Post by Casey on Nov 21, 2011 9:37:18 GMT -8
Well, I will go through my taming process with these lovebirds. I've gotten them as babies last February. Mango was 10 weeks old, Munch was 9 weeks old. I had clipped them and worked on taming them separately in separate rooms at first. Taming usually took place in our bathroom as it was small and the only room with a close-able door away from the other birds and cats. Constant handling and step up training took place. This was slow and proved pointless with these two. They stepped up in the bathroom, or if they were having out of cage time and landed on the floor. But it was clear that they did not enjoy it. They grew their flights back by 5-6 months old. Once they could fly, stepping up was a losing battle. I would not push it farther because it was clear they did not like it, and I do not want a relationship based on forcing my birds to do something they do not enjoy. I want the taming process to be enjoyable on both sides. If they weren't enjoying it, then I wasn't going to either.
I had moved on to trying clicker training with Munch. If she let my hand near, she could have a sunflower seed. Did not work so well. She just learned she'd rather chomp my fingers instead. So that method also failed. Mango would not come close enough to take the treats so the method failed with him too. I could not work with them in their cages. Mango was too shy and Munch too territorial.
I continued to speak to them through the cage and offer small toys and treats when I was near, whether it was placing it in their food dish or on the cage floor for foot toys. They accepted the treats and toys, but did not seem to want my company, aside from Munch who will come to the side of the cage and talk back when I talk to her. She is curious and bold, but aggressive and territorial.
I worked with them outside of the cage with Millet. Munch was the first who would come to the millet. When Munch came, so did Mango shortly after. So, if I were to make progress, I must tame them together. Separately, both were not comfortable, it seemed that they needed to be together to feel more comfortable.
After them coming to my hand for the millet, without stepping on my hand, I moved away from the perches with the millet, having them try to fly to it. Munch was the first to do so. Shortly after Mango would come too. But they often ignored the millet. Kaytee Healthy Bits treats worked as well as the millet did as well. If I held them out in my hand, Munch would come. But the seed treats, Mango ignored.
Upon cleaning their cages one day, Munch saw me changing the cage papers, she flew over and landed on my shoulder and tried to climb down to the paper. This gave me an idea. I got clean paper and held it out in my hand. This was an instant hit. It grabbed their attention without fail each time. I worked with larger pieces of paper first. Until they both came without fail. Then I used smaller pieces so they had to land on my hand rather than the paper. Now, Munch will come, paper or no paper, just to see what I am doing and see if I have anything for her. Sometimes Mango will come too, but only if Munch is there. He will only come if Munch is there or if I have paper.
So I went up a step and filled a paper cup with beads, toys, and treats and had them fly to my hand for that, which works just as well as paper. This is currently where I am at in their taming. I am having an easier time taming them flighted than I ever did when they were clipped. Millet and daily handling was not enough nor was clicker training. They needed a stronger motivation. They still will not step up. But maybe further down the line they will. I will keep working with them.
and a video with the cup method.
But from this experience I have learned a few things.
It's not impossible to tame flighted birds.
It's not impossible to tame a pair of lovebirds together.
Millet doesn't always work.
These here, are usually rare and difficult. Many people say it is impossible to tame a pair of lovebirds together. This isn't true. I'm taming a pair and I've seen others tame groups of lovebirds. It takes time, patience, and a little creativity to find what they can't resist.
Others say the only way to tame a bird is to clip them. This also is not true. It may be harder, but clipping a bird does not guarantee tameness. You may get a better bond this way than making your bird rely on you. I've had one bird tamed by clipping, so it does really help, but sometimes I do not think this is set in stone. Some birds may not work that way. This is an interesting experience, which I've learned from and continue to learn from.
I had moved on to trying clicker training with Munch. If she let my hand near, she could have a sunflower seed. Did not work so well. She just learned she'd rather chomp my fingers instead. So that method also failed. Mango would not come close enough to take the treats so the method failed with him too. I could not work with them in their cages. Mango was too shy and Munch too territorial.
I continued to speak to them through the cage and offer small toys and treats when I was near, whether it was placing it in their food dish or on the cage floor for foot toys. They accepted the treats and toys, but did not seem to want my company, aside from Munch who will come to the side of the cage and talk back when I talk to her. She is curious and bold, but aggressive and territorial.
I worked with them outside of the cage with Millet. Munch was the first who would come to the millet. When Munch came, so did Mango shortly after. So, if I were to make progress, I must tame them together. Separately, both were not comfortable, it seemed that they needed to be together to feel more comfortable.
After them coming to my hand for the millet, without stepping on my hand, I moved away from the perches with the millet, having them try to fly to it. Munch was the first to do so. Shortly after Mango would come too. But they often ignored the millet. Kaytee Healthy Bits treats worked as well as the millet did as well. If I held them out in my hand, Munch would come. But the seed treats, Mango ignored.
Upon cleaning their cages one day, Munch saw me changing the cage papers, she flew over and landed on my shoulder and tried to climb down to the paper. This gave me an idea. I got clean paper and held it out in my hand. This was an instant hit. It grabbed their attention without fail each time. I worked with larger pieces of paper first. Until they both came without fail. Then I used smaller pieces so they had to land on my hand rather than the paper. Now, Munch will come, paper or no paper, just to see what I am doing and see if I have anything for her. Sometimes Mango will come too, but only if Munch is there. He will only come if Munch is there or if I have paper.
So I went up a step and filled a paper cup with beads, toys, and treats and had them fly to my hand for that, which works just as well as paper. This is currently where I am at in their taming. I am having an easier time taming them flighted than I ever did when they were clipped. Millet and daily handling was not enough nor was clicker training. They needed a stronger motivation. They still will not step up. But maybe further down the line they will. I will keep working with them.
and a video with the cup method.
But from this experience I have learned a few things.
It's not impossible to tame flighted birds.
It's not impossible to tame a pair of lovebirds together.
Millet doesn't always work.
These here, are usually rare and difficult. Many people say it is impossible to tame a pair of lovebirds together. This isn't true. I'm taming a pair and I've seen others tame groups of lovebirds. It takes time, patience, and a little creativity to find what they can't resist.
Others say the only way to tame a bird is to clip them. This also is not true. It may be harder, but clipping a bird does not guarantee tameness. You may get a better bond this way than making your bird rely on you. I've had one bird tamed by clipping, so it does really help, but sometimes I do not think this is set in stone. Some birds may not work that way. This is an interesting experience, which I've learned from and continue to learn from.
