Jul 22, 2020 4:53:01 GMT
ray123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4
|
Post by ray123 on Jul 22, 2020 4:57:03 GMT
Hi, I got two new budgies today and I put my hand in the cage just a few hours after adopting them and they perched on my finger instantly. I read that it would take weeks for budgies to get used to my hand but these 2 were letting me move them around my room without flying away and I was wondering if this is normal behaviour and if I should give them more space and time to settle down before handling them.
|
|
|
Post by blue48 on Jul 22, 2020 5:59:16 GMT
Hi, congrats on the new budgies. I suppose if they are used to human contact they will not be afraid and see you as a threat. If they are happy with it I would continue to handle them every day to build that confidence along with the other stuff - talking to them etc.
|
|
|
Post by elysianblight on Jul 22, 2020 14:13:22 GMT
Hezz always points out (and I have also learned) that a scared budgie in a new environment will often let you handle it. Doesn't necessarily mean they are comfortable, they just do the "freeze" portion of fight, flight, or freeze.
So just wondering - when you said they perched on your hand immediately, did they come over to you and get on your finger or did you press your finger up against their legs/tummy? If they willingly moved too you, awesome! But if you put your finger against them, they step up on instinct.. so not necessarily a sign of trust. Just something to watch out for.
I did have a hand fed budgie who clearly *wanted* to be on me from day one, if she could see me she would cry for me and climb the cage to get to me, and would only settle if she was sitting somewhere on my body .. but.... it's not "normal" behavior, and she turned out to actually be quite sick and died within a week. I do not know if her affection and her illness were related, though.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 23, 2020 0:50:54 GMT
Two good points been made there - a bird that is used to humans and happy in our company will adapt much more quickly to a change of scene than one who is used to a bird flock for company, and ... that a scared bird will often be compliant for the first few days/weeks until it starts to feel more comfortable in its environment. Then it will often revert to normal behaviour, as in seemingly to regress in the step-up training. I'd love a dollar for every new owner that has asked the question "why does my bird not like me any more/stay with me/step up any more?" after having this totally compliant bird for a couple of weeks. It's simply that the bird has gained its confidence again and is now prepared to do what it wants, not what you want. elysianblight's insight about her sick budgie is also not uncommon. It doesn't happen a lot, but some young budgies do find the stress of a new environment too much and pass away during those first few weeks, even if they were seemingly totally healthy before leaving the breeder.
|
|
Jul 22, 2020 4:53:01 GMT
ray123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 4
|
Post by ray123 on Jul 29, 2020 2:17:11 GMT
So it has been a week now since I got them and I think that they were scared in the beginning before I realized they were but now they will fly towards me and perch on my fingers and shoulder for some millet. They do not need to see the millet to come to me anymore too and will just do it if I raise my finger.
|
|
|
Post by elysianblight on Jul 29, 2020 15:44:53 GMT
That is awesome!
I thought my boys trusted me pretty good but they still frequently give me a side-eye "who do you think you are?" if I try to get them to come to me without a visible treat. -_-
..this might be because I haven't been *entirely* permission based with them.. I try, but first thing in the morning I make them get on a scale whether they really feel like it or not.
|
|
Jul 28, 2020 13:54:42 GMT
theowner
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 28
|
Post by theowner on Jul 29, 2020 15:48:11 GMT
Its been 6 days since I got my budgies. At some point they will let me touch their tummy (pet it not press) but then sometimes they will just move away.
|
|
Jul 28, 2020 13:54:42 GMT
theowner
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 28
|
Post by theowner on Jul 29, 2020 15:48:42 GMT
so do they trust me or are they trying?
|
|
|
Post by elysianblight on Jul 29, 2020 15:51:35 GMT
so do they trust me or are they trying? You might do better to make your own thread.. letting you put your finger near them seems like a good sign. Just don't force it when they move away, and keep making it positive by offering treats from your hand. When they consistently take the treat from you, you can start holding it further back so that they feel they have to step on your hand to reach it.
|
|
Jul 28, 2020 13:54:42 GMT
theowner
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 28
|
Post by theowner on Jul 29, 2020 15:52:40 GMT
K thank you
|
|