worried that I'm not bonding with billie

[emily2604]

We've had Billie our 11 week old budgie for 2 weeks now (going into our 3rd week with him) however he's been at my house for a week and then had to move to my boyfriends house for a week coz I was away with work and now he is back at my house coz my boyfriend is away with work. I feel like he bonded with me well in the first week (with him being able to 'step up' onto our finger in his cage) but now after not seeing him for a week he has bonded to my boyfriend alot more and after 2 days of being back with me he has been reluctant to leave the cage to go for a fly around my room. Any advice is greatly received please. Am I doing something wrong? Can I do more or something different to get him to like me again?

[milliej]

Perhaps he's just a little confused as budgies like routine, time and patience will help

[Hezz]

I agree, he would be confused; he doesn't know who the person in his house is supposed to be. Basically you are now starting from scratch, so just go back to the beginning and have no expectations that he is immediately going to know who you are. Take it steady and make sure you have time for him every day. It is never a good idea to get a new bird close to a planned holiday or time away. As Jean has said, they do best with a routine. He will get there; it is just that it will now take that bit longer.

[shep0479]

Today he has shown signs of realising where he is and who Emily is. I said he was prob just a bit confused but he'll be ok

[Hezz]

You two are confusing me!!! Are you the boyfriend, shep0479???

[shep0479]

Sept 9, 2015 0:46:49 GMT Hezz said:

You two are confusing me!!! Are you the boyfriend, shep0479???

Yes that's right. It's mine and Emily's budgie. Just been a slightly hectic week where we are both working away at different times.

[Hezz]

So Billie is a lucky bud and has two homes.

[shep0479]

So for the past week billie has been at Emily's and being a pain. Apparently squawking a lot and just sitting by his mirror. Not coming out to fly and going ballistic when hands are in the cage.
I've got him back now I'm back from Scotland and decided to take his mirror out straight away, he came out for a fly and ate Miller from my hand. So looked ok as far as we'd got taming wise. But he's not quite there, today started running from my finger when trying to step up and giving the odd little squawk.

[Billy's Dad]

I know it may be difficult,but i don't think moving him from one home to another so often is helping.He needs to settle somewhere and feel secure otherwise taming is always  going to be more fraught.

[shep0479]

Yeah it just happened to be a busy month. It should be far more stable now.

[mintysowner]

I agree.. sounds like he is maybe getting confused which won't help in getting him settled and into a routine. Also my budgie Minty was obsessed with his mirror, but he was ten years old and got very depressed when I removed it, but because Billie is still little it was a wise move to remove it now. Is he left at home alone all day on his own?

[Hezz]

Persevere, I say. You both want to be able to share Billie and being comfortable in two houses shouldn't be a problem, as long as you both stick to the same rules and way of teaching him. It may take a little longer, but there is no reason why it can't work.