strict daylight schedule of what it's doing outside. Here we have dusk at around 5 now and dawn around 7. NO artificial lighting. A cover isnt enough. The days are getting longer now so that's easier to manage. You can use a dimmer in a lamp placed on the floor for simulating the dusk and dawn.

Doing that will get her body in the right "season". It takes a couple weeks.

SECOND, Leave her wings in tact it's a big myth that clipping her will "straighten her out" dont believe what people tell you because they dont HAVE flighted birds and are going on ancient folklore. A flighted bird is more confident and secure that they can escape by just side stepping even 6 inches. Confident in a good way. They mind their business look for enrichment and dont make up dumb paranoia. Also they can get around and arent stuck sitting on top of a cage or perch where people just forget all about them. Dont clip her let her be normal so you dont create more psychological problems and physical ones too, they need to exercise.

NOW that you do that, you can try and figure her out. OR Decide what you want to do. There is a very good chance that with the proper sleep she will change alot.

Also, she could adjust in a couple of months or not. She may be happier with her mate (dangerous to introduce strangers without being very careful) but then you have a pair and watch from a distance they wont be what your daughter invisioned. (Lovebirds arent the best choice for kids anyway).

OR sadly you may have to find her a more suitable home or someone who enjoys these tough cases. Not having experience makes it harder for you but you were right in trying to desensitize her to hands and all the other things you tried, they are all valid.

But something else happened I cant say what. Perhaps with the daylight saving time change or she is getting not enough sleep OR in a hormonal imbalance from too much light or something else. Next time try a perch but wait till she's outside.

Make sure she doesnt have anything like a nest in there.

I would leave the doors open and just be nice and friendly and keep giving her alot of enriching foods to keep her busy and happy. Grains, dark leafy greens no spinach, veggies, fruits. Put some play area out of the cage as a destination. That cage is her "nest" and it's going to be very hard for her to give it up. She is just getting used to it (bonding with it) and is probably used to a nest box which she has lost. (dont give her one, though).

Also full spectrum lighting would be good and a vet vist to at least discuss her diet and nutritional needs. Vitamins and calcium especially.

Try the long nights sleep first and foremost it helps ALL captive birds. I dont know if you're in the Northern Hemisphere or not but follow what it's doing outside and if you are in, say Australia add a couple hours to her night with black out drapes. Feel free to post back any questions or other info.

[Cindy215]

Sorry when I said lifetime breeder that doesnt mean she's old just that she may be 3-4 years old and never known another life.

[Cindy215]

What kind and brand of seed are you giving her and was she ever on pellets? The wrong seed can be a big problem and also not having pellets when she may have been used to them...

There are ways to get her to eat food, more on that later....

[trtldove76]

Thank you so much for the invaluable information. First off I live in Alaska and as we are in winter it gets light at 9 and is pretty dark by 5. But I will put her in a more quiet area of the house just for sleeping and put a darker cover over her.

Next I know love bird isn't a kids pet but we discussed it and I wanted another bird so we sort of went with it together. She is 7 and I had a lovebird when I was that age he was the sweetest.

Anyway as for all of the kids, I have a 7 and a 3 year old both just love her (when she is in the cage) they talk to her and whisper to her. My 3 year old shows her his hot wheels trucks and other shiny toys. And they chit chat and all is OK as long as we aren't entering her area. So as to the something "acute" happening I don't know what it could have been if there was anything except I was trying to accustom her to my hand.

When we got her she was in a very small cage with about 8 other birds and under those awful circumstances she was doing fine with them. We have had her for just over a year now. After that long would she still get along with a bird. And if so How could I introduce one that would be most efficient. I really want her to be happy and if she needs a buddy bird instead of a buddy human than maybe that would be the way to go.

She doesn't have a nest anymore. I did put one in once a year ago but was having to trick her to get her eggs from her every day. I don't know for sure but it probably takes a lot out of you to lay an egg every day so that went out.

And last your question on seed it is a lovebird mix from our local petco. I would try pellets again if you think she would benefit from them and if so could you give me a brand you like.

I really appreciate you taking your time to help us and I will try the things you suggest before I give up on her. Which it my last resort.