Training & BehaviorIs my lovebird happy when he humps, regurgitates, and ignores toys?
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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