Hello! This forum has been so helpful in my research on how to care for a lovebird that recently took up residence in my home, unannounced, a few days ago. My children have been calling them Mango, but I feel like Lara Croft might be more accurate given this bird's movements and life choices. I think I have mostly figured out the basics- no mirror toys, no nest vibes, a blend of pellets, grains, and veggies with a little fruit/seeds, cage free of harmful plastics and metals with natural wood perches (RIP to my son's stick collection), and free flight time every day. However, I still have so many questions and concerns! I hope it's okay to drop a longer post as a newcomer.
The short of it is this:
1) Where is the line between normal behavior and "corner sitting" or too much feather fluffing
2) How to ensure free flight time is safe
3) Advice to determine whether I am in a position to care for this/any bird longterm given our environment and abilities
First off, I am brand new to birds as pets. As a kid I used to volunteer for a local bird center on (minimal) handling and leg banding and strangely have had several bird rescue encounters at home, including an american kestrel with a first flight injury, a quail, and a hummingbird that got caught in a hailstorm. In none of those situations did I need to plan for longterm care. My understanding of lovebirds is that they cannot care for themselves in the wild because they are most likely from a breeder, and I cannot simply release to find their way home. I have posted in local pet lost/found groups, pawboost, local zoo & aviary, and followed up with every lost lovebird post for 100 miles, and no one is claiming this little lightning bolt! Bird didn't know how to respond to millet, fruit, or pellets at first, and doesn't seem interested in any toys. Typically just paper shredding like it's a job. This makes me think our little vagabond escaped from a breeder who maybe didn't notice or care, or perhaps was released. That option would make me worried the bird is ill, and I'm having a hard time telling what constitutes "corner sitting" or fluffed feathers that lasts too long. I've included a picture of the fluffed feathers we see, and the bird can keep them that way for quite a few minutes, maybe up to 30 when perched. Regardless of fluff-mode, bird does perch for long periods of time, possibly hours. While the bird can fly quickly, there is some very apparent reticence to stay in flight- tends to just zoom quickly to the next perch for more sitting time. I have noticed some feathers falling, though most of those were on day 1-2. Recently, bird has been making a soft scratching sound with beak opening and closing. Sometimes, bird will rub beak/side of head against the wood perches. I would love to take to a vet, but there are few avian-specialty vets where I live and an appointment can't be made for a while. I am also between jobs, as I was laid off for some months and have another position lined up that won't begin until December. As a single mom in a country that just canceled food stamps, it's rough out here and we are *all* going without needed medical care. I am trying to decide if the bird is displaying symptoms worth surrendering to the humane society which doesn't seem to be the best place for a bird in general, or if this is normal feather fluffing and some birds just sit a lot.
Secondly, I am wondering if some birds need to be caged for their own safety. This bird flew up to perch in the skylight and didn't come down for an hour or two. I later noticed multiple small flakes of paint and inner-wall dust on the floor below. Would a bird eat a wall like it was cuttlebone? And if so, how can I prevent this at an unreachable height without traumatizing the bird? Other practical advice for free flight- does this have to always be directly supervised for hours, or do you go about your lives in between interactions? How do you manage the free pooping? And do all lovebirds need lots of flying time, or does it vary with temperament? Mine seems interested in the freedom and autonomy more than the physical activity. Then again, aren't we all
Other advice on baby-proofing for bird safety welcome.
And then finally, supposing a family doesn't come forward, is my household a good fit in the longterm? I have a senior cat who doesn't tend to jump or climb, but can deploy this ability at least once, and that's probably all it takes. Because my cat is such a tenderino, I can also see how he might give a bird the false impression that he wouldn't hunt and have the bird comfortable in closer proximity than is safe. He typically is an indoor cat due to coyotes, but has hunted mice outside before. So far, he hasn't shown much interest in the bird, just some avoidance when chirping. I am about to start a new job that has at least 50% local travel, so my teenager could end up needing to be relied on for care, and we hopefully all know how children of any age are not neurologically developed enough to reliably care for any animal alone. I'm also not in the most financially stable situation and will certainly need months to recover from debt and to take care of everything we put on hold for lack of income. Our house is also not the most scheduled, predictable, or quiet place. There is messy art and loud friends and school instruments to practice (cello and e-drums, the worst possible choices to have to pay back for potential damage). I am curious what the average annual cost of living for a lovebird is. Or two, if that will be necessary.
The pro's are that my children are older (10 and 13) and can help be part of the flock. I have a home that is not carpeted and has outside space for a diy aviary. My cat is old and mostly sedentary, and due to the nature of my new job, we will need to maintain a fragrance and smoke/incense-free home, which is usually pretty hard to come by in southern California. I am also feeling some tempting feelings of kismet given that these birds are native to a place very close to where my children's ancestors lived prior to chattel slavery, and bird events seem to be a constant in my life. So many. When I tell you a heron stepped to get in my parked UPS truck one holiday season ! Perhaps I have neglected my calling to become a bird person for too long. I've certainly been pooped on by enough feral green macaws to be prepared for that aspect of bird parenthood.
So appreciative of any other advice or insight!
The short of it is this:
1) Where is the line between normal behavior and "corner sitting" or too much feather fluffing
2) How to ensure free flight time is safe
3) Advice to determine whether I am in a position to care for this/any bird longterm given our environment and abilities
First off, I am brand new to birds as pets. As a kid I used to volunteer for a local bird center on (minimal) handling and leg banding and strangely have had several bird rescue encounters at home, including an american kestrel with a first flight injury, a quail, and a hummingbird that got caught in a hailstorm. In none of those situations did I need to plan for longterm care. My understanding of lovebirds is that they cannot care for themselves in the wild because they are most likely from a breeder, and I cannot simply release to find their way home. I have posted in local pet lost/found groups, pawboost, local zoo & aviary, and followed up with every lost lovebird post for 100 miles, and no one is claiming this little lightning bolt! Bird didn't know how to respond to millet, fruit, or pellets at first, and doesn't seem interested in any toys. Typically just paper shredding like it's a job. This makes me think our little vagabond escaped from a breeder who maybe didn't notice or care, or perhaps was released. That option would make me worried the bird is ill, and I'm having a hard time telling what constitutes "corner sitting" or fluffed feathers that lasts too long. I've included a picture of the fluffed feathers we see, and the bird can keep them that way for quite a few minutes, maybe up to 30 when perched. Regardless of fluff-mode, bird does perch for long periods of time, possibly hours. While the bird can fly quickly, there is some very apparent reticence to stay in flight- tends to just zoom quickly to the next perch for more sitting time. I have noticed some feathers falling, though most of those were on day 1-2. Recently, bird has been making a soft scratching sound with beak opening and closing. Sometimes, bird will rub beak/side of head against the wood perches. I would love to take to a vet, but there are few avian-specialty vets where I live and an appointment can't be made for a while. I am also between jobs, as I was laid off for some months and have another position lined up that won't begin until December. As a single mom in a country that just canceled food stamps, it's rough out here and we are *all* going without needed medical care. I am trying to decide if the bird is displaying symptoms worth surrendering to the humane society which doesn't seem to be the best place for a bird in general, or if this is normal feather fluffing and some birds just sit a lot.
Secondly, I am wondering if some birds need to be caged for their own safety. This bird flew up to perch in the skylight and didn't come down for an hour or two. I later noticed multiple small flakes of paint and inner-wall dust on the floor below. Would a bird eat a wall like it was cuttlebone? And if so, how can I prevent this at an unreachable height without traumatizing the bird? Other practical advice for free flight- does this have to always be directly supervised for hours, or do you go about your lives in between interactions? How do you manage the free pooping? And do all lovebirds need lots of flying time, or does it vary with temperament? Mine seems interested in the freedom and autonomy more than the physical activity. Then again, aren't we all
Other advice on baby-proofing for bird safety welcome.And then finally, supposing a family doesn't come forward, is my household a good fit in the longterm? I have a senior cat who doesn't tend to jump or climb, but can deploy this ability at least once, and that's probably all it takes. Because my cat is such a tenderino, I can also see how he might give a bird the false impression that he wouldn't hunt and have the bird comfortable in closer proximity than is safe. He typically is an indoor cat due to coyotes, but has hunted mice outside before. So far, he hasn't shown much interest in the bird, just some avoidance when chirping. I am about to start a new job that has at least 50% local travel, so my teenager could end up needing to be relied on for care, and we hopefully all know how children of any age are not neurologically developed enough to reliably care for any animal alone. I'm also not in the most financially stable situation and will certainly need months to recover from debt and to take care of everything we put on hold for lack of income. Our house is also not the most scheduled, predictable, or quiet place. There is messy art and loud friends and school instruments to practice (cello and e-drums, the worst possible choices to have to pay back for potential damage). I am curious what the average annual cost of living for a lovebird is. Or two, if that will be necessary.
The pro's are that my children are older (10 and 13) and can help be part of the flock. I have a home that is not carpeted and has outside space for a diy aviary. My cat is old and mostly sedentary, and due to the nature of my new job, we will need to maintain a fragrance and smoke/incense-free home, which is usually pretty hard to come by in southern California. I am also feeling some tempting feelings of kismet given that these birds are native to a place very close to where my children's ancestors lived prior to chattel slavery, and bird events seem to be a constant in my life. So many. When I tell you a heron stepped to get in my parked UPS truck one holiday season ! Perhaps I have neglected my calling to become a bird person for too long. I've certainly been pooped on by enough feral green macaws to be prepared for that aspect of bird parenthood.
So appreciative of any other advice or insight!
