Taming incredibly fearful budgies. I'm afraid it's too late!

[bergeree1989]

Hi everyone, I got my first budgie this year and within a month I got another. They are incredibly bonded and I have them in a large indoor aviary that I built. However, I have never been able to tame them. The first one I got was in a single bird cage for a while before I finished the aviary and he never responded to being trained. The second one had the same issue and flopped around the cage so much when I came near, I thought he was going to injure himself so I stopped. I have to admit, I didn't really try THAT hard because I was afraid of them injuring themselves. But now it's getting to be an issue and I want to be able to handle them so that they can come out of the aviary for exercise and so I can take them to the vet.
I unfortunately had to use a minnow net a few times to catch them after they got out and now I'm afraid they are so traumatized that I will never be able to bond with them.

Do you think that it's too late? Whenever I try the gradual desensitization they don't really respond and I can see that they are breathing very heavy if I put my hand near them. I can get somewhat close but never close enough to touch.
They do not respond to treats either. I had been able to get them to eat millet off the stalk from me but they're not really excited about it.
The good news is that I can walk up to their aviary and talk to them, whistle with them, and make sounds and they're ok.

What I thought about doing was actually putting them back in single cages or two bird flight cage instead of the aviary to make it a little easier to attempt taming again. Would it be wise to separate super bonded birds?

Does anyone have any advice for me or have dealt with a similar situation?

(If the photo works, the green is Jedi and the white is Apollo)

[jellybean]

Hope some of the more experienced members are able to help you with this one.

[OP]

If either one of your buds is more forward coming then the other then work on that one. The other one may or may not follow. But what I have found in a flock of four, all pre-owned except one, is that one of my buds secretly and quietly passes on information to the other three. Whenever I am talking to one at close quarters this one particular bud is never far away. Likewise when I am taking them out of the cage this one bud has to be first. If one of the others is reluctant to come out, Whiskers, is there giving very faint chirps, like he is saying 'come out it's alright'. So if you can gain a bit more trust with just one, the more forward one, then maybe you can approach the second one. As you already seem to know, take it very easy and slowly. It is going to take time, lots of it I think.

[samwiseg]

Hi and welcome bergeree1989

It is never too late to start training budgies!

In my limited experience, we had older birds from an aviary setting and although it took a while longer than perhaps training a younger bird it was still achieved.

You usually find with pairs that one is bolder than the other. As OP said if you can get one interested then the other will want to follow.

I would advise to start a routine that they can get used to of you going in greeting them the same way at the same time of day (like the morning) and try with the millet. They may not be excited about it now as they still need to trust you, but keep persevering even if you dont make progress straight away.

One day, they may surprise you! Just keep it the same every day and hopefully one day one will just HAVE to get close to you for a millet taste.

You might also wish to consider making it a smaller piece of millet as size has a lot to do with intimidation at first. The smaller the millet piece, the more confident they might be about trying some.

I hope it works for you! It took me some time with mine but we got there eventually:



Let us know how you get on

[bergeree1989]

Thank you so much guys! I will try all the tips! I'll let you know what kind of progress we have!

[bergeree1989]

Update: So far, I can get them to eat from the millet stalk while I hold it. I've been able to lightly graze their feet with my hand but if I do it too long we have a fiasco. They don't flinch as much and they dont take off when I open the door. I've been giving them millet this way every day.
So that's where we are right now. Thanks for helping guys!

[Hezz]

Good work. Slowly is the only way to go, rushing gets no results. It sounds like they are starting to warm to your presence, so keep doing what you are doing.

[bergeree1989]

Thank you guys so so much! One more update...Apollo, my white sat on my finger tonight for about ten minutes...until my arm fell asleep. I was reaching in their aviary and while he was munching I maneuvered my hand so he'd have to step on or over to reach the millet and he stepped on and stood there! I'm so excited!

[samwiseg]

This is FANTASTIC news! Well done to you and keep up the good work, things are certainly heading in the right direction!

Looking forward to more updates too!

[ninz1]

Aww this makes me smile! Well done bergeree1989 for preservering with the training. It's hard work and once the budgie shows a tiny bit of interest, it makes all past attempts so worth it!

[bergeree1989]

A bit of an update. It seems like they have regressed significantly.They are still really fearful and will take millet if I have it out in my hand (holding on the stem) but wont step onto my hand for it. If I get any closer they will side step or jump away. I had a few instances where they opened their mouths and snapped at me. Is there anything else I can be doing? I'm still doing the same thing every day. That is holding out the millet for them. I tried to put a bit in my hand and hold it out palm up but they scattered and freaked out.

[sandyxrs]

Just keep doing what Your doing. It may seem awful to You.
But stick with it. It takes time bit by bit.
Just try touching the foot here and there.
Remember to blink and talk calmly to them.
You will get there.

[jujubiiird]

Try to be still, and be calm. Dont fear them. Dont chase around the cage. Just leave your hand in one place and let them come to you. They can sense when you get uneasy or scared, also when you get aggravated. If you start to feel uneasy or unhappy, leave the room until you are calm and try again.

My Juju had started to become aggressive when we introduced him to his mate, Piña. He would lunge at me and bite, or get on my hand and bite the fire out of my thumb or the skin between my fingers. After 3 weeks he has stopped biting because I give him his space and allow him to come to me when HE wants to.. (he used to sit with me for 30 minutes at a time just grooming me, now he doesnt and Im OK with that.) We still do finger training and I get him to do small tricks with food...but I had to learn to control my emotions. It was my fault he was responding to me harshly, because I was so used to how he 'was' that I didnt see how he 'is' now.

I hope this helps you somehow.I know yours have not been tamed yet, but take it slow.

I have had his mate Piña 3 months now and she hardly wants to get on my hand for treats, and rarely does. She will sometimes chirp at me and sit on the side of the cage next to me...but mostly she is afraid.

Remember that 'taming' your budgie will be a lifetime process because you will have to interact with them constantly to keep them tame, dont rush things as you have many years tp gain their trust in some way or another.

[bergeree1989]

Thanks everyone. I haven't given up yet. Their aviary is in the dining room so they get to see me a lot and I go and talk to them tons during the day. I've been able to touch their feet on occasion while giving them treats but nothing to radical yet.

[mickeyjo]

Hello I"m not sure if I should ask my question under this one or start my own topic. I have 2 parakeets. One I got in October last year. "Joey" I finally had him getting on my finger and would bring him out of the cage and then he flew around room. But always sat in one spot in his cage not playing not doing anything. So I got another mail "Mr. Blue" in February. After quarantine time was up I put them together. Joey became so much happier, still don't play but does talk up a storm to his mirror girl friend. They each had to have there own mirror. Now the problem. Joey will no longer get on my finger. No the minute I open the aviary put my finger to Joey's belly he flies past my head and Blue follows. I have even put my body in front of the door. Joey finds a tiny little spot beside my head to fly out. HOW do I get him on my finger again. I was progressing and now have gone way backwards. Blue will get on a stick for a few minutes then fly away. I do more chasing with stick. Meaning put it over to him, he flys the opposite direction. Or jumps on then flies off. HELP please.