Taming a budgie who isn't scared of hands but won't step up.

[slammed]

I have 2 budgies, one was a rescue we found and nursed back to health. She's terrified of people but loves her sister who we got from an aviary. They get on great. At the moment I am trying to tame the more confident sister so hopefully the scared one follows suit.

She will eat millet out of an open palm, between my thumb with my finger very very close to her, she leans over and rests her head on my finger while she eats. And let's me give her a tiny head scratch with my pinkie. Getting her to step up has seemed impossible though. I've tried pressing on her chest, I've tried making it so the only possible way for her to get the millet is to hop on my finger, I've tried taking food away for a while so she is more hungry, and tried target training. Still no luck with getting her to step up. Any ideas of what I can do help ease this along? I can't interact with her very much because of this and really just want to give them a good fulfilled life where they aren't fearful of me. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Hezz]

Persevering with offering food that can only be reached by stepping onto your hand/finger is the key. You need a truck-load of patience when working with some budgies. Work with them for short time intervals, and as many of them as you can manage in a day. How long have you been trying? How long have you had them?

[slammed]

Dec 29, 2022 0:11:20 GMT Hezz said:

Persevering with offering food that can only be reached by stepping onto your hand/finger is the key. You need a truck-load of patience when working with some budgies. Work with them for short time intervals, and as many of them as you can manage in a day. How long have you been trying? How long have you had them?

I have had them about 4 months, been trying to tame them for about 3 after they initially settled in. I havent tried with the scared one yet as I can't even get close to her at the moment to start the taming.

[Hezz]

The only extra apart from offering their favourite food is to remove their seed for about an hour beforehand. Also, often later in the day, as they would normally be getting ready to roost can be a time where they are a bit calmer, plus is a time when they would have their last feed for the day. This may work to your advantage.