Budgie only interested if I have a treat

[vanishinglake]

Hi!
I adopted a budgie from the RSPCA roughly 4 weeks ago. He was seized from the previous owner due to neglect. I'm not sure how old he is, but he's definitely not a baby.

As you can imagine, he was especially skidish when I brought him home. However after 2 weeks he was comfortable with my hand in the cage.

Now he will jump onto and sit on my hand very happily. BUT only if I have food in my hand.

If I don't have any food he will let me get very close to him but he will not step up onto my finger.

I don't really know what steps to take next.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated 😊

[samwiseg]

Hi and welcome vanishinglake

Have patience! You're doing brilliantly in the space of 4 weeks with this little guy

In my limited experience to make the next step show him the treat e.g millet but just so that is far away enough for him so he has to get closer to you. He might like it as a security blanket at the moment. It does take time, expcilally with birds that have not been used to you.

Having said that I have a little monkey that likes to land on me for millet only and then flies off when he's finished!

Does he have any toys you could use whilst he is with you, so he gets used to being with you?

Welcome to the madhouse here and well done for rescuing him too

[Hezz]

Keep doing what you are doing; it is up to the bird how long anything is going to take, and to move forward he needs to learn to trust you. That doesn't happen over-night. It is something that needs to be built up. Think of every time he steps onto your hand for a treat as a deposit in the trust bank. You just don't know what the required balance needs to be before being able to draw on those funds.

[samwiseg]

I like that Hezz - "trust bank" very apt!

[vanishinglake]

Thanks guys!
I really appreciate your advice. I will take on all your tips and keep working with the little guy!