Eating from hand - what to do next?

[doveviolet]

Hi guys, I adopted my budgie about a month ago, i am her 3rd owner and i am unsure of her age and whether she was handtamed previously (shes quite skittish so im not sure if she was). also should say she is my first bird so im a newbie at all of this

Im at the point where she will eat out of my hand and i can usually coax her to step up, but she will either ignore it or fly to the other side of the cage when i put my hand in without food. Im just wondering if there’s anything i can be doing to get her more comfortable with my hand? I sit with her most of the day and talk to her a lot, ive also been putting my hand in for about 5 min at a time. Id love to get her to the point where she can be out of the cage with me most of the day.

[Hezz]

Offer her food, whatever is her favourite, so that to get her treat she needs to step onto your hand or finger to get it. Lots of praise when she does, allow her to sit and nibble for a short time and then set her back down. Repeat as many times as you feel you can get away with it and subtract one - always end on a positive note. Once she is stepping up consistently, make the reward smaller and smaller, try seeing if she will allow her cheeks to be ruffled instead, use a small room and see if she will sit on your shoulder. If she flies off, collect her on your hand/finger/perch and try again.