My gram (the one I was telling yall about who was going to adopt the grey, long story) has a PF lovebird who we think is a male. I was over at her house and decided I would attempt to take him out and handle him. He has a really big cage filled with toys and bites like heck. I had to towel him to get him out. The firt time, he would not stop biting. I took him into a quiet room to try and calm him down. 10 minutes later, I put him back in his cage. Again I tried. This time, he was easier to handle once out and away from his cage. The third time it only took me a few seconds to get him out and he quietly perched on my finger. I fed him squash and sat a few feet away from his cage. He acted perfectly fine, just sitting there.

Chipper could be a very sweet bird, with proper re-taming. In only a few hours he was stepping up and acting very sweet. I took out his cuddle hut and although he still was a little nippy, he is familiar with the towel and acting fine. So the question rose, 'Why does he bite?' My first thoughts were he had gotten away with biting so much, he just learned that he could do it. If he was acting territorial, wouldn't he try to defend his cage all the time? Any ideas on training adn why he is acting this way?

Not love after I brought home Benji I was told that Lovebirds were inappropriately named!! Fortunately he doesn't bite but in two years now Benji still makes me "catch" him most the time instead of just stepping up. He is always very dramatic about it too.

If it has been awhile since he's been handled, I would attribute most of his behavior to fear. He's so used to just being in his cage and not being touched, that once you tried it, you overstepped the boundaries of what he's used to.

But also, like Jim said, I've heard that lovebirds tend to be nippy birds.

I don't know a thing about Lovebirds, but this was my first thought also; fear. Their cage is their safe place.

Well, that make sense! I can't wait till this summer. Supposedly, he will be staying with me while they are traveling, so I can work with his more often! maybe I can get some pics too... He is a cutie!!!