Taming a budgie terrified of hands

[brandi85]

I've had Oshie for about 5 1/2 months. I've tried taming before, but sort of gave up. I read they stop freaking out over hands after a couple months or weeks. Oshie is terrified of my hands still. She lets me change her food and water, but if I put my hand in the cage she runs away everytime. Is there any suggestions to tame an 8 month old very nervous budgie?

[helenmat]

Patience is needed I'm afraid with an older bird. Start by just resting your hand on the perch, don't move just leave it there for a couple of minutes. Do it every hour or so until you think there may be an improvement or your bird is calmer. Gradually increase the time and decrease the distance from your bird until they aren't scared anymore. If you have a favourite food that they like try having that in your hand. Keep getting nearer and nearer until they will sit right next to your hand, this could take weeks but keep going and eventually you should be able to start step up training. Slowly does it. Good luck.

[OP]

Sept 28, 2017 14:46:17 GMT helenmat said:

Patience is needed I'm afraid with an older bird. Start by just resting your hand on the perch, don't move just leave it there for a couple of minutes. Do it every hour or so until you think there may be an improvement or your bird is calmer. Gradually increase the time and decrease the distance from your bird until they aren't scared anymore. If you have a favourite food that they like try having that in your hand. Keep getting nearer and nearer until they will sit right next to your hand, this could take weeks but keep going and eventually you should be able to start step up training. Slowly does it. Good luck.

even months with an older bird. There are no guarantees with an older bird. They will learn to trust you but still may not step up. I have a male (Whiskers) who is going on for 4. He is the friendliest budgie I have had. He will feed from hand, climb all over me, but he will not step up onto fingers. He will stand on them, jump up onto my arm. So as I say maybe maybe not. As already been said take your time 5+ weeks is no time at all. Good luck.

[Hezz]

Don't stop trying is my advice. As she is now not freaking out when her feed and water is changed, you have to feel that some trust has been reached - she knows you are only going about her business and are not there to hurt her. Take as long as you like each morning seeing to these chores; dawdle over them, leave your hand lying around for longer and longer. Have you tried offering her millet?

[Hezz]

This is an old thread; it hasn't been active since the end of September, 2017.

[ss2matt]

Some birds hit a sort of "natural tameness" limit that takes a long time to get past.

After 3 months, Mine will come out the cage onto the door, come up to me (basically to ask for millet, but yeah, it's a form of acknowledgement and communication which is something), will eat out my hand, isn't really intimidated by my hand much, and will press up against it to eat out of reach millet. Flies around at will and navigates the room happily

But he won't go on my hand, even when encouraged with a treat. Nothing I try will change this - he won't freak out and fly away, but he will move away if I try to pressure him, implying he's not truly scared of it but is just very stubborn.

Everything went very smoothly to that point, but I would imagine it could be months to actually get him to go on my hand and continue the bonding process simply because of his personality. It's just patience. In the end, as long as the birds happy, that's all that matters.

[Hezz]

Feb 4, 2018 1:03:21 GMT Hezz said:

This is an old thread; it hasn't been active since the end of September, 2017.