help with tamming

[mouseonmars]

Hi, since I'm new here I'm gonna explain my situation

my family got a budgie, male green body, yellow wings, age unknown
problem is that budgie isn't young as he escaped from previous owner so now we have the budgie

inside the bird cage, he is "his master", whistles, sings (sings beautiful since it seems he was near cannary(es) while growing up)
but whenever someone approaches the cage he becomes nervous, starts to produce provocative sounds and starts to attack with beek
and whenever someone tries to simply touch his tail or finger of claw gently, same result is
he also after when sees his method of "attack" doesn't help he gets scared and jumps on walls of cage
(but we don't molest him so don't think bad of us)

we do take best care of him as possible, we whistle to him and he suprisingly communicates with us via whistle
even approaches the cage wall when wants to be with us and licks the bars calmly

but any try to pet him with finger or come close even when changing food and water "dishes", he becomes very defensive
ok, so I heard that only when parot is raised from baby form, becomes friendly with master, but is there a way or chance
that grown one becomes less violent ?

again we are not his 1st masters, as we got him already grown up 

[skysmum]

Hi and welcome. Anything is possible but it will take much patience and persistance especially as he is an older bird. Just put your hand in his cage and leave it there for a few minutes several times a day until he accepts it , dont move it just let it be still. When he is used to this you can start to move it closer and progress from there. It will take a few weeks of just putting your hand in though. Don't rush it. Time and patients .

[stace]

Unless a bird is very tame, they usually don't like to be petted. Your budgie probably see your touching him as a bit aggressive or rather, threatening.

Best to get him used to your hand in the cage first (see skysmum's post). You can use a piece of millet to slowly get him used to seeing your hand as something that brings good things. Gradually with time, you should be able to get him to perch on your hand while he's eating it.

Even older birds can be tamed. It just takes longer and more patience.

Spend a little bit of time, several times a day at it. You have to earn their trust.

[mouseonmars]

hi & thanks for answers
I did try in quite some ocasions to hold a palm or finger inside cage
but poor birdie always get scared and stops like statue holds on place and shakes like scared or something

so I never wanted to torture his nerves too much, but I will try with food in hands or something
and see results

thanks again
any advice is always apreciated

[phoebe]

It's best to go slow. I have a bird that has had a stroke and it is not a good situation. Birds are fragile animals. Sitting where the bird can see you for long periods of time will help him perceive you as less of a threat. I just got two birds back from a home where they were neglected. At first they were bouncing off the walls when I went in the room. Now a few weeks has gone by and they are like the other birds in the cage. Time does help.

[stace]

There is a whole section on taming on the forum. Take some time and have a read through there. It will tell you a lot more than we can in a short answer.

There are all sorts of little 'tricks' that help with taming. Such as squinting and sort of winking when you approach the bird. This is so that your eyes look less like a predator's big front facing eyes. Speaking softly all the time helps too. Silence makes them wary.

Maybe try feeding him millet through the bars of the cage for a while first. You want to get him used to you and your hands so he realises they bring good things.