Next stage of budgie training ..help

[danituveyrobson]

Hi there I wondered if anyone could help I have managed to get my two male budgies to eat from my hand and finger and to step up when I have a treat they don't get on my finger or hand if I don't have a treat ..I let one out the other day by mistake and he kept flying into walls and nearly the window I want to let them out to fly shall I continue with the gaming first and how would I do this ..their cage is big enough for exercise at the moment

[blue48]

How long have you had them? I know you want them to fly out but you need to establish some trust so that you won't have problems getting them back in.

Try getting them to step up on a spare perch or piece of dowel instead of your hands for a start. Try to place a perch outside the cage close to the door and I would advise some perching places round the room so that if they panic they will have some safe places to land, and try to keep the windows covered if you are going to let them out. They don't understand glass and could seriously hurt themselves thinking your window is an open space.

[Hezz]

Before letting a bird out into any room you need to make sure that room is safe for the bird - budgie-proofing your room is a necessity. Having your birds stepping up and down consistently is the first step, then try taking them out in a small room such as bathroom, small bedroom. In the bathroom make sure toilet lid is down and mirrors mostly covered over so that they don't fly straight into them, the same with windows. Let them fly about for a short time and practice putting them back into their cage. Keep your sessions short.

Once they will go back into their cage, either on your finger or using a spare perch, then go back into the room where they will be spending the majority of their time. Again, cover any glass (windows, doors, mirrors) so that they don't think they can fly through, and make sure there is somewhere for them to land. Plug any gaps between walls and any furniture that isn't easy to move where a bud might get itself stuck behind. Have a long perch at hand to retrieve them when they land on the curtain rail top of bookshelf etc because they will find the highest point to perch.

[danituveyrobson]

Thank you I have had them for around 7 weeks I will try this method thank you both for your advice