Taming the Munch-ster

[Deleted]

I've decided that, for the duration of the Easter holidays at least, I'm going to try to train Munchy to step up again. He won't be coming out of the cage unless I say he can and I've managed to lure him onto the spare wooden dowel I have so I can take him into another room and put him down somewhere without fighting to get him off of my shoulder.

My granddad's trying to make a stand with a perch on for me because hopefully it'll be easier to use that than trying to get him off my bed ^^; Like I'm trying to at the moment. Sadly I can't put my finger near him yet, so I'm teaching him to step onto the dowel, from which he will usually run up onto my arm if I coax him/let him. On the plus side, he's starting to tap at the toys I placed on the bed with him so maybe he'll learn to play with them

And then, if things go well, maybe I can find some more things to do with him to make him interested in staying around me. I feel bad when he's just stuck sitting on my shoulder, especially as I can't really touch him. I always love those birds that have been touched since they were really young in the nest and seem comfortable being handled. I think if I got Munchy a friend (if I can't tame him properly) I'd want to hunt around to find one like that among any local breeders ^^

[BudgiesBuddy]

Try a perch or a wooden stick first. He would be much more comfortable to step up the perch.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the advice BB That's what I'm using. Granddad's made a wooden perch for him to stand on on a surface somewhere so that it's easier to get him to step up. He's done it a few times today, and luckily when he decides to bite the perch I can't feel it so I don't react XD

[Bird Junky]

Hi Ira. You might find the training of your bird easier if

you go back to basics. Birds learn easier if you start

at the beginning & progress step by step. Not moving

on until each step is 100% to your satisfaction.

You will have the trained budgie you've always wanted.

Yours B.J.

[Deleted]

Yeah, that's what I was going to try, but I can't do anything for step-up training inside his cage because I can't manoeuvre the perch, he can jump away before I can reward him, and he just bites if you try to use a finger. Hopefully he'll grow out of this because he used to just step up without even being touched right before he started moulting and got grumpy.

[Bird Junky]

Hello Ira. The only way your ever going to cure Munchy's

biting habit is to return to feeding through the bars.

He wont grow out of it. I realise your impatient & your

looking for & hoping short cuts will work. but they don't.

A problem will always crop up to bite you in the backside

Yours B.J.

When you have Munchy on a stick, hold it at

an angle of roughly about 45 degrees. As you know

birds like to perch high

[Deleted]

Your training guide says feed through the bars until they're comfortable eating from a finger. He does that. Him eating off of a hand or finger isn't a problem so how am I supposed to know when to move on if he's already comfortable doing it, huh, B.J.?

[BudgiesBuddy]

When he is eating of the hand, slowly move your hand away from him. He should come forward to eat, if not try again. Gradually increase the distance between him and your hand and he will soon start stepping up your hand. Remember it is a process of days and not hours

[Bird Junky]

Hi Ira. I was wandering how your getting on with

Munchies training? Yours. B.J.