i need advice on getting my birds to trust me

[lianne]

Hi, My name is Lianne, I have had budgies in the past but last month decided to get two Orange-faced lovebirds and named them Teddy and Eva. This is the first time I have owned lovebirds or even really had anything to do with them so I done as much research as I could before bringing them home and even to this day spend ages on the internet researching as much as I can on them...except none of it seems to work for me! I really don't want to seem defeatist but I could really do with advice from actual people who have experience!
I have had my Lovebirds just over a month now and they are approx. 6 months old. I spend everyday talking to them as much as I can, I sit with them and keep talking to them, yet they are still extremely frightened of me, I have tried slowly putting my hand in the cage, I have held food out to them but they WILL NOT come to my hand no matter how patient I am. They come out and fly around the room and I love nothing more than to see them fly and they are so happy together but getting them back in the cage is so so so difficult I cannot emphasise this enough! And I do not always have time to wait for them to go back on their own but have no choice! As soon as I go near them they fly away. And when in the cage they climb as far away as they can. I am being very patient but unfortunately seem to be making no progress (in my mind anyway)
I just want them to be happy and un-afraid and have a lovely life, and of course my dream would be to touch them, to have them come freely to me. Is there anything I am doing wrong? Or could do better?
Thank you so much,
Lianne xx (and Teddy and Eva)

[Eric&Rebecca]

One month isn't a lot of time.... it could take a lot more time for your birds to trust you. If there's two together then they are going to be far more interested in eachother than you, when you have two birds you have to accept that you come second.

I think I've waited 4 hours before finally my little parrotlet took a bite. You need to have them around you more, talk to them and be with them/near the cage all the time you can. Also follow Michael's guides, its not a magic guide its just the steps you need to take along with a lot of patience.

Also birds don't tame in a gradual process either, they can do really well for a few days and then back to square one for what seems like no reason. You just have to keep patience.

[lianne]

Thank you, I guess I was worrying I was doing something wrong but you are right I need to give it more time, I have been playing them relaxing music which calms them down and they seem to love! xxx

[archiesmom]

I wanted to let you know to stay patient and persistent! The first day I brought my lovie pair home, they were very afraid of me. I would lift my hand to scratch my nose and they would go crazy, flapping around and screeching! Fast forward to tonight, when they were sitting in my hand for the first time! They were eating, of course, but it was still really exciting!

I was told not to expect too much having two lovebirds, because they would have no use for me. I previously had one lovebird who just wanted to be with me all the time, so this was hard to imagine. The good thing about the two birds being so close is when one bird wants to be near me, the other automatically follows.

I started by doing what you're doing... sitting near the cage, speaking to them softly. Putting my hand in the cage slowly to do certain things. The first time I let them out, they acted like they had been released from prison! Once they were comfortable and happier in their cage, I found it easier for them to be out because they didn't mind going back in on their own. I would put a very small amount of food in their dish so they would have a reason to go back in for a snack.

I also find they are more inclined to pay attention to me when I am "ignoring" them. I'll sit somewhere where I am facing the whole room, but not close to them. I'll have my computer in front of me, or some other project. I hung a large perch swing from the ceiling, and they like to just sit there and chirp at each other. When I didn't have anything for them to fly to and sit on, they didn't know what to do with themselves. Once they had a fun destination, their out-of-cage time became easier for all of us. I am always keeping an eye on them, but not giving them attention, and that's when they get really curious about me! The other day, the little guy landed on my shoulder then flew away, and she is always flying over and walking around in front of me to check me out. I have a very long dowel (perch) I use to retrieve them when I need to. I gently touch their bellies with it so they'll step up, and then I'm able to very slowly bring them back to their cage. They let me do this when they were still scared of me and my hand.

I know all birds are different, but my previous bird did the same. I would sit in the room and let him come to meet me, and soon he was coming closer and closer, til he was sitting on my shoulder!

I think they just need to get used to you in their own time, and when they do, it will be great because it will be THEIR idea!

I am currently target training them, and it's going well! They do everything in-sync, and I know this might not be typical, but it shows it IS possible to have two tame lovebirds who like to hang out with each other AND me! Enjoy the process, because it will be exciting to see them slowly learn to trust you, and it will all be worth it. Please keep us posted with your progress!