metalstitcher
Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
So do you have to let them out all day or can they stay in their cage while I'm away and be content if I let them out when I'm back from school? I wouldn't want to have unhappy birds!All birds will be messy, you won't believe how the floor of my room looks after a day of particular bad destruction and I have just two lovies(they have the run of the whole room 24/7 though). Seeds are easy to clean but fruit and veggies can be trickier in my experience. If you do your research and are aware of their needs, like lots of fun toys, foraging opportunities, avian vet care, their noise, how to treat them(as in respect etc.) and devoted to your birds I don't think there is a problem![]()
I didn't know you could toilet train birds! Does that mean they only poop in their cages or do they have a specific place where they go? Sorry if I sound weird, I just really need to gauge how messy and dirty it will be having birds because I don't think my parents will be too pleased if my room is filthy all the timeI don't think it's a bad idea as long as you do your research and are prepared for some painful bites. Lovebirds are very stubborn and love to chew and get into everything.
Some lovebirds can be very messy. Two of my six are toilet trained, but I still find food and poops everywhere. Mine aren't as bad as my tiel, but a few like to make pellet, poop and paper soup in their water dishes, which is very gross to clean in the morning.
Are males as territorial? And does that mean they'll decide that some parts of my room are theirs or does that just mean they won't want me to interact with their cages too much? Also, how hard is it to clean up every day?My babies throw food all over the place and poop everywhere. Doesn't really matter what kind of bird you get they are all going to be messy. But as @Garet said they are very stubborn and they are also very territorial of their person.
I wouldn’t reccomend starting out this way, it is absolutely great in my opinion if they don’t need a cage, but in the beginning likely they Will appriciate the safety of their Own spot besides the fact that it isn’t safe because your room is not bird proofed yetSo do you have to let them out all day or can they stay in their cage while I'm away and be content if I let them out when I'm back from school? I wouldn't want to have unhappy birds!
I just really need to gauge how messy and dirty it will be having birds because I don't think my parents will be too pleased if my room is filthy all the time
That's true, I'll have to look into the vet costs in my country. And that seems like a lot of work every day. Also regarding your previous reply, I've already had a long living let so I am well aware of the commitment it can be, I've just started looking into birds and I'm doing all the research I can but I won't do anything rash. I'll keep considering it until I feel like I'm really ready.View attachment 276410
This is a part of my room right before I started cleaning, just like I did the day before. This is not abnormal, it looks like this every day againand much worse Some days
Are your parents aware of the vet costs? When a parrot falls ill, the treatment of an Avian vet can be very expensive. The last thing you want to happen if your bird falling ill and your parents refusing to get him help.
One of them poops in a little doggy bowl I gave her, the other has a dish attached to the side of her cage right under where she sleeps at night. She either goes there or on her morning poop stand. I wish I could tell you how they did it, but they both came to me trained from their prior homes.I didn't know you could toilet train birds! Does that mean they only poop in their cages or do they have a specific place where they go? Sorry if I sound weird, I just really need to gauge how messy and dirty it will be having birds because I don't think my parents will be too pleased if my room is filthy all the time
In my experience the males aren’t as cage-possessive as the females, but they may be possessive of you.Are males as territorial? And does that mean they'll decide that some parts of my room are theirs or does that just mean they won't want me to interact with their cages too much? Also, how hard is it to clean up every day?
I haven't noticed the negative effects with my girls. If they're not near their toilets, they tend to just go to the bathroom wherever they are, and they'll go as often as my non-trained birds. I wish I knew more about how they were trained...In my experience the males aren’t as cage-possessive as the females, but they may be possessive of you.
Also, try not to encourage potty training as it can have detrimental effects on the bird (they may think they’re only “allowed” to go in one place and try to hold it, etc).
I’ve heard of it causing problems when people are actively trying to train them, especially when they’re scolded for going. If your girls weren’t trained, they may be acting in the interest of trying to keep their waste to a certain area (maybe due to nesting).I haven't noticed the negative effects with my girls. If they're not near their toilets, they tend to just go to the bathroom wherever they are, and they'll go as often as my non-trained birds. I wish I knew more about how they were trained...
Hah, that's cute.I’ve heard of it causing problems when people are actively trying to train them, especially when they’re scolded for going. If your girls weren’t trained, they may be acting in the interest of trying to keep their waste to a certain area (maybe due to nesting).
They’re very smart and some of them will pick up on things on their own. Some of mine will try to fly, jump, or lean off to do what they need to do, even though I tell them it’s okay to go, lol.
Yeah my lovebird Rosy bites when he doesn’t get his way or favorite treat. Before he wanted to explore the house so he took a trip. While I Glad that the dogs were outside.I just thought I'd add, since I can't edit that post anymore on the subject of biting... I kept a bite calendar after that first post and tracked real bites I received. Nips, bluffing, and the time she headbutted me didn't count.
I know the hens are notorious for being aggressive, maybe Peanut is a special case, but with good understanding of her, trust, and respect we went from some time in February (around when I started tracking) to October 7th without a single bite. She didn't bite me for several months.
On the 7th, I decided to be an idiot and offer her a palm full of millet while she was throwing a tiny tantrum in a cupboard/perceived nest (I don't remember what she was upset about, but I needed to get her out because I had to leave.) She doesn't like me "touching" her millet at the best of times, but will tolerate it if she's in the right mood. She wasn't in the right mood and I even knew it.
She basically went "Your puny offering shall not appease my wrath" and nailed me in probably what was the tenderest spot on the bottom of a finger. (I was, however, able to pull her out since she latches on like a snapping turtle and somehow get her caged so I wasn't late.)
Yes, my Keeco (keeks is what is pet name has been lately) loves hanging off my glasses too. He has never bitten me ever out of spite. Once on my nose but it was an accident. He is so adorable and I love him so very much. He will climb into my shirt and do what I call the "nest bird". It is so adorable. He does have gumption. He likes to fly out and bite my BFA on the toes. He does not seem to have any idea he is so much smaller than my BFA, Ricco. Or maybe he doesn't care. I don't know. He is very territorial of me. Yeah spoiled, I know about this too. My Keeco is VERY spoiled. He likes to fly to me from across the room. It makes my heart feel so full that he would make the effort to fly all the way to me from wherever he is and I am. Some people say how do you know when your bird loves you, well when they really love you it is so evident. You can't miss the signs. I have had my "Keeks" for 5 years and I love him so much. It took me a long time to convert my sweet boy to pellets. But now that he is converted he looks and acts more healthy then he did when he ate only seeds. I love my flock. These are my birds......I'll add my experience with my lovebird.
First off, I have to agree with Sondra's statement that lovies are super-adorable is a fact.
My lovebird, Topaz is an 8 year old male. I've had him since he weaned.
The Good - He's a total sweety. He's never bitten anyone, will go to all the family members (he especially likes dangling off my husband's glasses). He's always in a good mood. He's not as destructive as some of the hens described here. For toys, he seems to prefer things that he can bang around and make noise. He's very cuddly and likes to tuck into the collar of my shirt, especially in the evenings. He's an awesome little flier.
The Bad - He's not afraid of the bigger birds, and so I have to be very careful when I take him out to be sure I close the birdroom door so he can't fly back in to "visit". My grey, for sure, would do him in if she got the chance. Sometimes he'll pick a particular toy or perch to regurgitate to. I often have to remove the toy because he'll "feed" it so much he can lose weight. He's really picky about eating pellets. I have to feed him soaked Zupreem Natural pellets, and he'll only eat them if he's perched on one hand while I pop the soaked pellets in his little beak.No , he's not spoiled!
The Ugly - There just isn't an ugly with Topaz. He's easy, cheerful, cute, cuddly. Shhhh - don't tell my other birds but he's my favorite.![]()