They don’t want to perch on my finger. Any advice?

[kaylor]

Hello everybody! I have had my two budgies for about 3 months and they still aren’t tame. I have consistently tried to get them to hop on my finger, with millet but they really don’t want to. And that is the next step with their taming. Any advice?

[Hezz]

Do they know that millet is food; do they have access to millet at other times?

If they don't know millet is food, they need to learn that first - hang a part of a spray in the cage and wait for them to discover it. Once they know millet is food, take out the spray and only use it as a treat such as coming onto your hand. If you have done all that and they still won't interact, back off a bit and allow them to take from your hand without stepping on and then make it difficult for them to reach it without stepping on. It will all take time and patience. Don't try to rush them; you can't make someone trust you.

[mona]

Mine didn't recognize millet as food. They were scared, when they saw a small piece of millet for the first time. I had plucked out a few bunches from millet spray and added it to their food bowl. Hung a small piece in their cage too. After a few months, now they recognize it as food.

I tried stepping up thing with my male budgie for some time, but he would give me a warning with his beak (light touch) to show he isn't comfortable yet. He would still put his one feet on my finger, but I realized it wasn't at will. If they are bonded to you, they will not bite but give you multiple warnings.. During the same time, I observed him being a bit distant from me. Otherwise, he is all in always for eating food from my hand. I didn't want him to get an impression that my hand isn't a good place.
So, I backed out and let them be more comfortable with everything.

They used to eat just leafy veggies from my hand..but not from the palm. I got them used to eating from my palm. On occasions, they have perched on my hand to eat food from my palm. My female budgie steps up on my palm to eat food, where as male budgie would just put a finger nail 🙈

I have had better success with other food items they are crazy about. They love coriander leaves, which has worked well for me! Every bird is different..the same tricks might not work with your bird. You need to understand it's likes and dislikes and it's persona, to decide further course of action. That's how I feel 🤗

It will just take time and patience. Please don't rush into it. Let them come to you with happy heart! ❤

[ladybird]

Koylor, how do they react when you just go near the cage? When I first got Charlie I used to just sit by the cage and ( not looking at him) I would read my book quietly outloud, then after a few days I would read but put one hand just resting inside his cage and so on.. Everything you do needs to be very calm and slow and talk gently to them all the time....

[reenie]

My little Kevin will never step up on my finger, but he will on a stick. He'll fly to my finger for millet, but just won't step up on it. He always grabs the stick with his beak first, and as he's rather bitey in general, I'm quite happy to live with the stick, so don't try any more. You could try a small twig?

[kaylor]

Thank you everyone for y’all’s advice!! It is very much appreciated!! Hezz they do know that millet is food, and they LOVE it! I only use it and a treat, and it only comes from my hand.
mona thank you! I won’t rush them.
ladybird when I go next to their cage I am always gentle and slow. I talk to them quite a bit and they love to reply back to me. (They are sooo cute!) I always do my school next to them, and they live in my room so they are very used to seeing me.
reenie thank you! After they gain a bit more confidence I will try a twig!

Unfortunately today somehow the top of their cage was of centered so they could get out. This morning when I retuned to my room both birds were out of the cage climbing and walking around a bit. I had so catch them to put them back into their cage so I don’t think they will trust me for a while.. I did it as gently as possible, not grabbing them or anything. I tried getting on their level so I wouldn’t look like such a threat, and eventually they jumped into the air and they landed in my open hand, then I gently brought them to their cage.

[kaylor]

(By the way they both are acting normal in their cage now. )