Help me with my Lovebirds, please!

[PiccIUP]

Hi! I'm a new(er) owner of two Peachface Lovebirds, and I've got quite a few questions about them!

1)First, I'm sure their both about a year old, but if there is any way to tell differently, I'd like to know.

2)How can I determine gender?

3)What kinds of human contact do birds like?! (I'm such a dog person- I know dogs like being scratched behind their ears and on their bellies, but I haven't a clue about lovebirds!)

4)Their names are Mango and Papaya. I'm having a LOT of problems getting Mango to adjust to human contact. He's at the point right now where he just SCREAMS if anyone is near his cage. I have NO luck clipping his wings, as he is very hard to catch, and once I do catch him, I end up being bitten VERY forcefully. Papaya on the other hand is a total sweetheart. This one is trained to get on my hand when I say "step-up" and she's very calm. She never tries to run away when a person is around, and it seems that she likes the attention. I'd just as soon leave both birds to their own personalities in this way...BUT Mango's adverse reactions to me and other people is affecting Papaya's behavior. :( I pretty much have to just let Mango out of the cage before I can spend time with Papaya. What can I do to curb Mango's spastic behavior?

5)Biting- I've heard different theories on this. Maybe one of them works better in particular with lovebirds. A- Don't react at all. B- Only say a firm "NO" C- Say "NO" and blow on the face.

Which is best in your opinion?

Thanks for your help ahead of time!

[birdygirl]

I can only answer #5 Say a firm no and turn away. Blowng in their face will only further aggrivate them.

[Jenny]

Welcome here! I just got a lovebird this year and have five other birds, so I now have experience with these little guys! To answer #1: No, there's no easy way to tell how old they are except for a surgical method, which I would definitely not recommend. #2: If you want to know for sure, then you can take them to an avian vet and get a DNA blood test done. That requires a small sample of their blood usually taken from a cut toe nail, and then it is sent to a laboratory where they determine the sex. This is a very accurate method. Sometimes just by behavior you can tell as well, though it's not as reliable. The males usually will go to lots of people, whereas the females are supposedly more one-person birds and nippy. However, birds have different personalities so that isn't always true. Also, females usually love to chew things such as paper alot more than males. #3: My own luvy prefers just climbing around on me and my other family members, and sometimes loves head rubs, sort of like a birdie scalp massage. #4: You have two choices: spend lots of time working with Mango to get him to accept human contact, or just leave him alone and focus more on Papaya. On wing clipping, it's best if you just take them to a vet and have them clip their wings. If you are serious about taming Mango though, you definitely should get his wings clipped. If you're not 100% sure on how to do it, don't try it yourself. If you decide to try to tame Mango, then work with him in a separate room, away from Papaya. #5: I agree, a firm no should help. However, if you can try to figure out what is making each one bite, then that's your best chance at stopping the problem.

[crazeemama]

You have been given some great adviceso i will only add a couple things.
a) It is summer and time for the big 'event' in all birdy's lives.... Sounds a little like the feisty one may be a male and trying to protect his territory from intruders. Does he flutter his wings and kinda hang on the bars when you get close? c/b he is trying to keep his mate to himself.
b) i agree in seperating them for training sessions and to conduct them out of sight of the cage. (less to be territorial about).
c) there is a company named avian biotec that will send you the kit and instructions for the DNA test for about 20.00 you mail it back to them and they give you the verdict. I have used them and i have heard good things from people on other chat boards too. It is alot less expensive that the vet doing it (around 80 $$ per)
d) my lovebirds (both rescues) calmed down alot after i got them a 'happy hut' the best prices on the web is the ferret store www.theferretstore.com the bird supplies etc that they have are at excellent prices and they ship free. I consider them one of the best kept secrets on the web! - Anyway they really seem to like having a little hidey hole to go to when stressed. I got the medium size and they both fit in it and in fact have laid 4 eggs. So unless i have 2 females i should be getting some bebe love's soon!
e) wing-clipping-YES! definitely if you are not positive on how to do it find a good groomer or vet to do it. You can watch and maybe after a few times you will decide you can do it. It is of the utmost importance to training a bird. I think it helps to get to know the bird at first too. Plus it is so easy to lose one out the door if the wings aren't clipped.
f) biting i use a firm NO BITE! the trick here is to remove as many opportunities to bite as possible. If the bird is trained to step up on a dowel this may help. If not consider doing it quickly.

If they seem pretty food motivated and most birds are. Find out what the favorite treat is and only give them this from your hand.
thenn after a few days start only giving it for good behavior or not biting etc.
I would not leave the feisty one be. You will get much more enjoyment out of them if they are trained and perhaps you will be there last home too! iT TAKES CONSISTENCY ANDPATIENCE the first few times, but once you get to a certain point it goes rather quickly. Some people beleive that laddering with the step up command helps to reinforce your position as #1 in the pecking order.
A good book on love birds might be valuable too as would something like The Guide to Having a Well-Behaved Parrot or The Second-Hand Parrot. These would probably be enough tpo give you some insights into the behavior in general and specific to species. good luck!