becoming less tame?

[rae]

Th last few days Basal has been uncooperative. He doesn't want out and so when I get him to step up he just bounces to the nearest perch. That is if I can get him to step up.

He has become more active but still doesn't play with toys.

When I do get him out I am still closing the door, but he scrambles to try and get back in and get away from me.

The only changes are the air conditioner is on, which maybe he needs to get used to the sound?, and I have been home more with the end of school and just before the research today.

I have interacted with him more than normal over the past week and I thought we were doing better.

This morning was the worst by far with cooperation.
I took him to the bathroom for about 10 mins and let him do what he wanted while I got ready (just brushing teeth and changing clothes), and he cooperated more then. But as soon as we went back he took off for his cage.

If it is because of the new noise from the air conditioner will it just take time? We can't really go without it.
Any ideas other than that?

[Budgies Retreat]

If the only thing that has changed is the AC then that is probably the cause. You could try and move him to another room and see what happens.

[starlingqueen]

How old is Basal? Birds go through a stage where they test the boundaries, just like children. He could just have reached that age.

[rae]

He was 9-10 months in March when we got him and had never been handled. I guess I've been lucky up to this point. So we have put his birthday sometime in June for the sake a remembering. So he's about 11 months now.
At least he hasn't turned bitey. He's always been good about that.

[Hezz]

I don't think the air conditioning has much to do with it at all. You have had him, what, two months?? I think this simply him feeling comfortable enough with you now to be able to show his true personality, push the boundaries, as SQ has said, and just be his normal self, not the shy, timid little bird he was when you first brought him home. Usually they would reach this stage a bit earlier than two months in, but I would put this down, again, to his timidity. All budgie bonding has setbacks, and it seems like you have just reached one. It may only last for a day, two, more, who knows, but carry on doing what you have been doing with him, possibly make sessions a little shorter if he is being a pain, but make sure you always end on a positive note.

[rae]

You know, it feels like longer than two months. I didn't even think about that.
I must seem like such a worrier.

[Hezz]

Not at all; if he is your first budgie you probably didn't know what to expect, and budgies are ever changing little creatures. You probably won't reach a place together that will be static; it is more likely that as time goes on you and he will come to know what each other considers acceptable, a bit like an old married couple. You will get to know where your boundaries are with him and vise versa.

[suesbird]

Oooooo Rae I have one testing every boundary going. He is bitey, I used to be able to hold him, not now and yet Jo who was the other way and more independent is even more tame than before, sometimes not for the good, as the oh has her permanently around his neck!!!! Shame, he shouldn't have a hairy chest and whiskers. So where she goes, he goes, yesterday I had one on each shoulder testing my ear rings.

You will get there, they can sure try your patience at times

At the moment we are having a screeching match to see who is the loudest.

[samwiseg]

My Alfie still tests the boundaries and he is now an adult

[OP]

This sounds like myself and Joey. Although Joey was an older budgie to start with. It took a good few months before he would step up and stay on my finger whilst I brought him out of the cage. We never really bonded, he would and still will tolerate me. After getting Whiskers he withdrew and although he is still friendly and tame he only uses my finger as a means of getting out of the cage now. What I am saying is it will depend on the character of the budgie. You must keep on doing what you are doing. If you stop he will stop also. I would suggest that if Basal makes for his cage everytime then he is not feeling secure and comfortable in the large open space. That is how Joey was to begin with, although he did come out of the cage on his own, after a while. He had a few adventures along the way. Do you leave the cage open for as long as you are in the room?

[rae]

@op, If I haven't gotten him out of the cage and shut the door his door is always open so long as I'm there. I sit by the cage a lot too.

It's nice to know this isn't a strange occurrence. I keep telling OH that I picked the strange bird. I mean, our cats are strange (belly rubs are A-OK by them), and my parents always pick the "broken" dogs. So why wouldn't I pick the bird that's out of the ordinary, lol.

[OP]

I see the mention of cats in your post, nothing wrong with that mind it's just maybe Basal can detect or has seen the cats. I think you know what I mean. But apart from that you are not the only one with a 'different' budgie. I have not five minutes ago rescued Joey from the floor by getting him to step up on my finger. He is a bit out of fitness and runs out of steam after a few turns round the lounge. So although we are not bonded he will still step up when he wants to. You may find Basal will be a bit like that.

[rae]

Basal has no fear when it comes to cats, but the shop did have a store cat so he is probably used to them. He will go up to them and fly to them sometimes. They are becoming indifferent to him at least.

[OP]

That is good news and we can rule that out for his behavior.

[rae]

He's doing a little better today. He still does some heavy breathing like when we first brought him home, but not all the time for example I will take him to the bathroom with me when I'm getting ready. He is pretty safe in there to go wherever. He does the heavy breathing and becomes very thin (flat bird, I call it). But again, this isn't all the time.

He doesn't appreciate mist baths but won't take one himself so I had to do that today.

I would really like that we bond eventually rather than having a bird that would rather observe me from a distance.