How do I train a bonded pair of birds?

[Yen]

Hi, I’m a total newbie to training birds. I’m so confused about how to train a bonded pair of lovebirds. Any help would be very much appreciated!

I adopted two young lovebirds from a friend in mid December who couldn’t keep them anymore. Male (Blueberry) is about a year old and female (Asuri) is about 7 months old.

My friend taught Blueberry how to do step up, wings, spin and turn around the perch. He demonstrated it very well. That was before he bonded with Asuri. Now, he seems to have forgotten or not be willing to do any trick except step up. Is it possible for me to encourage Blueberry to remember the tricks he did? He’s a very smart bird and quite used to human interaction. He climbed on us by himself and explored us the same day we got him home.

Asuri is much shyer and my friend didn’t train her at all. She will come to my hand for treats with caution but will not step up. I’ve been trying to teach Asuri step-up but she’s distracted chirping and desperately looking for Blueberry during training. So I tried putting them together during her training session. But when they are together, they fight over the training treat that I’m offering Asuri to come to my hand. I’m really confused about how to train both birds now.

Thanks!

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[April]

@Zara may have some suggestions since she has several adorable Lovies.

 

[Emma&pico]

I have four lovebirds
Two bonded straight away mango I had first before apple pie mango tameish will do trick land on my finger arm etc for millet apple pie will come close for millet but hasn’t flown on me yet teaching apple pie to turn around at min but as you say they do everything together so they kind of get in each others way and are more bothered about each other than anything I am doing
I will keep trying I think it’s just patience only give certain treats from you like millet sunflower seeds etc I’ve found fetches them closer and go from there

good luck we love pictures I especially love lovebird pictures

 

[Kiwi's Dad]

Take everything VERY slowly! One bird might me ready to move on while the might not be. If you push a bird it might slow down the process. I hope this helps

 

[Yen]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and encouragement! It’s given me some assurance to keep trying to teach Asuri to step up. I really appreciate it. Blueberry (turquoise) and Asuri (light blue) say hi!

 

[April]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and encouragement! It’s given me some assurance to keep trying to teach Asuri to step up. I really appreciate it. Blueberry (turquoise) and Asuri (light blue) say hi!
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Oh my goodness they are adorable

 

[Emma&pico]

They are so gorgeous

 

[Kiwi's Dad]

They’re so cute

 

[Yen]

Hi everyone, happiness! I think I’m making a bit of progress with Asuri. Today, I put her on a perch and with the help of a seed treat, she was able to put one foot on my finger. So what worked today (I hope it keeps on working!) is that I put Asuri on a perch for training and then distracted Blueberry by making him forage for seeds below the perch. So he was near enough to Asuri to be her security blanket but cannot immediately snatch her treat.

I would love to hear your sharing about your lovies, or to see some pics too! I think my babies are losing interest in chewing the box. How do you keep on finding things to entertain them?

 

[Emma&pico]

Hi everyone, happiness! I think I’m making a bit of progress with Asuri. Today, I put her on a perch and with the help of a seed treat, she was able to put one foot on my finger. So what worked today (I hope it keeps on working!) is that I put Asuri on a perch for training and then distracted Blueberry by making him forage for seeds below the perch. So he was near enough to Asuri to be her security blanket but cannot immediately snatch her treat.

I would love to hear your sharing about your lovies, or to see some pics too! I think my babies are losing interest in chewing the box. How do you keep on finding things to entertain them?

That’s brill progress keep at it she will be soon stepping up

mine have lots of forgaging toys finger traps stuffed with millet mine love to chew so any shreddable toys are a hit they have boing perches outside there cages play stand

here’s a picture of my babies

 

[Yen]

That’s brill progress keep at it she will be soon stepping up

mine have lots of forgaging toys finger traps stuffed with millet mine love to chew so any shreddable toys are a hit they have boing perches outside there cages play stand

here’s a picture of my babies
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Aaaaah they are all so cute!!!

Thanks for sharing the pics and toys you use. It’s given me a much clearer idea of what I can do for my babies.

 

[Emma&pico]

Aaaaah they are all so cute!!!

Thanks for sharing the pics and toys you use. It’s given me a much clearer idea of what I can do for my babies.

I can take pictures of their toys tomos for you

 

[Yen]

Hi everyone, happiness! I think I’m making a bit of progress with Asuri. Today, I put her on a perch and with the help of a seed treat, she was able to put one foot on my finger. So what worked today (I hope it keeps on working!) is that I put Asuri on a perch for training and then distracted Blueberry by making him forage for seeds below the perch. So he was near enough to Asuri to be her security blanket but cannot immediately snatch her treat.

I would love to hear your sharing about your lovies, or to see some pics too! I think my babies are losing interest in chewing the box. How do you keep on finding things to entertain them?

Hi everyone! It’s been a long while. I’m really happy to report that Asuri is now finger tamed. What worked for me in the end was to focus on training her mate Blueberry and rewarding him with treats while completely ignoring her. It helped that Blueberry was ignoring her too. She realised she was missing out on treats after a while and eventually decided to participate in the training sessions too.