I'm pet sitting my grandmother's 3 lovies this weekend. Its already been rather interesting! Winkie and Abby (masked lovebirds I believe) are very pretty. Abby has plucked all the feathers off her rump but is in otherwise perfect health, as is Winkie. However, though they were once very friendly, they are now very scared of humane hands. They won't bite till you draw blood, but Winkie does bite. They are also fully flighted.

Chipper is a PF lovie. She's not only a hormonal hen, but is VERY opinionated! I handfed her from 14 weeks, but since she hit puberty, has not had any handling. She used to be very sweet; I can still see it in her when she's handled consistently, but everyone else is afraid to handle her. I must say, she hold a special place in my heart (my grandmother might not get her back ). She's got a wonderful personality and does talk. As soon as I find the camera battery, I'll post some pictures!

Pictures will be good, birdie sitting is always fun.

Lovebirds are very cute and fun. They get a bad rap because they are very "serious" in their ways. Can bite hard and they're hard to change from their instinctive behaviors ime.

Especially hormones. They and Tiels are tough when in that mode. But it's hard for them especially in an odd number like three and it's not easy to blend lovebirds together especially if they arent dna sexed, two hens together can be a deadly thing and even a hen with a male could result in disaster. So even though they need mates psychologically, they can't always achieve that so act "nutty" especially being around others.

I'm glad they're with you and getting a little change of scenery. Maybe you can give some tips to your grandmother before giving them back to help them out.

Following a natural light schedule will help them all right away (meaning over weeks) if you can do that and it can be continued.

Cindy,

When people say female eclectus are hormonal, you havn't seen hormonal till you try to handle a lovebird hen- esp. a PF! Ethel, my previous female, was a nester and was worse that any eclectus I had ever met, lol! But yes, I feel that they are misunderstood and get a bad rap. They can be wonderful pets, but so need a certain person as an owner, like all birds

Sounds like your house is lively with the lovies for a short visit! Sounds like fun to me, and yes, take some pics!