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patricia92243

(12,590 posts)
Tue May 16, 2017, 03:01 PM May 2017

My new Lovebird is scared to death. He is only six weeks old and "hand fed." I thought

this meant he would be tame. The former owners picked him up and even laid him on his back to rub his stomach. They said "He loves this." Of course he didn't. Now he is afraid to the point I can't even put my hand near the OUTSIDE of his cage without scaring him. I read different articles on training my bird, but they just assume the bird is tame enough to at least be still.

I don't know what to do. These birds live 10-15 years. If I can't tame him, I'm thinking I should go ahead and give him back to the owners. I had a bird before and know this is not how they are supposed to act.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated,

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My new Lovebird is scared to death. He is only six weeks old and "hand fed." I thought (Original Post) patricia92243 May 2017 OP
Do you have a bird vet? I bet they could offer insight. irisblue May 2017 #1
I live in a small town and the nearest one I could find is 75 miles away. Not too good :( patricia92243 May 2017 #3
see... CurtEastPoint May 2017 #2
Thanks for this. It gives me a glimmer of hope. He would have been better off not to have patricia92243 May 2017 #4
Don't know about birds but that makes sense. To get kitties used to you, inch closer, be calm CurtEastPoint May 2017 #5
Awww shenmue May 2017 #6
How is it going with your bird? irisblue May 2017 #7
Thanks for asking. He is doing better - VERY slowly. I have his cage on an end-table right next patricia92243 May 2017 #8
Thats great. Mosby May 2017 #9

patricia92243

(12,590 posts)
4. Thanks for this. It gives me a glimmer of hope. He would have been better off not to have
Tue May 16, 2017, 03:37 PM
May 2017

any human contact than to have contact that has made him much, much wilder than the bird in the video. I will try using a pencil to see if he will get on it, but right now I can't even stand near his cage without him jumping around in fear.

I have set him on a table right next to my chair so he can get accustomed to a human within feet of him. I think I'll try that for a day or two before I even try anything else.

CurtEastPoint

(18,554 posts)
5. Don't know about birds but that makes sense. To get kitties used to you, inch closer, be calm
Tue May 16, 2017, 05:08 PM
May 2017

and quiet and let them get accustomed. I so wish you luck!!

patricia92243

(12,590 posts)
8. Thanks for asking. He is doing better - VERY slowly. I have his cage on an end-table right next
Thu May 18, 2017, 04:52 PM
May 2017

to me. I talk to him all the time and have gradually put my hand on the side of his cage. He still runs around and squawks in fear - but only about half the time and not quite as bad as before. I really hope with time and patience he will become a calm, happy bird.

One article that I read, the guy said his bird had become so tame it was "stalking" him. ,I remember when my last bird did that and hope that will finally happen with this one. He already seems to like my little poodle.

Mosby

(16,168 posts)
9. Thats great.
Wed May 24, 2017, 09:59 PM
May 2017

I live in an area of phoenix that has hundreds of "wild" lovebirds, several pairs use my feeders.

Have you thought about getting him a partner?

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