Taming my two budgie

[am99]

So I used to have two budgies and one ofj them was slightly tame, he used to step up on my finger and even sit on my shoulder sometimes but then his friend died and he went completely untame, his new friend and him ( have had them for about an month now) they are not tame at all and have got used to being left out of the cage for most of the day, they go in the cage, when they need food or water, if I don't let them out then they will scream and bang on the cage door lol. So I need help on, how I should start taming them?

[jellybean]

Before you let them out in the morning I would start with their training. Put your hand in the cage with a small piece of millet to let them see your hand is no threat to them. Once they get used to your hand being there they will be tempted by the millet, try then getting them to step up onto your hand. I would do this morning and night on a daily basis.

[am99]

Jul 24, 2016 16:13:25 GMT jellybean said:

Before you let them out in the morning I would start with their training. Put your hand in the cage with a small piece of millet to let them see your hand is no threat to them. Once they get used to your hand being there they will be tempted by the millet, try then getting them to step up onto your hand. I would do this morning and night on a daily basis.

Okay, do you think I shouldn't let them out at all? As soon as I open the door, they will fly out and go sit on the curtains, I wish they just stayed on the top of the cage.

Also is this amount of Millet enough or is it to small for them to notice it

They don't move about that much, when my hand is in ( I have been putting my hand in for 5-10 mins for the past few days) but they haven't yet come to my hand, hopefully with the Millet they will.

[OP]

Are you able to block the exit with your body/arm. What you are aiming for si them to come out on your command if I am right. You have to become the boss. It might hurt a little bit, when they bite, but it will soon stop. (Joke).

[am99]

Jul 24, 2016 17:26:11 GMT OP said:

Are you able to block the exit with your body/arm. What you are aiming for si them to come out on your command if I am right. You have to become the boss. It might hurt a little bit, when they bite, but it will soon stop. (Joke).

Haha I can try blocking it, I will try that tomorrow and they don't bite unless I grab them by force lol

[jellybean]

I'd make the millet a little bigger, just to let them see you holding it between your fingers. With budgies it's patience and perseverance, there are no overnight results, but the rewards are fantastic.
Even when out of the cage during the day, hold out your arm or using a spare perch, still have a little piece of millet and see if they will fly down to receive the treat.

[OP]

If you can, get hold of the little stalk with your thumb and index finger and slowly offer it to just one of the buds, winking and blinking while talking to them. Be prepared to wait a while as the bud may not take to it straight away. Don't chase the bud around the cage. If the first one moves away try it with the next one. If neither of them take to the piece of millet remove your hand and close the door. Try again later. I believe one or the other will have a nibble of the millet. That is the time to let them both out. If neither of them take the millet they stay in the cage. Try again tomorrow. Practice and patience will get what you want. Good luck.

[am99]

Okay, thank you for the advice l, I will try again and post updates

[jellybean]

Good luck am99. Welcome to the forum, would love to see some pictures of your little buds.

[am99]

These are from a few weeks ago,

Am not sure if the blue one (tiki), is a boy or a girl, are you able to tell from the picture? Or should I take an updated one. The yellow one is called Mango.

[jellybean]

I'd say both boys am99. And little beauties they are too.

[OP]

To my inexperienced eyes I would also say boys. They are beautiful. At that age I would say they are prime for training to what ever you want. How much older are they now?

[am99]

Jul 25, 2016 12:34:50 GMT OP said:

To my inexperienced eyes I would also say boys. They are beautiful. At that age I would say they are prime for training to what ever you want. How much older are they now?

Am not to sure about the yellow one but the blue one is about 5 months and yellow is about a month or two older, you think they can still be trained? Enough to not go up on the curtain.

[jellybean]

The younger the better to start the training am99, I think a budgie can be trained no matter what the age, as long as the person doing the training has the patience and the understanding that there will be no overnight success.
As for training them not to go up onto the curtain   if you let them out budgies tend to like to be high up, unless you have other stuff in the room where the birds are for them to land on, perches, swings, boings. I have all this in the room for my birds, but they still like the curtain rail too 

[OP]

They sound a lovely age to train. Personally I don't think you will stop them going to their favourite place, which they have designated to be the curtains. It is natural for budgies to go to the highest place where they feel safe from predators. You will, given time, be able to train them to come to you once you have gained their trust. Gaining their trust is maybe the hardest part. Especially if you just let them out of the cage and not allow them out on your command. It will take work, persistence and patience on your part. It will be worth it in the end and it is wonderful seeing things as they happen. Millet is a great training tool at that age. So use it as a treat only. When they do something you want give them a little bud immediately. Enjoy the experience and good luck. Let us know how yu get on.