Pulling the Wool Over a Bud's Eyes

[Deleted]

Not literally, don't worry

I've mentioned once or twice before that I've managed to start giving Munchy little scratches around the head with the broken off budgie from his old budgie weeble. Today I was doing it to the back of his head and my finger was part way up the toy, so I lifted my finger and started using that to scratch his head instead. He didn't notice at all XD It was soooo cute and he really seemed to be enjoying it. His feathers are so soft. I moved my finger away as soon as he turned his head, though, because I wasn't sure how he'd react, but I'm gradually trying to move my finger further up the toy and maybe eventually he'll accept feather ruffles from my finger, even if I still have to hold the budgie. I guess I'll give it a try sometime on the front of his face when he's in the mood for scratches and see how he reacts I'm a very happy budgie owner right now, especially after I managed to get Munchy to stay and play on my lap for a little while the other day, too.

Okay, well maybe not entirely happy. Some days currently I don't really see Munchy because he's only just waking up as I leave the house and he's gone to bed by the time I return, but that's uni for you. He still gets out of the cage and has nan and granddad around. I wish I'd done better with him as a chick and had more time to spend with him so that he might want to spend time with me more. He might not have, it might just be his personality, but sometimes it just seems like he must be lonely. The top of the mirror seems to be his destination of preference when he comes out of his cage and I'm not sure that even if I had all the time in the world to spend at home that I could make up for the lack of another budgie. It seems too late for that now. I think if I ever had a single budgie in my own house in the future that I wouldn't have any mirrors, unless they were in rooms that he/she did not go in or they were able to be put away. I know people give them mirrors for company but it doesn't seem healthy for them to believe that they have company of their own kind when they don't and to possibly become obsessed with it. However, I don't think I would ever be able to have a single budgie until I retire, not unless there was always someone at home.

Has anyone here managed to successfully have a tame, friendly and loving budgie who was happy as a single bird and still been able to work, or was it just when they were able to spend all day at home?

[Deleted]

dont worry i think your doing great ...
i had several single budgies at home in the past ...
but only one ...
that i bonded with properly...he picked me when i went to buy a budgie ...

i called him george.. .

he went every where in the house with me....

and i mean every where...

i couldnt even have a shower without him on my shoulder ...
so yes he had one every day aswell ....lol...

i used to dry him with the hair dryer on warm ...
he loved it ... ;D.

i loved that budgie so much .. .

this is not him its just a pic i found on google
but he looked very much like this budgie...

[Deleted]

Thanks Mick That makes me feel a lot better ;D I guess a lot of it really depends on how they've been reared, how we treat them, but mostly on the individual bird itself. George sounds like he was a lovely bird!

Oh wow! That's one gorgeous bird! But I bet George was even better

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Nov 16, 2012 21:50:47 GMT Ira said:

Thanks Mick That makes me feel a lot better ;D I guess a lot of it really depends on how they've been reared, how we treat them, but mostly on the individual bird itself. George sounds like he was a lovely bird!

Oh wow! That's one gorgeous bird! But I bet George was even better

yes your right there all individual birds...

and yes i dont think ill ever get another George ...
he was totaly lush.... .


just enjoy your budgie and let him enjoy you .... ..


ps

this is my pride and joy now ...little scamp.. .

i love her to bits... .

[Hezz]

Don't beat yourself up, Ira. I think you have come a long way from the frustrated budgie owner I remember coming on the forum about a year ago. As you mention, Munchy has Gran and Grandad all day, so he isn't on his own. It is a shame you are missing time with him - just make sure you give him heaps of attention when you are able to. Don't waste any of the time you do have with him, or you will regret it one day.

[samwiseg]

Quite right Hezz, he is not on his own.

Its nice that you are able to give Munchy some finger tickles its a wonderful feeling isn't it when they trust you like that? And so you should feel very happy about it! Well done Ira

[Deleted]

Aww, she's cute Mick

Thanks Hezz My grandparents go out most days but they're back by 12 at the latest, usually it's 11, and right now he's not really awake until 8-ish, so he's only alone for four hours at the most. The main thing that makes him seem lonely is when he goes straight to the mirror when he comes out or sits hunched up in the living room next to the window, but usually that's when it's dark and quite quiet, so I'm not too worried.

Eheheh, my boyfriend tried it today, Sam. Munchy started biting at his finger, although I couldn't really tell how hard it was. I managed to do it (using the weeble until I could get the back of his head without him seeing what I was doing). My hand was a bit damp, though, so I couldn't do it very well and I wasn't paying enough attention so I think he caught sight of me. I try to move my finger before he notices. He doesn't like my fingers near him, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him I won't try every time though in case he notices and stops letting me even do it with the weeble.

[Hezz]

I am guessing that over time you will be able to give the weeble the flick and he will be happy with your fingers. He isn't silly, I am sure he will catch on that it is you doing the scratching. He may be playing dumb - thinking "if I pretend I don't know, she won't know that I know it is her scratching me all along, and we can both pretend the other hasn't caught on"!!!

[Deleted]

That's what I'm hoping, Hezz He doesn't seem so eager for scratches today, perhaps that's because he spotted my finger yesterday, perhaps because it's a different weeble to yesterday, or perhaps he's just not itchy enough. He was moulting but it seems to have stopped, so maybe the pin feathers are now nearly gone. I do tend to at least start with the weeble, because he's comfortable with that, but hopefully I'll be able to progress to holding the weeble and then gradually get rid of it. He still doesn't like fingers coming towards him unless they contain a toy or food, though. That's why I don't get bitten and my boyfriend does XD Coz I use bribery or sneakiness.

He just jumped onto my hand to talk to the weeble though, and sat on my finger with one foot tucked into his feathers, looking like a fluffball and grinding his beak happily. Sadly I had to come over to the laptop to do my work, but he came with me and then sat on the laptop for a few minutes. He's back on the windowsill singing happily to himself now, although the feathers below his beak are filthy so I think I'm going to give the windowsill a wash...

But yes, hopefully he knows and he's letting me do it anyway Slowly and surely, but maybe one day he'll fully trust me ;D