Help!

[newbird]

I got my daughter a budgie for her birthday, we have had it a few days. The first day was good it would step up no issues. Second day we let it out to fly around. was a little difficult to catch and re cage but not too bad but today and yesterday have been terrible. It does nothing but try and get out of its cage I have been trying to work on getting it used to being a little more handled but if my hand goes in the cage it literally just flies to the door and tries to get out if it can't it will bite me, if you put your hand near its cage it will try bite through the bars. It won't take fruit or anything just its seeds not even the millet treats I have no idea what to do and am trying to find a hand raised one to swap with but in the mean time have this bird that just wants out of the cage or to bite you. What do I do? I have thought about clipping the wings but I want to be able to touch the bird but like it flying around as well but I don't want to spend a half hour - hour chasing it trying to get it into the cage again.

[Hezz]

How old is this budgie, and where did you get it from? A pet shop or a breeder through a known arrangement?

This is a very common cry for help from new budgie owners, particularly those who have purchased through a pet store. On the first few days the poor bird is too scared to resist to what you want to do with it, however it seems your budgie is either not a baby or a very independent and feisty one, for it to have decided to assert its personality so quickly. Does it have bars on its head feathers that go all the way down to its cere, or is the top and forehead of your bird a clean colour?

It sounds like your bird has had no interaction with humans at all, so you are going to have to go very, very slowly to build up any sort of trust with this poor little thing. This means not doing too much inside the cage with it until it is more settled with your company, so talking softly, not looking directly at the bird, don't stare at it but winking, blinking, turning your head away from it, looking only with one eye .... all designed to break up that predator stare of seeing it as your next meal. Once it appears to be accepting your presence more, then you can start trying to offer your hand with millet, but try this from outside the cage firstly, allow the bird to come to you. You are going to have to have patience and be persistent, and interact as often as possible each and every day. You are going to have to earn this bird's trust and that will probably take quite a long time from the sounds of things. It can certainly be done and the rewards will be worth the time taken. Please, whatever you do, do not clip the bird's wings - it will have no reason to trust you if you deprive it of its ability to escape from predators.

[Shirls]

Oh please don't give up newbird. Patience is everything with these little birds. Put yourself in his/her shoes. Taken from it's home and put into a completely new environment, scared of everything - especially that huge hand that tries to attack him!!! They think everything new is going to kill them! Give him time to settle in the cage, take note of the good advice that Hezz has given. Tempt him/her with millet, nearly all budgies will do anything for millet. Break off a little bobble and hold it through the bars of the cage and wait for him/her to come to you. Interact with him/her lots throughout the day, leave the radio on when/if you go out so he/she has company. It is always a good idea to cover the back and sides of the cage with a new bird so it only has one side to look out for 'predators' and for extra security. Wishing you luck and keep us posted.

[jellybean]

Hi newbird, welcome to the forum. Please don't give up, the rewards when a little birds starts to trust you are an absolute joy. Can we see some pictures of him/her.

[newbird]

Hezz we got it from a breeder and were told it was hand tamed. It is only young we were told it hatched mid March.

It won't eat Millet, or fruit or veg just the seed. I have been putting some in there every day to try get it to try some.

[Hezz]

May 5, 2016 6:07:24 GMT newbird said:

Hezz we got it from a breeder and were told it was hand tamed. It is only young we were told it hatched mid March.

It won't eat Millet, or fruit or veg just the seed. I have been putting some in there every day to try get it to try some.

Oops, photo is not showing; try the add image to post button above the font face and size of your reply section.

It sounds like the breeder was telling you porkies, then, if this is supposed to be a tamed bird ..... I am interested in seeing the photo, as I am curious as to whether they were honest about the age as well.

A decent breeder would have had their chicks started on some greens and millet; that's my understanding, anyway. I am sorry that your foray into budgie ownership has not had the best start. Keep offering the veggies, don't worry too much about the fruit at this stage, and things that are as close to grass as possible are the best for getting them started. Seeding grass is their proper food; if you have access to this, that which is clean and green, then offer the little one this, but otherwise things like the Asian greens, broccoli etc generally get the best results. Have a look through this:

Edit: Photo showed up after my post, so ignore anything to do with that. But now I can't get it full-sized as it is saying the web-site is off line.