New Lovebird ownder from Canada

[rosalvarez.gt]

Hi there!
i just got a 4 month of Peach-faced called Luna. This is the first time I have an untamed lovebird, I previously had a lovebird that was hand-held and tamed. I am trying to train her but I fear i Have already done some "donèts".
Since the beginning, I always try to be close to her and talk to her throughout the evening and in the morning before I leave. She is not a biter but if I put my hand in the cage she does freak out.
I saw on a youtuve video that I should not put my hands in the cage but more encourage her to get out of the cage in a safe room.
I now have specific training times in a room. She gets out of the cage and perches on high areas. She does let me get very close to her as I talk to er. However as soon as she sees my hands she flies away. As of late, she has been flying from her high perch towards me and circles around and back to her high perch. She does this constantly and gets closer and closer to my face.
Is thisan aggressive behaviour or is she "sizing" me up?
I recently read that I shouls train her inside the cage first but at this point I fear stopping the flying time would upset her.

Thank you for all your advice in advance!!!

Luna

[Wolf]

Training is a great tool, but this early in the relationship you need to continue with earning the birds trust and in building a bond with the bird. this is the very first step and any training before you have gained the birds trust is futile as it does nothing to help you earn its trust. I would say that the bird is trying to gather the courage to land on your head as this is the highest point on you and does not scare it the way that hands can. Relax and let the bird land on you when it will, it is a good thing and is the beginning of earning its trust. That is it for outside the cage for now.
In the cage, sit and talk to the bird and maybe even join the bird for breakfast making sure that you have some fresh fruit, vegetable and a leafy green for the bird and make sure that it sees you nibbling on these items yourself. The sharing of food is a social activity as well as a bonding time for your bird.
Sit in front of the open cage and offer the bird a treat off and on while talking with it and singing to it and be lavish with the birdie praise. If the bird takes the treat, great, if not then place the treat inside the cage door and leave it so that the bird will realizes that good things always come from you. And do not reach inside the cage except to clean it or change the food and water.

[Pajarita]

Yes, she is trying to land on your head, all the lovies I've had loved doing that. How are you getting her back into her cage? Does she go in by herself or do you have to catch her?

I agree with Wolf that you need to earn her trust before you start training -and not only because it's the right sequence to follow for a good long term relationship but also because, if she doesn't trust you enough to stay still when you are real close to her, you would not be able to train her at all. But, once you see that she is fine with you sitting next to her cage (don't look at her directly, do it from the corner of your eye and always present your face to her in semi-profile so she doesn't perceive you as a predator) and starts taking treats from your hand willingly and eagerly (in order to achieve this, you can't free-feed protein food), you can start training her to step up to a stick while she is still in the cage.

Now, there is a reason why these birds are called lovebirds (inseparables in French, Italian and Spanish) and it's that they are INTENSELY mate-oriented so, unfortunately for us, they really do not do well all alone (no small species do, actually) which prompts me to ask: is there any chance that you would consider getting her a mate?

[rosalvarez.gt]

Hi Wolf
Thank you so much for the advice! I stopped trying to train her and am concentrating on letting her get to know me and then trust me. She hasn't tried to land on my head again but I think she will wih time. Thank you again!

Luna

[rosalvarez.gt]

Hi Pajarita
Thank you for your advice! As to getting her back in the cage I'm impressed at how easy it is. I actually just take the cage up to her and she goes in it without a problem.

She does let me get close to her but as soon as she sees my hands she gets quite agitated. For now I am just letting her see me and I talk to her a lot whilst keeping my hands at my side.

I am definitely thinking about getting her a companion but I thought it would be better if I could train her first and then get her a mate.
Now, there is a reason why these birds are called lovebirds (inseparables in French, Italian and Spanish) and it's that they are INTENSELY mate-oriented so, unfortunately for us, they really do not do well all alone (no small species do, actually) which prompts me to ask: is there any chance that you would consider getting her a mate?

Thank you! Luna

[Pajarita]

Good for you and even better for her that you are considering getting her a mate. Now, if I may make a suggestion? Adopt a juvenile hand-fed male for her - and you won't even need to wait for her to be tame! Males are much sweeter-tempered than females (females been the dominant gender in lovebirds) and, if you get a hand-fed one, he will not only be sweet, he will also be tame (because he is imprinted to humans) - this will allow you to interact with him easily and, when a bird that doesn't trust you sees you interacting with a bird that does, it helps tremendously in the process of getting the 'untamed' bird to trust you.

But, my dear, if you can lift the cage to her, unless you are a body builder lady, the cage you have is way too small...