A romp around the room

[rae]

Sorry guys, more questions.
I had to clean Basal's whole set up, normal routine. But we are still working on taming and such. Because he likes the mirror toy so much (it's not just a mirror, it has little shapes he can move back and forth), I put this in the temporary holding hoping it would help him not stress so bad. Once I had everything washed and drying I took him out and placed the toy where he could have it if he wanted. I brought in my study material and handled him some but let him do as he pleased, which was more of him just trying to find a hiding place from me. I put some towels in the nooks he kept finding so he wouldn't get stuck.
Is this okay?

I got him to sit with me for a little bit and rewarded him with millet and sweet words but I didn't immediately go after him if he left. He did start leaning his head and such when I was talking to him, which he hasn't really done until now.
He even sat there without freaking out when I was going back and forth getting the dried pieces and putting them together, but as soon as it was whole again he was in and didn't like me trying to get him to step up. He didn't want to leave his favorite perch. Even when I had to adjust the other perching because of my bad attempt at spacing he wouldn't move so I could more easily do that.
I'm asking to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. Plus I wanted him to get some out of cage exercise since he doesn't do much yet.

These were taken with my not-so-up to date phone, so the quality isn't great.

0406151433 by waterfox602, on Flickr

0406151453 by waterfox602, on Flickr

[Hezz]

You are not doing anything wrong. Taking him out of his cage is a good thing. I would do more of that, closing the door so that he can't retreat back into it, or better still removing the cage from the room altogether when you have him out. Some people would probably allow him to still in his cage until he decides he wants to come out .......... I don't agree - that could be never! Taking him out is good; as you say it gives you a chance to give everything a good scrub, which it should get every week, so he may as well get used to being out.

Make sure the room as been budgie-proofed so there is no heavy furniture he can get caught behind, no strings from curtains/blinds to get caught up in, and make sure that he has somewhere to perch, even if it is the curtain rail, top of a mirror etc, just so that if he does start to fly he can find somewhere to land. Spend time following him around, bringing him back to you, but also just allow him to explore your room and finding things to check out, just like you have done in your photos. The only thing I would say is take away most of that millet - offer him small pieces, around an inch or so in length is plenty!

[rae]

I'll make sure to cut the millet up next time. He barely touched it anyway. He is interested in it and we are still trying out foods so I don't have an alternative "treat" food yet, but I think he was still just a little scared and wasn't sure if he should eat at it or not.

I've got to learn to think like a budgie. The only thing I had to scramble to get to him was an organizer a friend left here (long story), it has small holes in the top that he got a claw stuck in temporarily. A towel was quickly put over that.

Thank you so much for all your help Hezz, and everyone that has helped as well, but you are on top of things so often.

[Hezz]

You are very welcome; and you are doing all the right things for him. It is still early days for him yet, and some budgies really are timid little creatures, but with gentleness and consideration they can become great members of the household ....... it just takes a bit longer, is all. The main thing to remember is that they are not a cat or dog; they don't immediately look to people for care. They are still essentially a wild animal in general and each one needs to learn to trust us, it is not a given. Some learn more quickly, others need to be sure before giving their trust, and of course the older they are, the longer they take in the first place.

[rae]

I'm in for the long haul, that's for sure. I'd been wanting a bird for a long time now. He at least has a good disposition. Even though he wants to go back into the cage he doesn't bite, just struggles out of your hand the best he can. I just can't wait until he's interested in toys. I think that will be the most fun.

[suesbird]

Pippin will eat millet in his cage but nowhere else, the thing what he really liked is the crust off a seeded brown bread loaf, Jo loves to eat off a plate and he followed and then he would not leave

[reajen01]

Watching them play with toys is a real pleasure. I've been making toys this afternoon as it's even more delightful when they enjoy what you make. You have so much to look forward to, keep on keeping on and it will all be worth it. As OP said to me yesterday, in a year or so when you read these post back, you'll feel so proud and happy

[rae]

I think yesterday really helped his trust. Today he's been doing the blinking game a lot with me and chattering a little, sitting on one leg, and was even okay with me moving him to another perch (and not immediately jumping back) so I could clean his favorite. He's also doing so much better about eating his egg and corn mash up.

One of his toys was still damp yesterday so I put one I quickly made out of paper and a shoe string, but it's a big and scary monster right now.

[reajen01]

That great news! Douglas had a grump when I tried to get him out of his cage at one point yesterday, he just wasn't having it for whatever reason. So I just did step ups with him, between his favourite toys, then left him alone for a while. An hour later he was fine

[Hezz]

With the brain-power of a toddler, sometimes that is exactly how they behave ......... not necessarily any rhyme or reason to it ....... seemingly.