Lovebirds: Do they bite?

Question

I know...all birds have different temperaments, and it depends on how they are raised, how much time you spend with them.

But in general, do lovebirds bite???? Do you know from experience?

Answer 1

Your best bet for a tame pet lovebird is to buy a young hand fed lovebird and keep it by itself in a cage. That means you do have to interact with it every day since you are its only social contact and entertainment. Also, lovebirds are somewhat quick to lose their tameness if not handled every day.

I have had a peach faced lovebird for five years and I would not trade her for the world! My experiences are based on one bird but this is my experience. She did go through a phase when she was about 8-12 months old where she bit constantly. That seemed to be a phase and since then she has been wonderful and loving. She is very smart and cuddly. She rarely bites now - like most female lovies she is protective of her cage so I do have to be watchful of where my hands are when working on her cage. She is very charming and has a feisty big parrot personality in a little body.

Truthfully, ALL hookbills (parrot type birds) bite at one time or another. Lovebird bites do hurt for a few seconds and can break the skin a tiny bit but they cannot do any serious damage. If you really want a bird that does not bite toucans make wonderful pets (they can't bite hard with their big bills, surprisingly, but are really expensive) and doves also just kind of peck without hurting and are quiet and sweet.

By the way, I must respectfully disagree with the poster that said lovebirds have been "known to take earlobes off." Lovebirds are aggressive toward other birds and have been known to kill other lovebirds and even larger birds like cockatiels. However, there is just no way that tiny beak could take off a person's entire earlobe. A lovebird can break the skin and make a tiny puncture that causes a drop of blood to ooze out but that is the worst they are capable of inflicting on a human. Larger parrots like Amazons and Greys, for sure, could take off an earlobe or put out a person's eye but not a little 60 gram lovebird.

Answer 2

Even though lovebirds are called lovbirds, they are quite aggressive. To stop them biting or trying to bite you, handle it/them more often and they come to realise that you're their owner and so there is less chance of them biting you. I have a pet cockatiel and it used to bite, but not very hard because it was only a baby. I held it and played with it and now the only annoying thing about him is he sits on my shoulder 24/7. Lovebirds are smaller than cockatiels so their bite won't be as hard.

Answer 3

Love birds are known as the PIT BULL of birds. A love bird tamed or not will bite anything it can and keep it up if it gets away with it. Lovebirds will fight to the end until one of them is dead if you do not watch how they act together and stop it at the first sign of one of them being mean to the other. Lovebirds will also kill their own babies if anything at all ever upsets them while they are on the nest. I do not recommend a love bird to anyone who wants to put their hands on their birds. Even a tamed lovebird you may trust with your life are known to bite their owners in the face or take their ear lobes off in some cases because of way too much trust the person has in them. I have 20 yrs experience and have only gotten bitten in the face by one bird, and to me, thats one bird too many.

Answer 4

I breed Lovebirds. In fact, I have a clutch of Lovebirds right now. (PS: I've had many clutches of Lovebirds, not a one of which "was killed by angry parents"; they aren't hamsters!) The ones that I'm raising right now are starting the lifelong "nipping" phase that Lovebirds all go through, and they do hurt, but I correct them, and they are obedient and loyal birds. I'm looking at a darling little slate under my chin right now.

No, they're not the cuddliest birds (they're independent), but they aren't known by anybody from the countries I confer with as "the pit bulls of the birds". They're generally refered to as "little birds with big attitude" and eager breeders. Yes, your Lovebird will probably bite. But whether it hurts depends upon what you think of your Lovebird, and I adore mine. I have just resigned myself to being "nibbled". Parrots are like babies who are always teething.

Answer 5

They definitely bite! They should be called devil birds.

(wide experience with those and many other pet birds from small to large - don't like lovebirds)

Answer 6

YES, they do bite, altough they called "love" bird. You have to let them know who is the boss and not let them misunderstand it's a game to bite.

Answer 7

i have 2 that have never bit me, my mother in law has 2 and when they bit her, they drew blood and her finger swelled. they are not nicknamed "hatebirds" for nothing!!!! :0)

Answer 8

Yes they do more often than not.. not because they do not love you but that is the way they are... so.. BE CAREFUL !!!

Answer 9

may nip a little but no serious biting

Answer 10

oh yes, and it hurts too.