Jan 3, 2019 19:23:40 GMT
naila
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by naila on Jan 3, 2019 19:47:59 GMT
So I got my budgie 3 years ago and i was extremely excited because she was my first pet, so i spent hours learning about the care of budgies online. She was 4 months old when i got her and everything was going better than i hoped. She willingly sat on my finger from the second day and showed no signs of fear. I took her out everyday and sometimes i would open the cage and she would fly on to my head. We have a large living room that she would play in and usually go and sit on her favourite seat on top of the curtain and the cage door is open so she would come and go as she pleased. One day (almost 2 moths later so I'm guessing this change was because of puberty) everything changed when i went to get her from the curtain, i put my finger out expecting her to hop on as usual but she tried to bite me so i jerked my hand away. I was pretty horrified and i tried again but the same thing happened. Since then she bites any time a finger goes near her and things have gotten so much worse. She never interacts with me and will bite and fly away if i go near her. The only person she will go near is my dad, she sits on his finger sometimes but bites him too. The bites don't hurt but they're really scary and because of it, i didn't interact with her at all (this is really bad i know and i feel awful). I feel bad because she's alone and also doesn't interact with us much because she hates me and my dad doesn't have time. I've tried so much, she isn't motivated by food at all. Ive given her rice, corn flakes, bread crumbs, several fruits and veg, honey seed sticks and millet spray. She only eats the last 2 but doesn't love them enough to come near me if I'm holding them. Motivating her with toys doesn't work either because she takes ages to stop being scared of new things. I'm also worried she's not getting enough exercise because since she turned aggressive, we struggle to get her out of her cage. The door is open but she refuses to leave unless my dad makes her. I want to fix things but i don't know how to and if i can't then I'll give her to another home where she can play with other birds because this is unfair. Please help guys! (Buying a 2nd budgie or clipping her wings are both not options for me)
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Dec 31, 2018 17:24:06 GMT
kajus
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
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Post by kajus on Jan 3, 2019 20:57:11 GMT
try to start taming it over again. And if the budgie bites you try not to move your hand or make loud noises. Is she fearful of you? Does she run away from you or your dad when you get close to her? If yes try putting your hand into the cage and waiting for 20-30 mins a day. If you fear that she will bite you try moving the cage closer to you. if you can't buy another budgie try a mirror, but there are some downsides.
(just to clarify i'm not an expert.)
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Jan 3, 2019 19:23:40 GMT
naila
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by naila on Jan 3, 2019 22:10:50 GMT
Thanks for the input!! Yeah she moves away from us if we put our hand in the cage and is scared. She's less scared of my dad though and if he tries for a while she will eventually go to him. She's pretty comfortable with him outside the cage though (probably cos she thinks he's going to put her back in)
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Post by Hezz on Jan 4, 2019 0:25:39 GMT
Your fear will have her defensive every time. Why so scared if you say the bites don't hurt?? If you can be more confident around her, she will also be in a better place. There is no point in saying start from the beginning again if you can't get around your fear, I'm sorry, because she is always going to pick up on it. That means NOT pulling your hand away if she approaches.
Try sitting near her and reading a book, talking quietly etc and make use of a spare perch to interact with her. If you think there is a fear of your hands, try rigging up a peg to the end of a perch to offer a bobble of millet (of all the things you mentioned, this is the only one that I see as being of any use as a treat). As she becomes more settled and accepting of the perch, try moving your hand down the perch so that you gradually are getting closer to her with your hand. Don't flinch if she does come close to you or your hand. You have to portray confidence.
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Post by samwiseg on Jan 4, 2019 8:37:31 GMT
Hens and in fact any bird when they get to this age are a bit like "teenagers" As mentioned, you must get over your fear - plus not back down otherwise she will think she has won. You need to build up the trust again and only reward good behaviour. If you can try feeding her a bit of millet through the cage to start with. If she takes it reqrd with "good girl". If she tries to bite say "no" firmly and then move away. Ignoring her. She will get used to the idea that in the end she shall want some interaction and know that bad behaviour isn't rewarded Post Edit: probably a silly question but was it really a bite? As birds explore things with their beaks/mouths and often use them to get a purchase on things when they move? My bird tries to nibble my finger when I give him millet as he thinks he is preening me to thank me!
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Post by OP on Jan 4, 2019 9:03:41 GMT
I would just like to add she may just see you as a competitor. You say that she is much better behaved with your dad. Daft as it may seem some budgies appear to know the difference in human males and females. This is something else she should get over.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,829
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jan 4, 2019 10:05:35 GMT
I would just like to add she may just see you as a competitor. You say that she is much better behaved with your dad. Daft as it may seem some budgies appear to know the difference in human males and females. This is something else she should get over. I agree OP, I think they know the difference between males and females. My hens are more likely to run away from me than my husband. My husband is the one that picks them up on weigh day, but I put my hand in their cages all the time to change food and water, or wipe a stray dropping off a perch with a baby wipe and they act like I am trying to murder them.
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Post by OP on Jan 4, 2019 11:33:27 GMT
I can well understand that Marianne.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,829
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jan 4, 2019 18:06:43 GMT
I'd love one of mine to land on me and randomly nip me, that is something I could work with and become friends
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Jan 3, 2019 19:23:40 GMT
naila
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by naila on Jan 11, 2019 2:20:02 GMT
Thanks for the advice everyone I've tried some of the suggestions. I sit near her cage and talk to her regularly, if i put my hand in she doesn't seem to mind unless i go too close and then she bites. If i'm holding anything when i bring my hand near her she freaks out and flies everywhere which is why i can't offer her treats like millet spray. She's had millet spray in her cage and she eats it but for some reason when I'm offering it to her, she's petrified? She's scared very very easily. She's had cuttlebone in her cage since we got her but a few days ago i replaced it (the new one is the same shape but placed in a different part of her cage) and she won't go near it. It's next to her food so every time she eats she faces in that direction and quickly looks up after each bite to check on it. Its super cute but she worries me so much because I'm sure this isn't normal. Also she doesn't hate me because of my dad, she doesn't like him she just tolerates him a bit more than the rest of us lol
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Jan 3, 2019 19:23:40 GMT
naila
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by naila on Jan 11, 2019 2:23:10 GMT
Oh and it's definitely a bite and not her exploring. Back in her friendly days she used to nibble me all the time but this is different, she watches and then strikes and you can see the hatred in her eyes
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Post by Hezz on Jan 11, 2019 9:00:04 GMT
First off, the bird does not hate! There may be fear, but not hate.
You can definitely use a perch to offer her treats and with time gradually shorten the length of the perch by moving your hand down the stick. Try just dropping a treat into a certain place every time you go past her cage - have a specific pot to do this with. She will learn that you come bearing gifts, but you will need to be persistent and you will need to be patient.
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Post by samwiseg on Jan 11, 2019 11:29:53 GMT
Aww she doesn't hate you! But great that you are trying to win her trust Instead of offering a full sprig of millet try plucking off a bobble and hold it in the cage bars (so you don't put your hand in the cage) and she has to come to you. Then once this has been established regularly try the millet bobble in the the cage, move slowly not fast and see if she will come to you Step by step
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