Not sure what to do anymore..

[ourlittlejoey]

Hello there

My budgie just doesnt seem to want to do anything but eat, sleep and use his cuttlefish

Ive tried training and hes just scared of being near my hand he doesnt mind my hand in the cage and ive even got close to have him on my finger he has also once or twice like me stroke his chest but then gets scared and tries to get away.. he doesnt seem to want to come out of his cage at all which is upsetting alittle.. im always in my room and i always leave the cage door open so hes got that choice but no such luck.. is the door being open all the time effecting this?.. ive had him almost a year and hes been out i think 4 times in total which i read that they need there flying exercise i even bought a new cage with a bigger door cause i read that a small door could have an impact an make them not want to come out ive but a playground which is up high to incase he does come out.. ive got a problem with his toys because at the start he had rings attached with a bell which he use to hit now he doesnt want to interact with any ive just bought a chew/shred toy which i got told they like to do but hes got no interest in that.. got a few others on the way.. ive tried putting a bath in which he doesnt use and i cant bring myself to spraying him i feel bad dont know why ive tried giving him different fruits and veg in a bowl which he doesnt look interested in..


i dont know what else to try or do.. all he does is sit on the highest perch staring at me or sleeping and then goes for food water and a scratch on the cuttlefish but then back to the top perch... i want him to fly around and experiment and hang out with me be more curious and active type thing,, am i doing something wrong or is it that ive just got a lazy bird.. i also dont want to be catching him cause i heard they lose there trust for you with that.. which my brother caught him at the start which i think might be a reason as to why hes not trusting me i dont know..


any ideas would be greatly appreciated  

[Shirls]

Welcome to the forum ourlittlejoey. The only hints I can give, perhaps others can give more are: tempt him and reward him with millet. After doing all the necessary things - cleaning, refreshing water/seed etc., take some time out to just put your hand in the cage and leave it there, still, a few minutes each time, several times a day. Then one day hold a little piece of millet in that still hand, putting it quite near to him. All or most budgies can't resist millet. He may not take it the first time, do it often. Patience and repetition are the key words with budgies.

Once he is familiar with your hand, offer him a finger to step up to. Get him to step up and step down inside the cage. He will, but it will take time, maybe a few weeks or even months I'm afraid. Especially as you have had hime for quite a while, he may just be a little on the slow side! Reward him with millet when he eventually does. Once you have him finger tamed he will feel more confident with you and able to step up without fear once he is out of the cage.

I would also only open his cage door for a couple of hours at a time, when convenient to you that he comes out if he does. Close it the rest of the time so he knows he is safe when the door is closed and he may well want to come out one time when it is open - knowing it will soon be closed again shortly. Give him somewher safe to land when he eventually does come out.

That's all I can suggest at the moment. Other members are sure to have advice from their own experiences.

[Marianne Marlow]

Hello... to encourage him out, put a piece of millet spray in the doorway, so that it's half in and half out.
Has done the trick for me before.

[Marianne Marlow]

Also, do you talk to him and blink at him while you do it?
This will help him to trust you and not see you as a predator.

[ourlittlejoey]

i havent tried millet at the doorway since when the door is open a bowl of water is connected so he comes out to get the water then goes back in ,, yeah i treat him like i was talking to another human haha but ill have to try closing the door and see if he seems better with that.. the thing with millet at the moment though is he seems to of gone off it i did have it hanging in the cage but when i read that its only for treats i didnt want to change it suddenly and take it out so i put alittle in the cage and still used as a treat at the moment ive taken all the millet out and just trying it as a treat instead thanks for the help

[feathers]

Welcome to the forum

Budgies are all different and what works for one may not work for another, you could try sitting beside the cage with door open and a piece of millet between your fingers and a book and read aloud to him in a gentle voice be as relaxed as you can and remember to keep blinking if you do look at him. He will see that you are enjoying yourself and hopefully in time he will get to enjoy the time you spend with him and eventually come and have a nibble at the millet.

Getting the trust of a budgie takes time, I have a rescue bird Buddy, had him almost a year, he was and still is very timid but a couple of days ago he actually sat on my hand for half hour, previously he would come on my hand but immediately fly off. I felt very privileged that he will now share some time with me but that has taken a year.

As Shirls said ‘Patience and repetition are the key words with budgies.’

[ourlittlejoey]

yeah he has sat on my hand before to eat seed/millets out of my hand before which was good.. so blinking always works then? does it make them feel safe or something? oh i read outloud to him but i didnt think of holding millet while doing so ill have to give that a go thank you