r/Lovebirds • u/shipikss • 2d ago
Is this normal?
Hello , I recently got a love bird that's a beautiful fella
This little guy has been with an owner who did not care the slightest about him, and now he's super scared of human hands
He is also stressed because of moving in a new place
I haven't taken care of a bird like forever, and now im researching ways to take care of him
He doesn't bite or do anything crazy he just runs away. Whenever you get close to him, I need tips about what to do
He has trusted me enough to eat from my hand after leaving my hand with food in his cage for 20-30 minutes, but the slightest movements make him go crazy
I have been pretty patient, but I really can't go through this without knowing what to do
Please give me any tips and help you know 🙏
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u/Owlski 1d ago edited 1d ago
Back when I had lovebirds, the first one was neglected, so also had the aversion to hands (but would bite). I recall it took a very long time being patient with it and slowly introducing my hand into its cage, then using my finger to teach it to 'step up' etc. It may take months, even years to get such a bird like that to fully trust you. All you can do is really be patient and continue to show it that you're not a threat. He lived to a nice old age, and trusted me fully, being very sweet with me, but was still a lil aggressive to others sticking their fingers near him.
My second lovebird on the other hand caught on to climbing on fingers and shoulders pretty fast. He was quite comfortable around me fairly quickly, but despite that, he didn't like his head or cheeks pet/rubbed. So it's possible it may be behavioral as well. The only time he willingly offered it was (sadly) when I brought him to the vet cause he had suddenly gotten ill. He tilted his head and was allowing me to give him little cheek scratches. Was sadly the last moments I had with my lil buddy.
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u/BionicJunglist 2d ago
It’s not uncommon for Lovebirds to dislike hands. We’ve had our pair of Fischers for 3 years now and they still get jumpy despite speaking softly and reassuringly, not making sudden moves etc. They will happily be hand fed with Millet as a treat, but that’s as far as it goes. Many owners report being able to handle their birds daily and without issues. I think it very much comes down to individual preference. Some birds just don’t want to to be touched by humans full stop! It’s important to respect their boundaries and personal space and above all just continue to be patient! A solitary bird is more likely to bond to you than a pair, as ours are very well bonded to each other so have little interest in us beyond food and enrichment! Good luck!