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Post by rose on Jul 25, 2017 14:01:19 GMT
Well, it's been over two weeks now since I've been putting my hand (flat palmed) into Eric's cage as regularly as I can (5-10 minutes or more at a time), to try and get him to understand that I am not totally evil! At first, when he wasn't eating, I would have some seed on my hand - since then I've had a tiny bit of millet held between my fingers (yesterday I took the millet out of the cage, to make it more tempting!). He's still pretty skittish: he tends to jump around from perch to perch at first, though he usually settles after a few moments and will let me hold the millet fairly close to him. He also isn't particularly vocal when I'm around - unless I am wielding my electric toothbrush, he loves the electric toothbrush! He was also quite chatty when a friend came round, as if to say, 'She's all right - she doesn't try and bully me like you do!' Obviously I realise that two-three weeks isn't an enormous amount of time in the greater scheme of things, and I'm prepared to be patient for as long as I can. But I was just wondering whether anyone who's had experience of working with older budgies had any tips, advice, experiences they could share that might help? Or if there are any threads on the forum I might find particularly useful? I'm also wondering whether Eric's likely to be less or more amenable to taming when quarantine is over and he gets to meet The Great Ian. Not that Ian's terribly tame himself, but he will 'step up' to my finger (if he's in the right mood), and when he's still sleepy first thing in the morning, we usually have a little bonding session ...
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Post by Shirls on Jul 25, 2017 14:36:50 GMT
Hi rose. I think you are just being a little bit impatient myself!!! Keep doing what you are doing, it is tiny steps to begin with and sometimes it will be two steps forward and three back! You know what you are doing, so keep up the good work!
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Post by rose on Jul 25, 2017 14:47:32 GMT
Hi rose . I think you are just being a little bit impatient myself!!! Keep doing what you are doing, it is tiny steps to begin with and sometimes it will be two steps forward and three back! You know what you are doing, so keep up the good work! It's good to know that, @spadger! They don't call me 'click-happy' for nothing! It's so long since I've had a budgie to tame - and the Great Ian and Marshie were babies when I had them - that I just didn't seem to have any idea how long it might take for things to "progress" ...
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Post by jellybean on Jul 25, 2017 15:01:02 GMT
Just hang in there rose, im sure it'll all come good.
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Post by rose on Jul 25, 2017 16:00:41 GMT
Thanks, Jellybean - here's hoping!
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Post by Hezz on Jul 25, 2017 19:33:31 GMT
The best tip I can give is to give as many short (5-10 minute) sessions a day as you can manage, and if there is somewhere you need to spend a fair amount of time, that isn't where Ian is, obviously, then take Eric with you, or do those things in the room he is in, say if you needing to use the computer for some time. Just be around him as much as possible. You will probably find yourself talking to him (yourself) if you don't already. Then just take five minutes out of your time to offer treats, and your hand, when he has come and eaten his millet, give him lots of "good boy"'s and get back to work. Being a bit older, he is not going to fall for the bribery quite so easily and it will take him longer to learn to trust. Most importantly: BE PATIENT!!!!
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,994
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 25, 2017 22:30:18 GMT
I can't offer any advice because I have never tried to tame any of my birds. But I'm sure that you are doing fine rose! I just tend to let my budgies get on with their stuff and if they want to come to me then they do (Hector, Blithe, Sky .. sometimes basil or Custard will come over) I can get them in their cages in the evening because we have a well practiced routine. Routine is very important I have found.
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Post by jellybean on Jul 26, 2017 7:09:10 GMT
My two are like yours then Marianne, I tend to just let them get on with it. Don't know if thats a good or a bad thing. But I definitely think routine helps.
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Post by OP on Jul 26, 2017 7:32:46 GMT
Does one want a budgie or a pet budgie? That really is the difference to my way of thinking. If an owner wants the budgie to come an step up on command then that is a pet budgie. However if the budgie wants to come and step up then that is a budgie. They are both tame but one is trained and the other is not. So I will repeat my opening question, does one want a budgie or a pet budgie?
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,994
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 26, 2017 7:39:42 GMT
For a minute there I thought you were offering us a budgie OP!
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Post by OP on Jul 26, 2017 7:44:47 GMT
My brain is not up to speed yet Marianne.
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Post by rose on Jul 26, 2017 9:11:06 GMT
The best tip I can give is to give as many short (5-10 minute) sessions a day as you can manage, and if there is somewhere you need to spend a fair amount of time, that isn't where Ian is, obviously, then take Eric with you, or do those things in the room he is in, say if you needing to use the computer for some time. Just be around him as much as possible. You will probably find yourself talking to him (yourself) if you don't already. Then just take five minutes out of your time to offer treats, and your hand, when he has come and eaten his millet, give him lots of "good boy"'s and get back to work. Being a bit older, he is not going to fall for the bribery quite so easily and it will take him longer to learn to trust. Most importantly: BE PATIENT!!!! Thanks ever so much for your advice, Hezz! It's a shame I have to go to work (though fortunately only 1-2 days a week at the moment as I work from home the rest of the time) as I can only do morning and evening sessions on work days. Being in a one-bedroomed flat, most things (including computing/work) happen in the living room, which is of course Ian's domain, but I'm doing what I can, in terms of eating breakfast and lunch in the bedroom with Eric - and, of course,most importantly, brushing my teeth with him! I also talk to him whenever I can (I am very glad that there's no one around (apart from Ian) to hear as I would definitely get committed! ) Patience will be my key word!
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Post by rose on Jul 26, 2017 9:17:15 GMT
I can't offer any advice because I have never tried to tame any of my birds. But I'm sure that you are doing fine rose ! I just tend to let my budgies get on with their stuff and if they want to come to me then they do (Hector, Blithe, Sky .. sometimes basil or Custard will come over) I can get them in their cages in the evening because we have a well practiced routine. Routine is very important I have found. And many thanks to Marianne for the advice re routine! Getting them back in their cage(s) when necessary is my key aim ... ... connectedly, OP , that's a very valuable distinction! I've always said, when it was Ian and Marshie, that I didn't care about them being tame - I just loved to watch them interact. And that remains the case. So I'm just hoping that Eric will become amenable to going back into his cage when I want him to. (I remember chasing I&M round the room for ages when they were younger, when I had to leave for work!) I don't go away very often, but it would be nice to think that my (new) budgie sitter (who is really a dog walker!) would be able to cope with getting them into their cage for the odd night or two!
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,994
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 30, 2017 8:46:21 GMT
How is Eric doing now Rose? Has he bitten you yet?
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Post by rose on Aug 1, 2017 15:02:54 GMT
Only just seen this, Marianne! Eric is being an absolute acrobat at the moment but so far he's kept his beak closed (apart from when he's sticking his tongue out at me )!
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