A Question about Body Language and Hand Taming

[rosebunting]

Hello! 
I recently acquired a budgie, but I don't really know his background, or much about him (he literally just showed up outside my window). So I've slowing been trying to tame him and get him comfortable with hands. I think he's been making good progress overall, becoming more outgoing and curious each day, but I am wondering about one thing. 

The training sessions take place at least once a day, once we've hung out a little bit and he knows I'm around. Right now, they consist of me putting my hand in the cage with some millet, to try and get him to associate my hand with good things. The first couple of days I did this, he would just try to move on his perch as far away from my hand as possible and then stay still. Now, he flutters around my hand when I put it in the cage, and this is where my question comes in. He seems to almost be hovering over my hand for a moment before moving to another perch or side of the cage. Is this a positive sign? I would guess that this may mean that he is considering the treats on my hand, but I'm not sure.

Also, this is kind of unrelated, but the only thing I've found him to absolutely love is music. Is it a good idea to play music during these training sessions? If so, do you think I should pick one song, or just continue with my playlist on shuffle?

[blue48]

Sounds positive to me rosebunting. He wants to come on your hand but is not 100% sure. My Bertie loves my feet and my face, but my hands are probably not his favourite part of me. I recently had to give him medicine so that didn't help. He will fly across the room and land on his favourite toy, then move onto my hand but that's in his own time. At first I just used to put my hand in his cage and leave it there while either talking to him or totally ignoring him. He can't resist a neck and beak scratch, he loves it and goes all stupid. I think you're doing fine.

I have music or the TV on most of the day. If I go out I leave the radio on. I read that budgies in the wild associate quietness with danger being around, so I'd say yes, have some background music on.

[tweetiepiesmom]

I agree with what blue48 said. It is a good idea to put your hand in the cage several times throughout the day both with and without millet so he'll get used to your hand being there and won't get upset if you have to clean his cage and food and water. Slowly and calmly rest your hand or a finger on a perch near him. If he flies or runs away, that's ok just leave your hand where it was - don't move it towards him because he'll think you are chasing him. After a couple minutes slowly move it out of his cage.

[rosebunting]

Awesome, thank you both. I just wanted to check with someone else who knows budgie behavior better than I do. Since I've never had a budgie before, I want to make sure I'm not misreading his signals