Budgie Refuses to get on my hand

[jojo1]

Hi. I'm a first-time budgie owner. I have had my budgie (Chandler) for 2 months now. I'm going to fill you in on everything. We have bonded, he doesn't seem to be afraid of me. When I sit by his cage, he comes down and sees me. He will get right next to my face. He will eat out of my hand. He will even jump on a perch I'm holding and let me move him around. He gets super excited whenever I grab one of his toys or even put my hand in the cage. However, he refuses to get on my finger/hand/palm/fingers. I have had him on me a total of probably 4x while out of the cage. That was only because I put my finger under his toes and pushed up. And now that his flight wings have grown back and he knows he can fly, he won't stay there anymore.
Here is what I think may be the problem. First, I let him chew on my nail once or twice. I think that makes him think my hand is a fun toy. Second, he had started beaking my fingers. I dont think he is biting because he does it when we are playing and he is hyper. Even tho it doesn't hurt, I may have accidentally reinforced it by pulling away because he scared me. I dont know why I keep jerking away. I'll have it in my head that I'm going to blow.on him if he starts to bite, but as soon as he does I completely forget about blowing and jerk away again. Also, if he doesnt go after my hand like it's a toy and I do manage to get my finger on his belly (which I used to do all the time before he started beaking me) and I lightly push, he refuses to step up. I start light and gently push above his feet and nothing. Then I push a little harder and he will practically let me push him off the perch..lol. So, what do I do?

[Hezz]

Budgies are not great hand-lovers at the best of times and they really need to learn to trust you. If you have ever tried to catch him or contain him in any way then he is more likely to be wary of being on your hands. Some budgies will go onto an arm but not a hand - you could try that.

What I would do, though, is use the perch and gradually move your hand down the perch over time so that your hand is becoming closer and closer until eventually you are laying your forefinger along the end of the perch where he is stepping up. This usually works, and as you have only had him for two months I would be confident that he will get to sitting on your finger sometime in the near future. Also, rather than pushing on his feet, push his chest, just in front of his legs. He will either overbalance or step onto your finger.

[jojo1]

Thanks for responding so quickly! I have not ever tried to catch him or trap him so I dont think I ever scared him. I will attempt the perch strategy. I have tried pushing on his belly a lot. He will just look at my finger and practically let me push him off the perch..lol. I told my husband I think he is broken because everything I read says just push on their belly above their feet and they will hop right onto your finger. Yeah, mine refused.
One more quick question....when he bites (or beaks) it is always when he is playing and he does it really slowly and then just starts to do it harder each time. Do you think he is just testing it out? Maybe he is just playing? He isn't scared or mad at the time. And how can I get him to stop? It doesn't really hurt, but it startles me every time.

[Hezz]

Most budgies will step up almost all the time, but I do have one who will sometimes not co-operate. He will sit low down onto his perch and resist all attempts to be moved. Sometimes I almost have to pull him off the perch, then he grips as tightly as possible I feel as though I'm going to get a budgie in my hand and his legs will still be gripped to the perch!! Little monkey!

With the nibbling when playing, since he is not hurting, really try to dial down your response. All he is doing is checking you out - let him. If he does nip but looks like it was a mistake, take it as such. If he nips and flies away, more likely he meant it. If he is playing and gradually getting harder with the nips, just give him a brush off with your finger, thumb etc and tell him don't, no or whatever you are happy to use. By brush off I mean flip your hand etc so that he has to stop to keep his balance, it only has to be slight, you don't have to tip him off your hand completely. That comes when/if he starts biting for real and knows he shouldn't!

[suesbird]

We've all been there, Pip took 2 years to come on my hand, only for a few seconds and that was it. When Jo passed away 6 weeks ago, he wouldn't get off my hand, now we have Misty he is back to not coming on my hand for long. I give up with him, he has his own mind and what will be will be. As for Misty whom we have had for 6 weeks, there is not a cat in hells chance of him coming on my hand or even on a perch.

You will get there as I am sure I will too. Perseverance and a lot of patience on my part. But I will win!!!

Hello from me and my uncooperative two, Pip and Misty, they also go by other names, not to be mentioned here!!!

[jojo1]

Thanks to both of you! I have a renewed sense of hope. I will just continue to be patient. And I'm sorry about your bird's passing, suesbird ☹

[suesbird]

Thank you, she was called Jo Jo

[jojo1]

My friends call me jojo. My name is Joanne.

He just got on my arm and shoulder!!!!! Yay!!!!!
I swear it's like he trusts my face, if that makes sense at all. If he got startled on my shoulder, he moved closer to my head.

[helenmat]

It sounds to me as though he just needs time and a lot of your patience. Keep going and try and interact with him as much as possible. He will get there in the end. I started picking my boy Eric up with my little finger and gently stroking him with thumb. When you put your finger to his belly say “step up” or “up” he will soon learn the command. Now when I say step up, Eric lifts one foot even if my finger isn’t quite there yet! 😀