Buddy & Joey

[bramos]

Hi guys, this is my first post so hope I'm doing it right!

I got 2 budgies Buddy and Joey three weeks ago from a pet shop - they had never been handled and were in with other budgies at the pet store.

I have been talking to them as per all the advice you find on the internet and have been putting my hand in the cage for them to build trust but it seems that they have taken a backward step. I had joey on my finger by holding millet and offering my finger as a perch (although pushing against him for him to step up) but they scurry away every time I go to put my hand in - I am feeding them millet every time so that they see my hand as not being a danger etc - they do eat the millet but I have to move my hand right by them before they feed - altho when they do they love it. Once they have had some millet, I move it to hold it differently so they have to step up to get to it but as soon as I move my finger near them (to press below their chest) they scurry off and can't get away quick enough.

I've let them out the cage to get them used to flying and landing etc and got them back in by holding a perch to which they eventually stepped onto (I managed to fix some millet onto the end of the perch)

I know patience is the aim of the game but they seem to not want to relate to my hand or step up - Joey is the only one that has stepped up after pushing against his lower chest, Buddy doesn't wanna know - although Buddy seems to follow Joey and seems to be the younger brother type so I'm convinced that if Joey starts doing it then he will too!

Any advice on how to get them stepping up would be great - Is there a technique I'm unaware of??

[OP]

From my own experience, I'm not an expert yet, you just have to keep on doing what you are doing. I don't think there is any magic secret. Welcome to the forum.

[bramos]

Thanks for the response OP, I know this question is asked all the time - just surprised at the inconsistency of progress - sometimes they are ok for me to approach them in the cage, other times they can't get away quick enough. I'm so desperate to have them come to me out the cage and to play with them once tame! How long can it take for them to bond with you? I'm also worried that they are happy with just each other!

[OP]

If only I could answer that positively for you. I am in a similar position myself. I have two cocks and they are so tied up with each other. They are a little older than yours and one which is called Joey I have had for just over a year and he was a year old when I got him, so he was quite well trained when the second budgie called Whiskers was introduced. Whiskers is about 3 years old and was well tamed but not fully trained. They are so into each other it is untrue. I believe we have the same problem in that they will not come to us, I have to go to them. We both need to find something that both pairs of budgies want. Without that want they will not come to you. I will leave the bond bit to someone with much more experience than I have. Hopefully I have given you something to think about.

[mizloco]

Welcome to the forum. Mine aren't trained to do anything other than the opposite of what I want them to do. Loads on here have their budgies trained so you will get some help. Also read the stickies at the beginning of each section on the forum.

[ffiscool]

I wonder if, the novelty of each other might ease a bit in time. Both were single budgies before so this is a new world. But I imagine even they will have days/times of being fed up with each other

[Hezz]

Nothing to do with training budgies comes easily, and you must allow yourself and them plenty of time to become acquainted. For the time being, back off the pushing into the chest bit and allow them to nibble the millet, but making it increasingly hard for them to reach it without standing on your finger or hand. Gradually move the millet out of reach, but leave you hand holding it close so it is forming the bridge from them to the millet. Leave yourself plenty of time to do any of the training with them as they will not be rushed. It sounds like these guys are probably not babies, and this means things take longer as well.

Also, by having the two, you may well never get a strong bond happening between yourself and either of them. They are a flock animal, and they want to be with their flock - the other bird in this case. These two could very well end up the best of mates.