Is my lovebird happy when he humps, regurgitates, and ignores toys?

Question

I've owned a lovebird for 4 years and I've lately been wondering if he/she ishappy with its life. Whenever I let him out of his cage, he instantly goes to the pillow and starts humping it, leaving no time to play with me. Afterwards, he comes to me and tries to feed me by puking. He also doesn't allow anyone other than me and my mom pet him. He doesn't have any toys in it's cage because he doesn't play with them. Is he happy? Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male | neutered | 4 years and 4 months old

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

It's always difficult to assess any animals level of happiness, but I can definitely tell you that this bird does not seem unhappy. The humping and regurgitation (puking) tell me that Toetie is very comfortable in his environment and has formed a bond with you. Also, he appears rather healthy from the pictures you've submitted. I think the most important things to keep a bird happy are supplying good enrichment and as much space as you can possibly give. Enrichment can be as simple as letting the bird out of the cage, interacting with the bird, or giving toys. I understand that he does not seem to be interested in toys, so it may take some experimenting to find out which ones he may like. I have found that the best enrichment can be achieved by making the bird work for its food. There are plenty of toys for sale that you can hide food in and the bird has to either solve a puzzle or dismantle it to get the prize. I used to feed my parrot most of his food this way and it really helped to keep him from getting too bored when I was away during the day. This website looks to have many great ideas for bird enrichment: http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/iedible.htm Another enrichment idea is getting Toetie a mate of the same species. This is not easy, because you would have to ensure they get along before putting them together. Also, you should understand that a bird will always prefer the company of another bird, rather than a human. So, giving him a mate may make him less likely to interact with you or other people. I hope this helps and at least gives you peace-of-mind that Toetie is at least not depressed.

Is my lovebird happy when he humps, regurgitates, and ignores toys?

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