Taming an older budgie

[Angelgirl]

Hello,

I've just got my new budgie and looking at the forum I think he's a little older than I first thought.

Any good tips for taming an older budge or should I just follow the steps for chicks but allow him more time?

Axx

[Rachael Kellett]

Firstly welcome to the forum

It does take longer to tame an older budgie but with much perseverance and lots of patience it is possible I would say follow the millet training method and see how it goes. How long have you had your new budgie? It is always a good idea to give them time to settle in as its a big thing for a budgie to be taken to a new place with someone he doesn't know. Make sure you talk to him softly a lot, even sing if you like. My family think I am crazy when I talk to my budgies but it really does help to calm them and get them used to me ;D Also place his cage in a place where you spend the majority of your time so he will get used to you.

Would you be able to post a photo of your budgie? One of our members might be able to give you some idea of his age

[Angelgirl]

This is Alfie

Even if he is older, he's a real cutie.

Ax

Attachments:

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

He is beautiful. Spend as much time as you can with him like Rachael said, and when you can't be there maybe a radio so he hears a lot of human voices and gets accustomed to the sound. The more you are around him he will accept the idea that you are his friend, the person that brings food and that you don't mean any harm. Move slowly inside his cage, talk softly, praise him lots for every bit of progress however small. He will begin to want to please you in return. Best wishes to you both, keep us updated with your progress please!

[Rachael Kellett]

Aww he is gorgeous ;D and yes he is an older budgie.

[Hezz]

May 7, 2012 19:05:17 GMT Angelgirl said:

Hello,

I've just got my new budgie and looking at the forum I think he's a little older than I first thought.

Any good tips for taming an older budge or should I just follow the steps for chicks but allow him more time?

Axx

Pretty much. Depending on how much time you spend with him and how shy he is of humans will help determine how quickly you are able to make progress with him. As he is an only bird, you may be surprised how quckly you two get on, but a lot has to do too with Alfie's personality.

While you are allowing Alfie time to settle and get used to you and your routine is a good time to sit beside his cage and natter on as Rachael and Sarah have said. Once he starts chirping, chirp back, offer him treats and get him eating vegetables as soon as you can. Here is a thread to help with fresh foods:

budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=budgiefeeding&action=display&thread=509

[Angelgirl]

I've had Alfie for a week now and he's taking seeds from my open hand but still isn't interested in stepping up onto it. Is this reasonable progress? I don't want to over do it. He's also a lot quieter than I thought he would be despite leaving the radio or television on for him. Is there anything more I should be doing at this stage?

[Hezz]

It is reasonable progress - any progress is good , but try using a spray of millet instead of loose seed. Hold the millet in your fingers and allow him to have a nibble and gradually either roll your hand so that he has to step onto your hand to reach the millet, or move your hand away so he can't reach it and will need to step onto your hand to get to it. I prefer rolling my hand so they have to stretch to reach, but you haven't made any large movement which can break their concentration.

As for his quietness, he could well be still settling in - some budgies can take up to two weeks to be confortable in their new surroundings and the fact he is a little older, he is probably a little more set in his ways. If you had another budgie he would probably be chirping out to it. You could try one of the budgie sounds/videos on youtube etc, and see how he reacts to hearing other budgie sounds.

[Bird Junky]

Hello Why not try this. Click on bellow.

Yours B.J.

budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=budgietaming&action=display&thread=2867

[Angelgirl]

Hezz I've tried with millet but he's scared of it!! I put a sprig in his cage this morning to try and get him excited by it and show him how tasty it is but he flapped around his cage in a panic and wouldn't go near it. I've left it in while I'm at work but I don't know how to show him it's tasty not scary!

[Hezz]

Oh, dear, poor budgie! It is a bit hard to eat some millet in front of him to show it is edible!! Hopefully you came home to an empty millet stalk after work.

If a whole stalk is too intimidating for him, try pulling off one of the small buds, maybe leave it in his seed dish and see if any disappears. Or put one in your hand with the seed, to allow him to get used to the look of it. Just a thought - have you always offered him the whole sprig of millet, or cut it up into smaller pieces? I can understand a large whole sprig being a bit daunting, so how about try with a smaller piece?