Two baby birds at the same time, are we doing this right?

[helenmat]

Our two new babies arrived yesterday, they had been in the same cage at the breeders but we have put them in separate cages so that we can tame them a little before we put them back together. We put them in separate rooms but they were shouting each other and seemed upset so we put the cages in the same room. They are going nuts trying to get to each other. We have never had two birds together at the same time before, always had one first that was tame and then the 2nd we had in quarantine so we tamed that while it was away from the first. We are not sure if we are going about this the right way, any advice from someone who has tried to tame two young birds at once would be brilliant. Thanks in advance.
We are thinking of calling the Eric and Ernie.

[Marianne Marlow]

I have never really tried to tame any birds, we just let them get on with their own thing.

But I didn't want to read your post and not reply!

[OP]

Just so we are all talking about the same thing taming and training are two separate things though closely related. One really needs to tame a budgie before you can train it, though it is possible to train an untamed budgie. I am in the process of training an older untamed budgie to step up on command onto a perch not a finger.

So I ask you is either one or both tamed or do they fly to the bars if you approach them? If they allow you to approach them without taking off I would say they are already tame.

If one or both are tamed then try and ascertain which is the most receptive to training to step up. Then work with that one then hopefully the second one will be interested enough to follow suit.

I would keep them together in the same cage unless there is conflict between them. That behaviour nay show up at a later date, but there again it may never appear.

All of the above advice is from my own personal experience so don't take any of it as the only way to go.

[helenmat]

Thanks Marianne Marlow for joining in . OP, neither bird is tame, they are both babies around 8-9 weeks ish, they are not frightened of the hand but they do not step up yet. They flap about when we put our hands towards them. I just can’t see how I will tame either bird if they are both flapping about in the same cage?

[clt80]

I have had tame budgies in the past but i have never have tried to tame two at once. I do feel for them though, in their heads they are in new surroundings and everything is new and they've been separated. Being with each other would be a comfort to them both, albeit more training/taming work for you.

[helenmat]

clt80 do you think I should bring the cages back together or put both birds in one cage? Marianne Marlow if you don’t tame your birds how do you get them to go away when you want to go to bed or out anywhere, or say catch them up to take to the vet? I was hoping Hezz might have had some experience of this?

[Hezz]

I have, and they weren't babies, so harder still. I wouldn't have separated them. Leave them together in the same cage. As they only came home yesterday you won't know their personalities yet, but you can be sure that one is slightly more receptive than the other. What I have found to work rather well is to work with them together and individually. You would probably have to move to Siberia rather than just the next room for the one not to be able to hear the other calling out, but perhaps covering the other's cage while you work with one might help quieten things, but when working separately certainly close off both doors and try to hold their attention. The first few times will be difficult and you probably won't get anywhere, but they are both learning, if nothing else, that one can disappear out of the room for a time, and return. That he hasn't disappeared into the ether, and hasn't been harmed. That is an important lesson in itself. It is certainly harder working with two, but as you have an extra pair of willing hands (Alex) you could both have a budgie each in separate rooms, and either together or separately work with the two birds in the same cage.

[Hezz]

You have got to remember that it is all about trust; them learning to trust you, because they are basically putting their lives into your hands.

[OP]

Put them together and allow them to settle down for a few days. In the mean time get them used to the pair of you. Remember they now have become part of your flock. When you do approach them don't look straight at them and don't forget the winking and blinking.

[helenmat]

Thanks all for replies, so the consensus seems to be put them back together in one cage. I can’t get to either cage easily at the moment, I can only stand on one leg on crutches so I would have to try and get positioned on a chair or something. So you all think we will be able to tame both birds in one cage? Ernie seems most receptive at the moment, Eric flaps about more. I will give instructions to Alex. To work with Ernie first and hopefully Eric will follow his lead. Time to bring out the millet!

[Marianne Marlow]

Dec 21, 2017 23:11:24 GMT helenmat said:

clt80 do you think I should bring the cages back together or put both birds in one cage? Marianne Marlow if you don’t tame your birds how do you get them to go away when you want to go to bed or out anywhere, or say catch them up to take to the vet? I was hoping Hezz might have had some experience of this?

When my birds go back in at night, I always follow the same routine. I remove toys (distractions!), close curtains and then sort one cage at a time.

I put the budgies into their cages in the same order every night.

Some go in by themselves when they see that it's bedtime, some I taxi over on a stick and some I usher in with the stick (a very long perch) while saying Bedtime again and again,

It's all about routine really. When a budgies cage-mate goes in, they want to go in usually.

[clt80]

The good old millet!!

Yes, I'd put them back in one cage.

[helenmat]

Also been watching this guy (got a lot of spare time at the moment!!) he’s very good, he goes on a bit but he is very enthusiastic.