help needed with taming

[debbiewebby]

Hi, I bought my budgie from a pet shop a week ago.
I put my hand in the cage several times a day, but he freaks out. Am I doing something wrong or am expecting too much too soon?

[mizloco]

Probably them latter. Welcome by the way. There are some stickies at the beginning of the sections about taming.

[Hezz]

Slow and steady, patience and persistence, are the keys to getting a budgie to trust you. The younger the bird, the more success you are likely to have. No sudden movements if at all possible, cover the cage on three sides with a sheet or the like, gives the budgie a corner to retreat to, makes him feel safer. Keep introducing your hand to him regularly, as many times a day as you are able, but keep each session short - 5-10mins. Get yourself a piece of millet and offer this to him. You can do this through the bars of the cage if you want, or with your hand inside the cage. I prefer the hand inside approach, but that's just me. Good luck, take it slowly and don't expect miracles.

[debbiewebby]

I brought some millet, and hung it inside the cage, but he is too scared to go near it. Should I take it back out and only use it as a taming treat or leave it there?

[GoldieNYC]

Mar 12, 2014 15:09:45 GMT debbiewebby said:

I brought some millet, and hung it inside the cage, but he is too scared to go near it. Should I take it back out and only use it as a taming treat or leave it there?

Debbie -
As Hezz pointed out, the birds take their time.  They gradually get used to things - even when their facial expressions give nothing away, they are always watching and evaluating.  Leave some millet in the cage - sure.  All objects are seen as potential intruders, but after a while, once they've proved to be no threat, they can be approached.
One technique you can utilize is to simply leave your hand in the cage (even half a hand) and do nothing, for minutes at a time.  Show the bird that all these things are, essentially, safe.  Then move on to the next step.  There are numerous "training" videos on YouTube, too, which show this being done.  Budgies are fairly predictable in their range of reactions, though each can bring his or her variation into play.  That's where the magic is - finding the special personality of your bird.  But it is all about trust, and that's a gradual process (even for the humans).

[debbiewebby]

Thank you for your comprehensive reply. Please do not put you off replying, but I suffer from mental health issues and bought Casper for companionship. I do put my hand in the cage several times a day, just being still, and if he jumps onto my hand, even for a second I praise him. I'm just concerned about how far to push this without stressing him out

[Deleted]

That sounds very good, debbie Sounds like he's warming up. Once he's more confident about approaching and eating the millet, trying holding some between thumb and forefinger in the cage as Hezz suggested. Keep trying this until he'll happily sit on your hand to eat the millet. Casper will become a wonderful companion to you

[debbiewebby]

Bless you x

[debbiewebby]

:)Just had a massive breakthrough with Casper. he sat on my hand for about 30 seconds

[Hezz]

Mar 12, 2014 15:09:45 GMT debbiewebby said:

I brought some millet, and hung it inside the cage, but he is too scared to go near it. Should I take it back out and only use it as a taming treat or leave it there?

Leave it there for the time being and hopefully he will discover it himself.

You are doing all the right things, Debbie, from what you are describing. A pity Casper doesn't understand what millet is, but if you leave a piece (a small piece) in the cage for him, he may well decide to give it a try. Once he does then you can take it out of the cage and only use it when you are trying to help his training process. Most budgies are millet fiends, once they come to regard it as food, but some have not seen it before and pull away in case it may be something nasty wishing to attack them! I have my own fellow like this, it makes bribery hard when they don't know they are being bribed.

[debbiewebby]

Casper will only come on my finger to be let out the cage. He nows loves the millet spray in his cage and chuntering away like crazy with the odd non budgie sound being spoke