Lovebirds can learn quickly if behaviors are positively reinforced. Often the opportunity to teach a trick can be when the lovebird does something spontaneously and you react to it. Your lovebird will often remember the reaction and want to repeat the trick. If you then attach a word to it, you create a cue for the actual trick. For example, a lovebird might push a ball around. You can praise the bird and say the phrase, "Roll the ball!" You want to use the same phrase each time the lovebird repeats the behavior.

If you are determined to teach tricks, you may want to get a separate stand for your lovebird so you can work away from the cage. A stand with various ladders and toys can be very enjoyable for a lovebird. What tricks, you may want to get a separate stand for your lovebird so you can work away from the cage. A stand with various ladders and toys can be very enjoyable for a lovebird. What tricks you may be able to teach your bird will be determined by your observation of its natural behaviors, consistent and positive reinforcement of particular behaviors you would like to see repeated, the development of verbal and visual cues, and patience.

One trick that can be taught if started with a very young lovebird is to have the lovebird lie upside down on your hand. You must begin slowly because this is not a natural position for it. Let the lovebird continue to grip your fingers with its feet the first few times you do this. Only do this for a few seconds, and attach a specific phrase and praise to it. You might say "Go on your back. Good bird!" Do not push the lovebird beyond its limits of comfort for this trick. In fact, some lovebirds simply will not accept the idea, and you should not force the issue. However, if you start with a very young lovebird that was recently weaned, you may be able to teach this trick. Move slowly and calmly. Stroke the top of the lovebird's crown. After a few days of doing this for few seconds at a time on a number of occasions, you can try to get the lovebird to release the grip with one foot. Start with only one foot at first, and work on this position for a few days. Stroking the head will relax your lovebird. Some lovebirds go into an almost trancelike state if the owner makes circular movements on the crown of the head and around the eyes with a finger. Again, never have the lovebird hold the position for more than a few seconds. The nest step is to work on getting the lovebird to relax the grip with both feet. This is an important step because if you push it too quickly or try to force the issue, you could end up losing the progress you have already established. Again, once the lovebird release so that neither foot is gripping you, praise it and bring it back to the perch position.

Patience and understanding are essential in teaching such tricks. Never put trick training over the happiness of your lovebird. You should not force your lovebird. You should not force your lovebird to amuse you at the expense of its feelings of security and safety. Remember that some lovebirds will not respond to trick training as well as others. You, as a compassionate owner, must recognize when this type of training frustrates or irritates your lovebird in such a way that you should not persist in trying.

A cute and easy trick to teach can be done with a very simple prop, the inner cardboard roll of unscented toilet paper rolls. First, be sure this is unscented toilet paper as some reports have indicated that the scented papers can make lovebirds stick. Put the roll onto the floor of the cage. The lovebird will explore it, sometimes destroying it with its beak. However, many lovebirds will crawl inside the roll. Some groups of baby lovebirds have let each one take a turn climbing in the roll while the others push it around. This can be a very little effort on your part. Make sure your particular lovebird is not too big for the cardboard roll. If you are at all concerned that your lovebird could get trapped in the roll, remove the toy when you are not supervising your lovebird.

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