Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 10:06:33 GMT
Managed to fit both hands in the cage. He will step on my finger every time I place it near him, so I'm thinking of starting to teach him 'down' tomorrow so that he'll stay on me, for his own safety as much as anything.
I'm using his out of cage time in the living room to play with him as much as I can between revision. He's too easily distracted in there to teach up.
He'll often let me nuzzle his tummy with my nose, and I think is about as tame as he'll ever be other than working up some extra friendliness. He seems more of a stay near the cage and play with toys a fly occasionally budgie than one who wants to come see us all the time, but that might change over time as he bonds with us further. I love him regardless.
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Post by Hezz on May 23, 2012 0:55:08 GMT
That is all positive stuff, Ira. He is getting there albeit rather slowly. How long are you away for? It shouldn't make too much difference to his stepping up and down, but can you get Grandad to do some with him while you are away? They are pretty clever little guys, he may remember his lessons, but reinforcement at this stage would be really good.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 6:11:49 GMT
From the 12th to the 22nd. I'm sure he'd do a few with Munchy if I asked. And my boyfriend definitely will. Thanks Hezz, I'll keep trying my best with him. He was looking out the window yesterday and I crouched down by the windowsill and began to pop up and say 'boo!'. At first he looked startled but then he came over and peered over the edge to see where I'd gone. He looked so cute The second time he dropped his ball on my head And I took the glass out of his mirror so it's just a hoop. He went through it once yesterday and we clapped and I said 'good boy' and he did it another three times ^^ I think he was hoping for some millet but I had none with me. He also lets me rub his head and cheek with my nose, sometimes. Occasionally I'll try but as soon as I feel a flinch or hear a foot move I stop and pull away so that I don't annoy him.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 10:47:05 GMT
Whoot, he's doing well and waiting to be told to get down. He got bored after the count to ten though and began lunging at my finger whilst standing on it. Luckily it didn't hurt. I should've given him a quick squirt really, but I waggled my other finger at him and told him off before dumping him onto the perch and not giving him a reward. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully the biting will work out of his system eventually.
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Post by Hezz on May 24, 2012 1:48:29 GMT
Usually they do just grow out of the biting stage - cocks, anyway. Hens are a totally different story. So he could well be getting past that age. It sounds as though he is maturing, not only with the biting but taking his lessons on board. Good luck with it all, Ira, keep up the good work. You have found a way that works for the pair of you, that is great!
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2012 9:53:02 GMT
Thanks Hezz! Munchy came to the bathroom with me today and played whilst I was having a quick bath and shower. I kept the water cool and shallow incase he jumped in. We then did some ups in there and he's just done some in my room and has been playing on the table whilst I worked. I've closed off the two dangerous rooms but left the rest of the doors open to allow him to explore. I'm taking a dish of water and a bowl of seed around with me just incase he gets peckish and can't find his cage, though, because I left it where it stays overnight and just took him in the livingroom without it.
Thanks for all your help Hezz. I weighed Munchy this morning but we don't have digital scales, so I can only estimate. He's approximately 40 grams. Is that a good weight for a 6 month old budgie? He keeps getting watery poop but he's been eating a lot of greens recently and they're fine overnight once he hasn't had greens for a few hours. He loves chewing them.
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Post by Hezz on May 25, 2012 1:20:30 GMT
That does sound about right, but a bit hard to say as you guys in UK have a lot of show budgie sized birds. It sounds as though you two have finally made it out the other side of all the biting, lack of progress, lack of bonding etc. It is good too that he is becoming familar with other parts of the house. He will be much more of a companion to you, being able to come and go through-out the house.
If at any time you are concerned about the greens giving him watery poops, the best thing is to stop for a few days and see how they are. From what you have said, they are okay after a few hours, that sounds perfectly normal. It won't hurt him to have a day or two without greens each week, and only have seed.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2012 8:08:45 GMT
Well, I'll hold off giving any today and I'm out tomorrow, so that should be fine. It might be because he's had a lot of millet from taming, but he eats more greens than seed, not something that I'm about to complain about. He chases after you when you're trying to put them in his cage I'm going to start teaching the house layout today, i.e. swinging him gently in a direction and following him as he flies around. Hopefully he'll be a normal cock and grow out of the biting. He bites my finger when he's standing on it for 'down' training and refuses to get off XD Such a rebel! He's been lunging at hands when they're on the other side of the bars today when he's near the bars. Any general age when they fully mature and stop biting? I'm hoping he'll grow out of it by Christmas.
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Post by stace on May 25, 2012 8:22:43 GMT
From memory it is around that six month age when they start to get all bitey. Just keep up with the 'no biting' training, and they do eventually stop. I think I had about two or three months of it.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2012 9:48:08 GMT
Munchy started at the start of his first moult, so it's been about two months already. He doesn't do it as much now, so it should be gone by the time he's 1. Thanks Stace
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Post by Hezz on May 25, 2012 10:41:14 GMT
The first moult can definitely be a trigger, and it would seem he is starting to come out now. I feel it would be different for each bird, cock and hen also havin heir own timetable. If he has started to be less bitey, he will certainly be out of that stage by Xmas. Give him another month or two and I think you will wondering what all the fuss was about.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2012 16:47:18 GMT
Whoot! *Does a celebratory dance* Sometimes I wonder what all the fuss was about already. I think that's because I'm getting lucky and when he does bite it's always somewhere he can't get a good enough grip for it to hurt ^^ When he first started it was always my fingertip that was in the firing line. One day I won't be afraid to reach up to my shoulder anymore! Although to be fair to him he just runs away from my hand now rather than biting it and would just fly off my shoulder.
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2012 18:39:23 GMT
He just lunged at my nose twice so I raised my finger at him both times and said 'No!' and 'Ah ah ah!' and the second time I gave him a bop on the beak with my finger. I expected to get bitten as I bopped by it seems I was too quick for him He hopped backwards in surprise, but hopefully it will discourage him a little. Also, he does a funny thing where he bites his foot. Well, maybe not a proper bite, but he puts his foot on his budgie-on-a-weeble-ball toy thing and then sees it and starts nibbling at it. No idea why ^^ Perhaps he doesn't recognize it as his own foot because he was trying to lift it off with his beak once XD Edit: Munchy has been flying towards me occasionally tonight from his perch on the window when I look at him and we whistle at each other. He tried it and turned back so I raised my arm up and he flew over and landed on my wrist Then he jumped onto my hand. Then he flew back to the window for a few minutes and he just flew back onto my head again. Then he flew around granddad as if wanting to land on him I feel so happy I'm glad his cage isn't in the room. I think it makes him more adventurous And now he's on granddad's head looking like he's trying to make a nest XD Edit edit: He's been flying over to me when I raise my arm Like a trained falcon XD And he'll fly out into the hall and then come back. And he just flew out into the hall and then into the room with his cage and went in to eat. So everything is good!
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Post by Hezz on May 26, 2012 10:17:37 GMT
Finally! You are getting to the place you wanted to be. I have just finished saying to another, my budgies have taught me more about patience than any other person, child or the myriad of other pets I have had since early childhood. I am a better person for having budgies in my life - I am more tolerant of things that before would have sent me ballistic!
Just a bleeding shame for both of you that you are away for 10 days, but this will just be a little test for you both. It will be really good though, if your grandparents and/or boyfriend can continue the training schedule while you are away. I am truely chuffed! ;D
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Apr 29, 2024 14:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2012 20:53:44 GMT
I understand what you mean, Hezz. My grandparents probably won't do step ups although I might be able to ask granddad to do a few. I've been out today, so they brought his cage into the living room tonight, probably because they wouldn't want anything bad to happen whilst I'm not here. My boyfriend will do it though, although I'll have to train him XD Munchy will be in a different house though, so I'll have to make sure he's given time to adjust. I'm glad Munchy doesn't head for high furniture. He won't land on anything I haven't placed him on before, and has turned away from my wardrobe, which he'd landed on twice before, and came back, so hopefully I won't have to worry about shut doors too often. I always check for windows, so I can easily shut the necessary doors. I'll have to move his cage if my grandparents are outside so he can go back for food, or just take food with me, actually. Thanks Hezz You've been a great source of help to me!
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