First time training - very clever bird!

[toffee]

I think Daley's a really clever bird. This is only his second evening here and he's already learned that "Up you get..." means jump on my finger. I'm trying to do this, praise, and then say "Get down". He hasn't learnt "get down" yet, but I say it at the same time as lowering his tummy onto his perch so he's been doing it. He's also started looking at me and chirping (not shouting) at me when I've left him alone for a bit. I'm alternating at the moment between whistling at him when he chirps, just saying "Hello Daley" or doing a bit more finger training.

Does the chirping at me mean he's bonding with me?

As regards finger training, I guess I just keep doing what I'm doing until he gets it right every time?

He won't take treats or millet off me so I'm just having to praise verbally but I think he's figured out that "Good boy Daley" means he's doing it right.

I'm so surprised and unprepared - I didn't expect him to start getting the hang of it so quickly!! I'm going to buy a new cage tomorrow and I'm going to try and get one with a really big door to make it easier when I try to take him out of the cage on my finger. 

Do they stay on your finger after you take them out until you tell them to get off, or do they just fly away as soon as they're out? How will I know when he's ready for me to take him out of the cage?

[Hezz]

May 23, 2013 21:35:29 GMT toffee said:

I think Daley's a really clever bird. This is only his second evening here and he's already learned that "Up you get..." means jump on my finger. I'm trying to do this, praise, and then say "Get down". He hasn't learnt "get down" yet, but I say it at the same time as lowering his tummy onto his perch so he's been doing it. He's also started looking at me and chirping (not shouting) at me when I've left him alone for a bit. I'm alternating at the moment between whistling at him when he chirps, just saying "Hello Daley" or doing a bit more finger training.

1. Does the chirping at me mean he's bonding with me?

2. As regards finger training, I guess I just keep doing what I'm doing until he gets it right every time?

He won't take treats or millet off me so I'm just having to praise verbally but I think he's figured out that "Good boy Daley" means he's doing it right.

I'm so surprised and unprepared - I didn't expect him to start getting the hang of it so quickly!! I'm going to buy a new cage tomorrow and I'm going to try and get one with a really big door to make it easier when I try to take him out of the cage on my finger. 

3. Do they stay on your finger after you take them out until you tell them to get off, or do they just fly away as soon as they're out? How will I know when he's ready for me to take him out of the cage?

1. Means he is looking for someone to talk to. Bonding takes a while. If he were quarantined from other birds in the house, this is when they would start chirping back and he would realize he isn't the only one.

2. Yep.

2. Taking him out of the cage ......... how will you know? That's up to you. Once he is stepping up every time you can try letting him out. Remember you need to secure the room, cover up windows and doors so they aren't just plain glass that look like the outside is just there. No gaps behind heavy furniture etc. I always suggest using a small room such as a bathroom, small bedroom, and move the bird in there for the first week or so of outings. Make sure there is a place or two for the bird to land. Take the bird out on your hand, more than likely he will fly off immediately. Because you are in a small room you aren't spending all your training time following him around on his crazy circuit trying to get him to step up again. If he perches up high, have a spare perch/ piece of dowelling to use as an extension of your arm to get him back down. Getting him back into the cage can also take a while so don't do training when you are running short of time. You'll stress, the bird will stress and any training progress has just been lost.

And as a word of caution, many new owners get very excited that their new, just been brought home budgie is really quiet and sitting on their hands and allowing the humans to touch them, and then a week later are depressed because the budgie is now rejecting all the things they were putting up with previously. I say putting up with, because this is what is actually happening. Budgie is pretty frightened, taken away from all that is familiar, and doesn't know how to react or what is expected of it. As time goes on and budgie settles in, he starts showing his real personality and feels comfortable enough to do what he wants and not do what you want him to do. Just so you know - forewarned is forearmed, and all that. Hope this helps.

[toffee]

Thanks.