Well, after three months of searching I finally managed to get a lovebird. I know it is young enough because it still has black on it's beak, and it seems healthy and energetic, and most definately cheeky - but I have a question.

I was very careful to let the pet store I bought it from know I wanted a hand fed bird (This is a very small pet store that only deals in local breeders, so I felt it was the best place. Certainly better than a superstore anyway. For some reason, there are no breeders listed in any of the bird magazines I picked up, and the only bird club is miles away.)

I let him alone for four days in his cage, because I read you should try to give them time to acclimate. Now, when I handled him at the store, he was certainly very frightened, but he didn't have a go at me.

However, the other day I tried to hold him, and he fluttered around the cage as if in a panic, and when I did finally manage to pick him up, he nipped me. It didn't hurt much, but I was wondering - do you think I tried to handle him too soon, and should leave it longer? Or do you think this bird was not in fact hand fed but parent raised?

It's just something that's been worrying me.
Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ruffled_feathers,

Well you know you have to give em time. Now im not saying you handeled him to early but just get him used to look at you and know your going to be his permanant owner and he has to learn that your going to try picking him up every once in a while. And thanks for repling to my topic. It really meant somthing to me.

Thanks katluver789, I appreciate the help, and I hope you feel better about your bird. It's clear to me that you have a very kind heart, and I wish you the best .

Oh I also forgot to ask - does anyone know what kind of lovebird has a pinkish face, green body, and blue on it's tail? I think it's a Peach-Faced, but I'm not entirely sure.

yes that is a peach faced lovebird. I don't htink your lovebird was hand fed. When a bird is handfed, people leave impressions on it. That impression is very, very difficult to get rid of so it didn't dissappear in the 4 days that you left her alone. Petstores are well known to rip people off when they are buying birds by selling supposedly hand fed ones. But usually they really arent. If you want a hand fed bird for sure, you have to go to a breeder.

Thankyou sugarbird, I had my suspicions that might be the problem. I intend to have a few rather strong words with the pet store who sold me it, but in the meantime, I suppose this means a great deal more work for me in taming it.

You wouldn't happen to know a good way to tame a parent raised lovebird, would you?

Any hand fed baby should have a foot band. I usually take mine off on my birds after I get them, but that would be your first clue. Leaving the bird to its own device will not tame the bird. It was a good idea to leave the bird alone to accumlate, but now is time to start working with the bird. He bit you out of fright, so dont worry about it. Get a small wash cloth, and without blocking the birds sight, open the door, and slowly and calmly wrap the bird in the cloth. ( hopefully the wings are clipped..) Remove the bird in the wash cloth from the cage, have a set near by and slowly scratch the bird at the back of the head. Remember babies have pin feathers so its important not to keep a tight grip on the towel. When putting the bird back, slowly open the cloth and let the bird readjust to being back in the cage ( dont 'unwrap and run'). Quietly close the cage door.

I wouldn't recommend going after him with a washcloth or even your hand. Birds are prey animals and large objects chasing after them like that will frighten them and lead them to thinking you are a predator and are going to eat them.

Also, not all handfed babies have foot bands. I hand feed doves and I am a private breeder.

Oh, and Ruffledfeathers, If you are still around and reading this, please lets hear some updates on how your bird is doing. I can give you some tips on taming that actually work as I'm experianced in that area.

Hey ya'll I have a question, what kind of water should I use for my lovebirds water. He will drink any kind of water ( I put bottled water in his water dish know) dirty, clean but what kind of water should I use, like water the has been through reverse osmosis or just bottled water

My birds only drank deer park..

Mine get sparkletts....

My lovebird just drinks regular tap water.

Mine drinks Deep Rock. I think I'm going to change it's water.

Oh, and ebbrown, I'm not trying to tell you how to take care of your bird, but if you still read this, I heard that tap water is bad for birds.