I have read in some places that you should not handle your lovebird during the first few days after getting it in order to allow it to adjust to its new home.
However, some sources say it is especially important to handle your lovebird during the first few days.
What do you think?

I met my lovie, Beetle, at a local breeder. He had been fledged, weaned and was able to come home with me that evening. Other than playing w/ him at the breeder's I let him be for the night so he could take in his new digs.

I did begin handling him the next day, though and quite honestly, I don't think that ANY harm was done in doing so. He's a peach-faced lovie; hand-raised and/or socialized lovies are pretty fiesty and outgoing. An eye-ring lovie (ex: masked or Fischer's lovebird) may be a bit more shy, cautious or reserved, as would some pet-store or unsocialized lovebirds.

The important thing to remember is to NEVER man-handle, chase, grab or otherwise distress a new bird. Or to over-handle: you don't want to play with your new bird for hours and hours. Give the bird time-outs in his or her cage to go potty, have a drink or bite to eat or nap.

HTH,

-e-