Very docile lovebirds but heavy biters

[Nabilb]

Hi all,

I have had 2 lovebirds since the beginning of last summer. They are around 9-10 months old now. They have been extremely well treated and cared for since I got them. I purchased them from a pet store when they were around 3-4 months old.

I have had a lot of difficulty to have them trust me but now they seem to do. They are completely free in their room and I only tell them to go to their cage when it's time to cover them so they can sleep.

When they see me, they won't leave me alone. They will be on my shoulders, arms or head all along. They also start singing non stop when I'm with them which I guess means that they are happy. I have a bed in their room on which I lay on it sometimes and just play some music so they can feel my presence. When I lay on the bed, they would fly over and start walking on my head or back or legs, but they would bite non stop. One of them loves my face and she gives me kisses on my cheek non stop but then tries to constantly bite my ears or lips. And it's not love bites, it's hard on killer bites . They both bite every part of my body. But when they bite they don't assume the attack position, they will just stand relax on my back for example and start biting the skin.

I have tried saying no and moving them away in a calm manner, tried to turn my body or arms in a way that they have to fly off so they think that it's dangerous everytime they bite, I've tried time-out in the cage, holding the beak non forcibly, to distract them, but nothing is working. Any advice would help please because it's getting to a point where I have bird bites everywhere.

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[Zara]

If what you are doing is not working, then it is time to try something new.

You could either accept your birds as hands off, or try to interact more using treats to help entice them. Millet spray is a favourite amongst lovebirds. No more lying down, wear clothes that cover you where they bite you. No shoulder time for the one who bites your ear. Using the cage as a "time- out" doesn't work as their cage is a fun place, so instead of caging them, turn your back on them and ignore for a minute.
Construct and area like a play area or stand, and use this area to place their toys, foraging activities and other fun stuff. Then you can offer the millet there.

 

[Nabilb]

If what you are doing is not working, then it is time to try something new.

You could either accept your birds as hands off, or try to interact more using treats to help entice them. Millet spray is a favourite amongst lovebirds. No more lying down, wear clothes that cover you where they bite you. No shoulder time for the one who bites your ear. Using the cage as a "time- out" doesn't work as their cage is a fun place, so instead of caging them, turn your back on them and ignore for a minute.
Construct and area like a play area or stand, and use this area to place their toys, foraging activities and other fun stuff. Then you can offer the millet there.

Thanks, I appreciate your input. But I have done all that already unfortunately. As for the covering all my body parts, if i do, they go into my clothes and worst case scenario they try to bite my face Hahaha! I'll try the ignore them timeout tactic and see if it works as well as the shoulder timeout.

As for the playground, they have a huge playground with tons of different toys, ropes, ladder, etc. Which I add to on a weekly basis and change the decor of it so it feels different also on a weekly basis. But if I'm there, that playground doesn't exist for them, only I do Hahaha!

Let's just say that I have the most stubborn birds. Today one of them bit my nose so hard that it bled like crazy and for the first time ever I yelled at him. I felt so bad. But I guess that as you said, if nothing works, then I will have to deal with them hands off. Thanks again for your help and time.

 

[Emma&pico]

Hey
I have a female lovebird like this things I have found help
Recall training get them to fly to you offer a treat then get them to fly back to a perch give treat moving at different levels away from them get them flying to burn of energy depending on her mood safflower/sunflower seeds if she being nice strip of longer millet if she’s in attack mood

trick training flips around rope perch or turn around I can’t teach her to wave or shake as she’s a hand off bird

to add to the recall I tap my arm she flys to that rather than fingers

if she flys to my shoulder I tell her good girl and give her treats if she not biting

foraging toys making her work for food helps loads keeping her busy

honestly I bet it she hurts so much because she wants to hurt

The recall to your arm should help loads make sure arms covered

keep saying no bite and bush off if they do bite they will get it
until the can behave on my arm do not let near your face

 

[Nabilb]

Hey
I have a female lovebird like this things I have found help
Recall training get them to fly to you offer a treat then get them to fly back to a perch give treat moving at different levels away from them get them flying to burn of energy depending on her mood safflower/sunflower seeds if she being nice strip of longer millet if she’s in attack mood

trick training flips around rope perch or turn around I can’t teach her to wave or shake as she’s a hand off bird

to add to the recall I tap my arm she flys to that rather than fingers

if she flys to my shoulder I tell her good girl and give her treats if she not biting

foraging toys making her work for food helps loads keeping her busy

honestly I bet it she hurts so much because she wants to hurt

The recall to your arm should help loads make sure arms covered

keep saying no bite and bush off if they do bite they will get it
until the can behave on my arm do not let near your face

Thanks for the advice, I will try these tips too and hopefully I will get them to stop biting.

Out of curiosity, on a different matter. I don't know if you guys can help. But I noticed that recently, the male has been building nests with a palm tree I have in the room. He finds places that are kind of obscure, like my show closet, under the bed sheets, in dark corners and brings the palm tree leaves and builds nests. Does that mean that he's preparing to empregnate the female? They're both around 9-10 months old. And if so, should I be discouraging that?