New to forum

[shep0479]

Hi everyone. I've had my budgie "billie" since Monday. He's 9.5 weeks old and yesterday he's learning to step up after getting comfortable with my hand in the cage.



I'm going to carry on with this. But what should I move on to?

[Marianne Marlow]

Welcome to the forum, to you and Billie.

You're doing very well so far with the step up's. Have you tried getting Billie to step up onto a stick too.
This will make it easier to get him back into the cage at night when you eventually let him out

Just carry on with the trust exercise, maybe giving a little tiny piece of millet when he does well.

Marianne

[shep0479]

Aug 27, 2015 15:27:25 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Welcome to the forum, to you and Billie.

You're doing very well so far with the step up's. Have you tried getting Billie to step up onto a stick too.
This will make it easier to get him back into the cage at night when you eventually let him out

Just carry on with the trust exercise, maybe giving a little tiny piece of millet when he does well.

Marianne

Yeah he got loose the other day and didn't like me putting my hand near him when he knew he had a good flying area to get away. But yesterday I let him out after using a spare perch in the cage. He was very happy with stepping onto the perch from the curtain rail and I was able to walk to his cage with him on the perch and put him back.

I put millet in his cage on day 2 so he could learn what it was and how tasty it was. I took it out yesterday morning and then when finger training I rewarded him with a little cluster which he was happy to eat with me holding it.
I also used this technique to lure him to step on my finger when he couldn't reach the millet. I do a certain sound when he is being rewarded too so he will learn a treat is coming. This morning once I'd changed his food etc and cleaned up I opened his door (nice big door) and he stepped up once I added a little pressure and was happy to be moved to another perch without flapping or getting nervous.

I know I've only had him since Monday evening but when he does come out he doesn't seem to know to fly back to his cage. He just goes to the curtain rail or the top of the door frame in my room.

[Marianne Marlow]

Yes, he'll go to the highest place he can and he'll feel safer there, hence the curtain rail

So keep up the training of stepping onto finger, hand and the spare perch that you're using that's all good work.

[Marianne Marlow]

Where do you keep his cage? is it low down or high? The higher the better, as long as it's comfortable for you to reach too of course.

[shep0479]

It's on a table at the side of the room. He's been out 4 times on 2 different days. Easy to get him in with the perch. Be nice if he knew where it was. The last time I placed him on top of his cage which he ended up just waiting there for a while so I then put him down to his door.

I've got the whole weekend to work with him so hopefully he might start to trust more.

[Marianne Marlow]

He'll work it out

[shep0479]

Good good. Cheers.

[Marianne Marlow]

You could try putting some millet in the doorway.. when it's time for him to go back in.. then put him on the stick in front of the doorway, but not too close.
IF he spies the millet he might fly in

[shep0479]

Good advice. I'll try it.

[neonice]

Nice man, really nice!

Welcome also, to the world of curtain-climbers!

Alex

[shep0479]

Aug 28, 2015 7:46:18 GMT neonice said:

Nice man, really nice!

Welcome also, to the world of curtain-climbers!

Alex

Thanks.