Alfie's progress

[Angelgirl]

Alfie is now happy to hop on and off my hand in the cage whether or not I have any food on it. But it's on his terms. I try saying 'hup' but although sometimes he will jump on, he might also jump across the cage to his swing. He doesn't stay long either depending on what food I have in my hand. If I put my hand up to him he will fly away. He has to come to me.

I want to progress to getting him out the cage for a fly around the flat but I'm scared I won't be able to persuade him to get back into his cage especially if he won't come to me with any regularity.

Any suggestions?

[Deleted]

yes do his first fight at night after its dark...then if you cant get him turn of the light walk over and pick him up he will not fly in the dark ..but dint turn the light off if hes still flying ...wait till he lands some where easy to [pick him up ...
it worked for me many times .. .

[Hezz]

Dimming the lights works as Mick suggested. The other thing to try is use a dowel or rod, stick - anything with a bit of length to it. You will find you will need something like this anyway, because the first few times out, they all like to find the highest place to perch and take in their surroundings. Something about the same thickness as your perches works well, it feels "right". So when they get up on those hard to reach places, use the stick to get them to step up onto and mostly you will find they can be manouvered back into their cage on the end of the stick. You may have to have a few goes, but that is all part of the learning for you both. ;D Until you have established a pattern, leave yourself plenty of time to get the little imp back into the cage, because as soon as you are rushed, as sure as eggs are eggs, that is the time he will decide he is NOT going home!

[Angelgirl]

I may require a ladder as well as unfortunately I live in a flat with very high ceilings!

[Bird Junky]

Hello. Part of your problem is that you kind of started

in the middle. The step-up & return to cage are best

taught as a progressive passage, where each step

leads to the next. You can't get return, till you get

100% step-up. I suggest you read a few posts on

training, ie. Budgie Bonding. Taming & Training etc.

There is quite a choice to choose from. Yours B.J.

[Angelgirl]

BJ I haven't started in the middle as I haven't had him out the cage yet. I don't really want to do that until we have mastered 'step up' but he doesn't seem to be getting it. It maybe that I just need to give him more time and patience I just would like to be able to get him out of his cage so he can have a nice fly around.

[Deleted]

Definitely do it sometime when it's going to get dark out and you have plenty of time. Munchy is always trouble to get back into his cage when I need to run for a bus or something XD Also, when you turn the lights out, make sure you know exactly where Alfie is if you can't see him because I had to do that to take Munchy off my shoulder once, but I was using a cloth, and he'd fly off my shoulder even though it was really dark and I'd have to switch the light back on, wait for him to settle, and try again. Not a great experience for either of us. You might have to reteach 'step up' outside the cage as well. I'm having to with Munchy although sometimes he'll step up off of a perch outside, but he won't off of a flat surface. We're working on it though. Just keep trying and you'll get there eventually. Alfie's a little older, isn't he? He might be more used to just doing his own thing in his own time and will need more time to adjust and learn to do what you ask.

[Hezz]

It would be a terrible thing to think Alfie wasn't going to get to have a fly because step-up hasn't been mastered! If he never mastered stepping up, is he stuck in a cage all his life? I think you are doing the right thing for the well-being of your bird. But seeing as Alfie is an older budgie, it is probably going to take longer for him to conform and want to do as you are asking. I am having a mental block here, AG, how long have you had Alfie and how old is he? Are you able to spend multiple times a day with him teaching him to step-up?

[Angelgirl]

I'm out at work most days but try the step up several times in the evenings. He's just not getting it. I've been away for a week and we're back entirely to square one. I'm tempted to get a second budgie to keep him company as I'm not sure I'm spending enough time with him. Would that be advisable? Will it make him (and his mate) even harder to tame?

[Rachael Kellett]

Jul 1, 2012 15:32:13 GMT Angelgirl said:

I'm out at work most days but try the step up several times in the evenings. He's just not getting it. I've been away for a week and we're back entirely to square one. I'm tempted to get a second budgie to keep him company as I'm not sure I'm spending enough time with him. Would that be advisable? Will it make him (and his mate) even harder to tame?

Getting him a friend will make him happy, because all budgies like to be with their own kind It will make it, not harder, but take longer to tame him and the new budgie however so the choice is yours. Just persevere with him, and he will get there eventually. I do agree with a few other commenters though that even if he isn't stepping up willingly for you, you should still let him out to have a fly around the room. Make sure the room is budgie proof first though, no sharp objects, loose wires, nothing he can fall in or fall behind. I have six budgies that live together and they get time out of the cage everyday despite only two of them stepping up willingly, two that will step up if they have no choice, and two that won't let me handle them at all. They have all got into a routine of coming out by themselves and playing until I tell them its home time. With any bird you need to build up the trust, the rest will follow with patience and time.