Weaning LoveBird... Pls Help!

[Pink Phoenix]

I have been hand rearing my lovebird for about 6 weeks now, so that would make him around 9-10 weeks old. I eventually cut out the lunchtime feed then the morning feed and over the last 3 days or so i cut out the evening feed too as he can eat seed and has been doing so for many weeks.... but he still cries for food constantly and its driving my boyfriend mental, he can't stand his noise anymore. My bird can eat seed (i have tried lots of different small parrot seeds plus seed blocks, millet spray and fresh fruits and veg) but he chooses not to eat too much of them and still wants feeding.

Any advice please, would be so grateful. Shall i just keep feeding him the hand rearing formula?

[liz]

When a baby is old enough to sit up in a high chair it is able to pick up food and put in it's mouth. It can feed itself right. No. It can get some food in it's mouth and play with the rest but not get enough in it's stomach to survive.

I fed my kids as long as I needed to. I had to help my son until he was 4. My daughter was easier. By 2 she was a consumer and did not need help. Each one is different.

If your baby cries for food - feed it.

[Saerphe]

Liz is right. Besides, force-weaning a bird can cause serious behaviour problems later on. The best thing to do is to keep feeding your lovebird the formula until it stops asking for it.

Keep providing pellets, seed, and a variety of fruits and vegetables (gotta learn to eat a variety of food while it's young), but if it asks for formula, feed it. It'll eventually stop asking for formula by itself. This method is called Abundance Weaning and generally leads to more confident, well-adjusted adult birds.

[GlassOnion]

Do NOT forcefully wean the bird. In the wild, this NEVER happens. A hurriedly weaned bird will turn out to be a whiny, needy, crying bird with insecurities.

When a human baby cries for hours because it is hungry, you need to feed it. SAME with birds. FEED him as MUCH as he will take it. Please, please do not cut down on the feedings.

[Pink Phoenix]

Thanks for your help, I am still hand feeding him, he does not eat a lot of it at all now. But he is still screeching whenever i put him back in the cage during the day... calling to be let out, whether he is in the living room, outside or wherever. He has plenty of toys in his cage, and i add in new things all the time to keep him entertained.

Any advice on how i can get him to enjoy his cage and not scream to be let out all the time? He does not respond to treats yet he is not that interested in them. Just wants attention.

Please help

[liz]

Get him a friend.

[Pink Phoenix]

Yes I was thinking that. One question though, can I put any similar size bird with him like a budgie or does it have to be a lovebird?

Any help much appreciated.

[liz]

To begin with - you have to quarentine a new bird. That means you have to have a second cage.

I have 3 mated pairs of cockatiels living in a flock. I have 2 male lovebirds in another cage. When I let them all out they form one big flock. I can't guarentee that a lovie and budgie will do the same. If you are lucky they will. If not you will have two seperate cages. I would go with another lovebird if it was me. You know "birds of a feather...".