How do I get my lovbird to stop biting?

Question

I handfed my lovebird and now he's biting me whenever I take him out of the cage, so much so, that I don't take him out as often. How do I get him to stop biting, it kinda hurts!

Answer 1

First of all, don't let his biting stop you from taking him out of the cage, that's encouraging the behavior. What you need to do is to ignore the biting even when it hurts and keep taking him out of the cage. Within even a day or two he'll realize that biting doesn't do anything. Whenever you pick him up, praise him, pet him, make him believe that being held is a good thing and not something to be afraid of. If he still bites after a day or so, gently pinch his beak (lovebirds hate this. It doesn't hurt them and doesn't get them angry but it annoys them) and say "no, that's too hard". This teaches him that biting isn't okay in a way that doesn't seem aggressive to him and he will understand. Birds don't understand punishment or yelling, so you have to use other methods. When he starts coming out of the cage with little to no biting, praise him heavily! Good luck and email me if you need any more help. Lovebirds can be stubborn sometimes.

Answer 2

How dreadful. He should love you and want to come out of his cage to you. So...have you let him come out by his own volition in the past? If so - never do that. You reach in and take him out. Sounds like, somehow, he thinks he is the boss of the house and he bites you to make sure you know it.

If you do not regain control - all is lost. You lost a friend and he lost your friendship.

I would do this -- I would take him out several times a day saying - Tinkerbell (or?) STEP UP. Not loudly but with emphasis - you are giving a command, not asking him to step up. Do this with a washcloth on your hand so you do not get bitten. AND - if his flight feathers are not trimmed - you must do this first-- he cannot be able to fly away when he feels like it.

So you have him out in the washcloth and he is struggling. Talk to him like you did when you were handfeeding him, as you walk to a room where he cannot see his cage. Let him out and offer him a favorite treat like millet. Talking all the while like always - happy and loving. If he will get onto your hand, praise him. Talk and play. If you can walk him back to the cage in a while - tell him what a good boy he was, etc, etc. You put him into the cage and close the door.

Do this over and over until he wants to come out with you.
If you do not do this, he will become more cage-bound. A real wild lovebird, I will pet while in the washcloth. If he flys down to the floor - (wings trimmed) you command Step Up and pick him up - good bird!!! A very few times of this and he will welcome you. I have trained WILD lovebirds this way. Feather trim is a must and you in charge is a must. Do not let him hurt you anymore - that is your goal and his.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Well thats how my pigeons are lol. I handfed them since babies and they grew to love me but once they grew up... oh no lol they hit me like im a stranger! Well the thing is that this is real important for them to do. For one this is how they like to "play" with you. I think you should still take him out but have a area where you can let him go and cover the top so he doesnt run away. Its important for him to have some free time. and two its kinda good for him to bite because it will help him when a preditor comes along so he can fight back. He should be as strong as he can be so he can fight of the stranger. I would wear a glove if it gets bad but take him out of the cage and place him in the floor of a room in your house or apartment but place newspapers ont he floor and make sure he cant get out and turn the fan OFF. If you ever need any help in the future with your bird there is a great website that helps mainly with pigeons but helps with doves and all sorts of birds. They have many smart and helpful members that will give you an immediate response. Good luck and let me know how it turns out! I just ♥ my pigeons and im sure you love your lovebirds =) By the way after reading the previous post i highly disagree to some things she or he said. Birds dont understand you when you talk all they can do is remember some of your happy actions. Dont think this is just your lovebird its others too! This is typical behavior in any bird. When you take him out he feels disturbed and no bird likes being held so all birds bite and make noise until they can get away. Dont yell at this poor little creature because he will not understand... The one thing you can do is give him treats and food when he is behaving but never take anything away. It can be dangerous mentally to yell or mistreat animals. They are a privilidge to handle and im sure you understand that! Once again good luck and let me know how it turns out! ♥ Stay true to the bird because he is true to you, Raise him well, and love him too...

Answer 4

Lovebirds are very territorial However you have to *bite* the bullet and get used to it. Because you don't take him out often he will continue to bite. He also knows that if he bites you, you will leave him alone. Remember keep working with him, he will come around. You own him he doesn't own you! It does take time.

Answer 5

Try getting him to come out of the cage on a stick or dowel. Once he is out of the cage he will feel less defensive than when you invade his "territory" (the cage) and you can work on teaching him the step-up command.

That's really the only way to do it in my experience. Ignore any advice to punish or spray the bird with water. Parrots are intelligent and that sort of treatment will only lead to a bird that hates its owner and becomes downright viscious to humans.

Answer 6

Sounds like you have a female .They always bite there is nothing you can do about that.Even if the bird was hand fed lovebird females always bite.