Taking scared budgies out of their cage?

[ari]

Hi, I'm currently taking care of and trying to bond with two untamed and neglected parakeets, it's going well so far. But I'm having trouble on taking them out of their cage to clean it. I've gotten to a point where I can put my hand in the cage and they'll (well one of them at least) will be relatively calm. But they get extremely scared if I move it towards them. Do you guys have any tips or ideas on taking them out without terrifying them and making them hate my hands? 

Also, they're wings are unclipped so I haven't been able to give them any exercise outside of the cage, they aren't very good flyers and I'm worried they might hurt themselves. Should I clip the wings? And do you have any tips on doing it at home? Any replies will be appreciated.

[display]

I had similar issue with mine when I first got them. I perch them somewhere high. This gaves them sense of security and play budgie music. I would also turn my back on them and check on them regularly while cleaning the cage without any loud noise. Hope this helps

[Hezz]

Please do not clip their wings. You will loose any trust that you may have managed to build so far and it is not going to help your issue. If you aren't prepared to let them out for the time being, why not get them a second cage, can be smaller and then used as a hospital/travel cage later on when necessary. Something that you can line the doors up with the one they have now, let them go into the other cage, clean their residence away from them and then allow them to return home once you have finished.

If their current cage is too small for you to be able to move your hand around inside without them feeling threatened, then consider getting them a larger second cage rather than smaller and allow them the extra space on a permanent basis.

[ari]

Oct 22, 2020 22:26:21 GMT Hezz said:

Please do not clip their wings. You will loose any trust that you may have managed to build so far and it is not going to help your issue. If you aren't prepared to let them out for the time being, why not get them a second cage, can be smaller and then used as a hospital/travel cage later on when necessary. Something that you can line the doors up with the one they have now, let them go into the other cage, clean their residence away from them and then allow them to return home once you have finished.

If their current cage is too small for you to be able to move your hand around inside without them feeling threatened, then consider getting them a larger second cage rather than smaller and allow them the extra space on a permanent basis.

Hi, thanks for the advice. I actually have a smaller cage on hand! Also, the cage they are currently in is large enough for two parakeets. They were just neglected and not properly taken care of, now at 4 years old they see any kind of hand movement as a threat and it doesn't matter how close or far away. I've had some progress with that though, they will perch on my hand inside the cage if I have some seeds on my palm. 

If you have any tips on coaxing them into the smaller cage that would be great! Thanks again.

[Hezz]

Put their food and water, any favourite swings perches, toys etc in the smaller cage, and they may transfer on their own terms. Otherwise if they will step onto a spare perch perhaps this could be your means of transfer, otherwise a gentle shoo from the other side of the cage through the doors will usually work.

[ari]

Thanks! This helped a lot!

[mona]

I had been cleaning cage with my untamed budgies inside the cage. Anything else scared them off. After sometime, they were used to the process. I tried to keep my cleaning pace at the lowest. They would perch on the highest swing they have in the cage, while i cleaned the cage bottom. Accessories, I would take out to clean.

I have used a single phrase when they are scared to calm them down. They associate with it now. I used that with them.

[willowsmum]

Oct 23, 2020 5:15:46 GMT mona said:

I had been cleaning cage with my untamed budgies inside the cage. Anything else scared them off. After sometime, they were used to the process. I tried to keep my cleaning pace at the lowest. They would perch on the highest swing they have in the cage, while i cleaned the cage bottom. Accessories, I would take out to clean.

I have used a single phrase when they are scared to calm them down. They associate with it now. I used that with them.

I didn't realise but I have been doing the same without realising it mona. Whenever there is a loud crash or thud or a door bangs etc it is usually my son, Sam. Now if there's a loud noise Willow tells me "It's OK, it's just Sam" 

[Hezz]

Sam might find he has a lot more to answer for than he thought.

[willowsmum]

Absolutely Hezz, but to be fair it usually is him