Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone can help me. I got two lovebirds over Christmas. These are my first lovebirds but I have experience in successfully taming my two budgies. when I got my lovies they were friendly enough adjusting to there new home but after a short amount of time the female of the two started biting my hands every time I reached in the cage to change food or water or toys. In fact, she bites if I just set my hands on the outside of the cage so now I have to use gloves to do anything with them. I was also letting them out of the cage so they could hop around the room but then she began guarding the cage doors and biting anything or anyone who comes near. Then when she finally decides to come out she makes the whole room her territory and will bite me if I make the wrong move.
As you can tell I am very annoyed. Can anyone help?

I am sorry about your aggressive lovebird. I actually haven't had as much luck taming lovebirds as most all other birds. Even though they are smaller so don't inflict as damaging a bite (even though it still hurts) I would much rather work with a macaw LOL! The female lovebird will usually tend toward more aggression than the male. Especially if she is in season or getting ready to lay eggs. They become much more territorial both about their cage and about themselves. Especially with a male present even if in a different cage the aggression will be more pronounced. Try moving the male to a different cage or different room to see if this helps calm her after a few days. Sometimes the female will become protective of a potential mate and become aggressive if she sees anyone messing around the "mate" whether it is human or another bird. One of our female lovebirds sees our DYH as a potential mate and will scream and go nuts anytime anyone handles him but when he is left alone she calms down.

Try patience, possibly distraction or a treat. Millet sometimes works well as both distraction and treat. Hold the millet in one hand, try letting her climb onto your hand while holding the millet between her beak and your finger "hopefully" she will become interested in the millet and start eating it.

Good luck don't give up and be patient. Even though they are harder to tame and train it is possible. Maybe try leaving her alone for a few days in case it is seasonal and they start over again. You both may need the break.

Thanks for the reply I will try removing the male and see if it helps. I think your right about it being seasonal because it calms down for awhile and just when I start to trust her she starts keeping me out of the cage. When I let her out she also guards objects in the room so its also territorial but then if I can’t get my hand in the cage I guess I can’t get near her mate. I have tried distracting her with treats but when I put them on my hand she bits though the glove and knocks all the treats out of my hand .
Thanks so much for your response