When to start your budgie going on to your hand?

[rebrools]

Hi,
We have had Olly for three days now, when do you advise to start getting him to come on to your hand in the cage? we need all the advice we can get please?

[MattJ]

After 3 days he should be settled in and read to go now
You can tell if he's uncomfortable, by panting and more obviously biting and flapping round the cage - if any of those happen you may need to back off. Panting isn't immediately easy to recognise, often you can tell by the beak slightly open and the chest going up and down.

[Hezz]

Once Olly isn't flapping around madly when you come near the cage - not all do, but some birds do get panicky - and you have been sitting with him quietly talking to him. Try offering him some millet through the bars of the cage first and see if he is keen to come check it out. When you do put your hand into his cage take it very slowly and allow him time to react, so you can tell if he is receptive to you. Again a little millet can entice him towards your hand if he is so inclined. Again talking quietly all the while, and don't stare at him. Sometimes we get so intent on what we are doing, we don't realise we are staring, so blink, blink, blink.

At this stage you really need to let him set the pace, as you are trying to build his trust. Too fast and he will become scared of you. If he has been handled by his breeder, he will be more trusting of you than a bird straight out of an aviary with very little human contact. The two P's - patience and persistance - you may need a lot of both before you start to make progress.

[rebrools]

Yipee....Olly has landed on both mine and my partners hand. He flew back and forth for a good bit before he did, but it felt great when he did, he must be starting to trust us....do we just keep doing this for a bit now ?

[rebrools]

Oh, I meant to ask..Olly seems to fly back and forth towards his millet spray then lands near the top of it and rubs himself on it....any idea why???

[Hezz]

Well, you obviously don't need to worry overly about Olly being scared, so now is the time to start teaching him to step up.

As for rubbing himself on the millet, which part of him is he rubbing on the millet? His face, his belly, his head? If it is his face or head, it's probably just an itch.

[rebrools]

It was his tummy and lower part, but he hasn't done it today

[Hezz]

How old is this bird?

[littlestar]

I think a lot depends on the temperament of the budgie. My new girl budgie was really calm and relaxed and she didn't panic/flutter around once, I had her sitting happily on my hand on day 1. My boy however was a bit more skittish, though with enough patience and time spent being gentle with them, they'll come round.