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Post by blueelephant on Aug 1, 2020 15:01:58 GMT
So we are a week into having baby budgie. He is an absolute scaredy cat. He spent an entire day desperately trying to pluck up the courage to leave the high perch and go to the seed pot. Numerous bouts of mad flapping around, landing by the seed for a second then flying off again. After a good 8 hours of this we came back from a brief trip out to find him looking delighted with himself lying in said seed pot 🤣.
He approaches everything in this way. Toys are terrifying and he just won't go near them, so for now I've taken the one small toy we had in the cage out. Hands are also very scary. Despite this we have had some success getting him to sit on a finger or hand. He is odd because he isn't keen, but sometimes eventually sits on a finger and looks really contented while I chat to him. Next time a hand goes in it's straight back to square one and he flaps every where. Our previous bird we earned trust and it just gradually built. So he'd be less reluctant the next time of offering a hand. This guy doesn't seem like that. Bizzarely though he likes faces!? If I put my face next to the cage and talk to him he comes over and gives my nose kisses!? I just don't get it. Hands are scary faces are nice.
He is also absolutely not in the slightest bit interested in millet. Millet has been heavily involved in all my previous budgie taming. Still early days I know but I'm really hoping he gets over the hand thing or letting him out is going to be tricky if millet bribes won't work to get him back!
Has anyone else had this sort of experience? The liking faces but being scared of everything else just seems strange to me and I didn't realize budgies that don't like millet existed!
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Post by samwiseg on Aug 1, 2020 15:11:59 GMT
Yes! All budgies start this way. He will be because he is young, on his own away from his parents and siblings and in a different place from what he knows. He will get used to things but it takes time. Do you cover him at night? As it might be worth covering the top back and sides of the cage throughout the day so he doesn't feel like he is being watched from all sides by potential predators. You will be able to remove this at a later stage when he becomes more settled. Always talk to him when you are there and blink with him as this will reassure him but not necessarily too close! He might be frightened of your eyes not your face as predators have eyes on the front of the head. And get him used to you sitting next to the cage without being too close. Enough so he will be familiar enough to come up closer Can you leave the radio on low for him too when you go out so its not deafeningly quiet as they feel insecure when it's too quiet. But enjoy the company of your new little guy and let us know how you get on!
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 1, 2020 15:18:18 GMT
He sounds similar to my Tweetie Pie although I think Tweetie Pie is even more timid. I did manage to get him to put a foot on my finger for millet a couple of times. He's afraid of everything - new toys, fresh food, new noises and yes, hands! Then I got Buddy and put them together. He watches Buddy and if its OK with Buddy, he'll follow suit. He's still very timid. He saw Buddy eating the fresh food and now he also eats it. Now, he will fly to my hand to get millet. I think its just his nature to be very timid.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 2, 2020 0:17:40 GMT
Budgies aren't stupid; they seem to know that the thing to be wary of with humans are the hands; that is not unusual. They do also seem to realise that we can't/don't grab things with our mouths (too small maybe) so faces aren't where the threat comes from.
A week is no time at all. Take it slowly, give him plenty of time to get used to you and your house, don't sneak up on him - always let him know that you are around or approaching his cage if you do cover the top and sides. Talk to him all the time, don't stare at him full on, watching him with one eye only will make him feel much more secure. If he had never been shown millet before then he won't recognise it as food. Take small bobbles off the spray and leave these in his seed pot with his normal seed. Once he starts exploring more he will give them a taste and most times from then on there is no going back.
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Post by blueelephant on Aug 2, 2020 5:17:23 GMT
Thank you all. That is useful. I hadn't really considered the logic behind the hands being the actually properly dangerous bit of a person but it makes sense. He is clearly smarter than my previous birds who would not have survived a day in the wild!
He seems happier/more content than he was which is nice to see. So now to be patient!
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Post by blueelephant on Aug 2, 2020 16:20:23 GMT
So sudden unexpected leap in progress today. Someone came out for a fly. It turns out that being scared of absolutely everything has its advantages. My hand is suddenly less scary than all the other places a baby budgie could possibly sit. He had several nice long sits on my hand. Nibbled my hair and nose etc. A few flights and lots of crash landing. Gratefully received hand or perch to then escape the ridiculous predicament of being stuck behind the TV or under the side board. So any tips on helping him learn places to land rather than crash?
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Post by jellybean on Aug 2, 2020 16:27:44 GMT
Set up some places for him to land on, this is mine, he'll love it and will give him something to play on:-
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Post by blueelephant on Aug 2, 2020 16:56:06 GMT
Set up some places for him to land on, this is mine, he'll love it and will give him something to play on:- I almost bought a boing! They do look great fun. Is yours a cotton one or sisal one? I suffered choice overload and couldn't decide or determine what was budgie safe! Size was also confusing. They seem to cater for parrots as well and I couldn't decide what was appropriate 🤣
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Post by jellybean on Aug 2, 2020 17:10:27 GMT
The boing is cotton, the cargo net is sisal.
If you are in UK (your profile doesn't say) I could give you a couple of links for boings and budgie stuff
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Post by blueelephant on Aug 2, 2020 18:53:33 GMT
The boing is cotton, the cargo net is sisal. If you are in UK (your profile doesn't say) I could give you a couple of links for boings and budgie stuff Yes UK based. That would be brilliant. Thank you.
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Post by jellybean on Aug 2, 2020 19:16:41 GMT
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Jun 19, 2020 12:06:49 GMT
wardey
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 92
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Post by wardey on Aug 2, 2020 19:29:54 GMT
Agree with Hezz about the millet. Monty didn’t want to know it when it was in his cage at the start, once he saw his mate eat it he tried it and he would literally chomp a bobble down whole now if you’d let him!
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Post by blue48 on Aug 2, 2020 19:30:37 GMT
Like jellybean, I have things located around the room that are safe landing spaces. A boing made of beads, and a swing, both located above the sofa, so visitors beware Also a cotton spiral hanging from the curtain rail which he treats as his girlfriend, and I don't mean he buys it flowers 😉
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Post by Hezz on Aug 2, 2020 20:12:15 GMT
Our birds definitely need their own perching place out of their cages. Mine have a gym on top of the largest cage and a tree at the other end of the open plan area. As his flying gets better, so will his landing. It is all a matter of practice.
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Post by blueelephant on Aug 2, 2020 20:17:51 GMT
Thanks for the links Jellybean I will go boing shopping.
He is very aerobatic in the cage. It's quite a leap though from short flights round a small space to having a whole room to go at!
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