May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2012 20:43:00 GMT
Should probably add again and that it's additive with other things as well, like having too much work to do.
Still, whilst Munchy is cute and often makes us laugh, he does put me off keeping budgies. I know his dislike of hands is my fault from having to handle him when his feathers bled, but at the time that seemed a better option than him plucking out all the feathers. So maybe if that didn't happen with another bird then that bird would be nicer about hands when it grew out of the moult-biting phase... But having Munchy like he is puts me off trying in case I mess up again and just end up with another bird doing the same thing. The idea of maybe having two birds isn't so bad in that respect, as they'd be occupying each other and I'd just be doing the same as I have to do with Munchy, watching them play. Munchy will call out when there's no one in the room, but when you're there he doesn't pay any attention to you anyway, so aside from him being a flock animal I don't particularly understand the difference between us being there and not being there if he doesn't want to come and see us anyway. Trying to play with him doesn't seem to work either, you can roll a ball for him but then you're half afraid to try to take it back from him to roll or wave around again in case he decides to take a chunk out of your fingers, especially with his favourite ball (which is temporarily confiscated due to him rolling it behind the bathroom sink and playing behind there and being impossible to get out [7 hours later I still have a mark in my thumb and my arm but I'm pleased that I didn't make a noise or flinch away] and I'm not taking him in the bathroom with a ball again).
*Sigh* I'd consider a slightly older bird which had already done with the stress of the first moult but it seems to be the general consensus that older birds won't bond to you as strongly as a bird had from a chick, but I doubt any bird could be less bonded than Munchy. I wish that when I was younger I'd known more about keeping birds and actually looked after my first budgie properly. He'd already moulted and I don't know if he ever settled in properly but the only time he bit me was when I picked him up (entirely my fault because for some reason this seemed like the best way to remove him from the cage) but other than that he was lovely and would come when I whistled to him.
Anyway, apologies for this but I'm just feeling so rubbish right now. I don't supposed anyone else here has had such a rubbish experience with budgies and I apologise for potentially upsetting anyone or ruining their day.
|
|
Aug 27, 2012 20:57:32 GMT
annieones
Normal Green
Posts: 393
|
Post by annieones on Dec 21, 2012 21:20:48 GMT
Hi Ira, that's so sad. I'm sure it's not your fault, my khloro went really wierd after we lost Thala. Before that they both took a lot of work and patience as they were rescue birds, and really only started to come round after about 4-5 months of patience and try try trying. don't give up heart, keep trying, i believe it's not impossible. Try feeding with a spoon to start with and you can gradually let your hands get closer. good luck
|
|
|
Post by skysmum on Dec 21, 2012 22:34:17 GMT
Oh Ira, im sorry your feeling so rubbish about Munchie. Its rotten when you want to bond with them and they have other idea's , its probably just a case of going back to basics, but then some never really get there. My 4 are all different and when they were babies (homebred) i could handle them very easily but once they went into the Aviary naturally all that went. Since having them back indoors we are building a mutual trust again but each one is different. Fern is by far the most receptive, i think i could hand tame her very easily but only if i took her away from the others which i wouldn't do, the boys are middle of the road, i think i could but it would take time, Freddy however is a different kettle of fish, there is no way i could handle her and for whatever reason she is terrified of me , i think its because she cant fly and i have had to pick her up to rescue her from situations, she bites like the devil, there is no way i could ever get close to her and we both know it. Its a catch 22, if you get a friend for Munchie i think you would have to accept that it would be as a companion for him and anything else would be a bonus, of course if you got another baby and managed to hand tame him and bond, when you did put him with Munchie it could encourage Munchie to become more friendly. Sorry i went on a bit but don't feel bad, persevere, its all about slowly slowly, a step at a time, a few mins a day .
|
|
May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2012 0:03:37 GMT
Lol, if I showed him a spoon he'd run for the hills ;D He does seem to like my mug, though. If we have toast and a hot drink in the living room and his cage isn't there then the first place he heads is me and then my mug. It's hard to explain how Munchy is. It's like he's tame and wants us around but doesn't know what to do with us. As long as we're awake, making noise and he has toys, he's not fussed about us. Outside his cage, he'll usually jump onto my arm unless he's with his ball, and when inside his cage he's so intent on getting out that he doesn't care what he has to step on to do it. He'll happily take food from my hands, but put your hand or a finger too close to him without food and it's 'hello pointy beak'. Most of the time it's not an issue, but he's very good at picking up on days where I'm likely to get upset, it seems. He also cottoned on to the fact that I was scratching him, not the weeble, so now he grumps at it if I hold it close to him. So no cheek scratches, apparently. (If I try to distract him with millet to use my thumb for this when he's on my hand he always manages to sit on my thumb ;D ) And I'm not allowed a second bird anyway, so no issues there except that I might feel better being ignored by two of them because I wouldn't be expecting anything else. I think it's mainly that he just hangs around his favourite few places all day and doesn't want to go anywhere with us. I have to shut all the doors to be able to take him into my room otherwise he's off like a shot. He very rarely explores anywhere new, which is handy in some cases and also means that in a strange room if he flies off then he'll come back, but then means that he won't ever come to see us. Having to cross the room and stand by the window to talk to him isn't hard but it's a bit of a pain when you want to sit down to do something and he could easily come over. Even having a toy doesn't help. I think I might save the favourite ball only for being played with when I'm holding it... *Scheme* Coz he doesn't bite then and it's easier to take it away if necessary. Sometimes I think it's more frustrating too because he'll occasionally do something like jump onto my arm when offered to share a tomato but then most of the time it's like he couldn't care less. He's also the epitome of operant conditioning. Forget waiting a few seconds for another reward for sitting on my arm, he's straight off and then back again. This is why millet training doesn't work for me as anything more than a 'my hands are giving you nice things' kind of thing. Thank you both, anyway, and sorry for my deranged ranting I feel a lot better now!
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Dec 22, 2012 2:09:43 GMT
Sorry it isn't working out for you Ira. It can be disheartening when they don't really care whether you are there or not, and most people with a single budgie do not have this problem. There isn't a lot I can say to help you either, but know that you are not the only one to feel rejected by your budgie. I spent a full 12 months teaching Smudge not to nip/bite/lunge every time I presented my finger. She still does sometimes, but it is manageable, and she knows that it is wrong, and rarely gets in a good one. All I can do is offer you a cyber-hug and chin up. Not quite the same as being of practical use. xxx
|
|
|
Post by samwiseg on Dec 22, 2012 9:19:42 GMT
Oh god Ira so sorry you feel that way - if its any consolation I think we all would do things differently sometimes if we had known - I certainly would have done with Mont. She was so neurotic that it almost made me the same way! I felt the same as you at one point thinking that I could never have another bird or deal with it as it was just to much of a sensitive issue.
As for my new lads, Mont would have knocked them into a cocked hat but they are loveable in their own way. They are a lot harder to train and completely understand that you want the best for your little guy, but remember that you do give him everything and more and you will get there xxx
|
|
May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2012 18:28:46 GMT
Thank you, everyone I'm feeling a lot better today. Having a nice relaxing day with my boyfriend, doing silly things like a treasure hunt for my Christmas presents I don't feel upset any more and I guess as long as Munchy's happy that's all that really matters. At one point this morning he was trying to escape the cage as I was trying to change his seed and water and he looked like he was going to nip at my finger as I was trying to close the cage door and keep him in. He pretty much just wants to spend his whole time playing in the living room. It's a shame, but maybe I'll have better luck next time (which will be quite a few years as I won't be getting another budgie until after Munchy and it won't be straight away). Mind you, I'm not sure what work I'll be doing in the future, so I might keep two and try to just hand tame them. If I'm lucky I'll be doing a job with regular hours so I'll at least get to see them every day (although when I'm in uni from 9-5 I'm out from before 8 until 6 and Munchy is in bed when I leave and when I get back. Ah well, I shall try to keep my spirits up. He never fails to make me laugh when I watch him, anyway ^^ And, although I'm now a bit nervous that he's going to start nipping me when on my finger again, he does usually just jump up as soon as I present my hand or arm. My nan surprised me the most, though. She talks to Munchy in a funny voice and presented a finger, wanting him to come out and have some food, and he pecked her and she said "Oh, no, don't be pecking me now, then," in a really silly voice. Ever since getting him, she's been amazing. She was always afraid to touch animals and wouldn't go near my last budgie but Munchy has really won a place in her heart. He even lets her tickle his tummy through the bars of the cage. Thank you all again I'm definitely feeling a lot better today and I'm sure he'll enjoy watching Merlin with me tomorrow morning. He has this habit of jumping onto his tree and sitting facing the tv when it's on ^^ xxx
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Dec 23, 2012 1:41:42 GMT
Glad you are feeling more happy within yourself, then. Maybe Gran is Munchy's house friend - unfortunately we can't dictate who they are going to bond with, can we???
|
|
May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2012 8:02:51 GMT
That's true. I think he might like her because she doesn't bother him all the time XD And, of course, she's home everyday to let him out of the cage and she's better at just talking a load of nonsense to him than I am. However, when I come home from uni when he's awake, nan always stands at the window and says "Zoe's coming" and if he's not at the window beforehand, when I come up the driveway he comes to the window and starts bobbing his head up and down and trying to give me kisses through the glass, and will then run along the windowsill after me when I moved towards the door, so I think he likes me a little bit I came home from my boyfriend's last night to find out some nice news, though. Apparently, the living room and snug (room the cage is in) doors had been left open. My granddad was in the kitchen, which is next to the snug with no door between them, and Munchy was just sitting on the mirror instead of flying into the living room. Then when my granddad walked through the snug, Munchy followed him out of the door and went into the living room. Later, with all three of them in the living room, nan and granddad got up to go out the kitchen, and Munchy followed them out and sat on the mirror. That made me smile Granddad said "He was like a pet. ... Well, like a dog." I'm happy if he's bonded with nan, though She used to be so afraid of animals and Munchy has really changed that.
|
|
|
Post by samwiseg on Dec 23, 2012 8:10:49 GMT
That's true. I think he might like her because she doesn't bother him all the time XD And, of course, she's home everyday to let him out of the cage and she's better at just talking a load of nonsense to him than I am. However, when I come home from uni when he's awake, nan always stands at the window and says "Zoe's coming" and if he's not at the window beforehand, when I come up the driveway he comes to the window and starts bobbing his head up and down and trying to give me kisses through the glass, and will then run along the windowsill after me when I moved towards the door, so I think he likes me a little bit I came home from my boyfriend's last night to find out some nice news, though. Apparently, the living room and snug (room the cage is in) doors had been left open. My granddad was in the kitchen, which is next to the snug with no door between them, and Munchy was just sitting on the mirror instead of flying into the living room. Then when my granddad walked through the snug, Munchy followed him out of the door and went into the living room. Later, with all three of them in the living room, nan and granddad got up to go out the kitchen, and Munchy followed them out and sat on the mirror. That made me smile Granddad said "He was like a pet. ... Well, like a dog." I'm happy if he's bonded with nan, though She used to be so afraid of animals and Munchy has really changed that. Ahhh of course he does! That is so sweet, and great that you nan has bonded with him too I think birds do bond differently with different people...like my Mont used to be besotted with my OH to the point of extreme biting (bless her ) but with me, she would look to for food safety and security. She loved us both but in very different ways! Dunno if its true but I have heard that birds can be bitey towards humans when they are thinking that they are a mate, so perhaps Mucnhy fancies you ;D
|
|
May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 9:52:28 GMT
Eheheheh, I think it might have had more to do with the fact that my hand was looming over him, Sam ;D Although, I have spotted him having some serious attempts at mating with his balls and he's really nippy towards the toys that he likes, so maybe that's why he's a bit more angsty at the moment. Who knows *Shrug* Although I am secretly hoping that my female cousin tries to get him on her finger when her family comes over later... (Am I evil or what? XD) My uncle, however, got bitten by him last time but he's really good coz he just ignores it and keeps trying.
|
|
|
Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Dec 28, 2012 14:20:08 GMT
I'm glad you're feeling better now- it sounds as though Munchy is a bit stubborn sometimes but he basically is a great little bird, don't focus on what you didn't do or did- he is obviously happy and that is down to your love for him, so keep that chin up!
|
|
May 2, 2024 11:41:47 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 10:07:44 GMT
Aye, he's a great bird. My uncle and his girlfriend came over the other day (this uncle had never met Munchy before). He offered Munchy his finger from the side and after 5-10 seconds of ignoring it, Munchy stepped up, no threatening or anything. He wouldn't step onto my uncle's girlfriend's hand from my uncle's arm, but he was on my arm in the hallway after dinner and she tried again. Her finger was a bit low at first so I lowered my arm and after a moment an adorable little foot was in the air and on her finger, then he paused for a second and then the other foot went up to.
So congratulations, Munchy, for being a well-behaved bird ^^
|
|
Aug 27, 2012 20:57:32 GMT
annieones
Normal Green
Posts: 393
|
Post by annieones on Jan 1, 2013 14:07:31 GMT
That's great ira
|
|
|
Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Jan 1, 2013 15:24:15 GMT
Munchy can "pull it out of the bag" when he wants to- or when he's got an admiring audience! Bless him!
|
|