New Lovebird - Need Help!

[christas120]

We just introduced a 7-week old peach-faced lovebird to our family - we have a corgi and a 16-month old son - and the first two days went great! I was able to spend a lot of time with it, it hung out on it's little playgym and became attached to me very quickly. Both nights it wanted formula and we fed it the formula we were provided with. (It bobs its head up and down when he wants formula.)

Yesterday, however, it was practically a different bird. It woke up wanting formula and then took formula several more times yesterday. It acts like it's starving whenever we feed it the formula. I make sure that it has access to fresh food and water throughout the day but the only thing that I've seen it eat is it's millet. I tried mixing small clumps of millet in with the rest of it's food and it just picks out the millet. I set it next to it's water dish every time that I place it back in the cage and I have not witnessed it drinking any water in the last two days. I've tried giving it water with the dropper and it refuses it. I've tried offering it fresh fruit and vegetables and it refuses that also.

It's been nipping at my son when he tries to pet it and will not stay with me. When I'm sitting on the ground with my son it will climb off of me and chase my son - he's not sure what to think about it. I have no idea what I am doing wrong with this lovebird and I need help! I want to have a happy, tame pet and it seems to be going in the opposite direction. I spend a lot of time with it; it has several toys in its cage; it has a playgym and a perch I can take with me throughout the house; it has a bed and a bedtime (seriously). I thought that I knew what to expect and what I was getting myself into getting a lovebird but I feel like I already don't know what to do for it. Please, if anyone has any advice, I need some!

[Florence]

Christas120 welcome to the forum I am happy you joined us.


I think perhaps you are taking things too fast. It is usual habit to let a new first get used to its surroundings before getting it to interact with it. Have you tried giving it some rest IN its cage and slowly approaching the interacting ?

[christas120]

I have done that and normally it will chirp loudly for me to take it back out but if I leave it for long enough, it'll quiet down and hang out. Unless I walk into the room again. I have been thinking that there's just a lot going on and it is in a new home and everything. Our dog is the bird's shadow - she has to watch it wherever it is, although she's done very well adjusting (she's a high-stress dog). My son is constantly around me also and was feeling jealousy the first few days and he's usually my little shadow all day long when he's up. I can definitely see what you're saying and I will definitely try to let it settle in more to get used to all the activity and gradually re-introduce it into our lives. I'll spend the most time with it while my son is napping and our dog is outside so that there isn't so much going on around us and everything. Thank you so much for the reply!! I was afraid if I left it alone too much that it would become un-tame but I understand letting it get used to its surroundings first.

[Florence]

Christas That's a great plan. I am sure it will work out if you stick to those decisions. Slowly-slowly letting it get used to you and then your son and then the dog - all in its own time. I know that birds are 'patient'. So I guess we need to apply patience in getting them where we want them to be: feeling comfortable in our presence