Unsteady finger

[OP]

As I have gotten older I am unable to hold my hand plus finger steady like I used to. Would a budgie pick up on this shaking and think it was an insecure perch? I know they perch on some branches that wobble and spring up & down, but my shaking finger is like I was nervous. That is not the case, I'm just getting a bit older.
Thank you.

[nat]

I'm not sure, but I guess it might be like a branch trembling in the wind I'm sure your bud will get used to it though. Mine land on all sorts of precarious items such as picture frames that suddenly drop sideways and still seem unpreturbed after its happened once or twice

[starrymist]

With my medical condition sometimes I have muscle spasms & my arms/ legs/ fingers 'jerk' unexpectedly (which regularly takes me by surprise never mind the budgie!). My old bird Misty was used to it & unless it was particularly bad & prolonged, other than a startle & glare, he coped fine even when on my finger. My hand & fingers have twitched when Brodie's been sat on my finger & he's been ok, a little surprised but ok. I think they get used to things quite quickly & as you say in the wild, branches move. Does Joey have a swing? That would help him get used to the swaying Brodie has a swing but has only sat on it for the briefest of moments.

[OP]

Oh I have twitches occasionally, I've thrown the computer mouse on the floor before now. Thankfully it is very rare I'm that bad. I just wondered if he might be able to feel my shaking transmitted through the perch or something.
Yes he does have a swing which he only uses to make a quick transition from one perch to another. He never just sits on it.

[stace]

This may not answer your question, but with the neighbour's untame bird I'm looking after, I've had to keep my hand in the cage with a piece of millet for quite a long time before he felt okay to approach. So long that my arm was starting to ache and shake. I found I had to rest my arm/wrist on a perch to be able to hold it in there for long enough.

[Hezz]

I don't think it will be a problem, oldpecker as they pick up on the senses you are giving out - the vibes, if you like. You are not giving out nervous vibes, so there is nothing there for him to pick up on. Stay cool, calm and collected, he'll be okay; just don't get frustrated with him. They seem to pick this one up quickly.

[starrymist]

I place a folded up face cloth in the doorway of the cage & lie my arm on that, it means I can hold it there for longer with less discomfort plus it minimises small shakes (but not the twitches). Brodie was very unsure about it's presence to start with but he's fine with it now.

[OP]

Erm! understood you the first time
Yes that is a good idea which I will try. As it is I have made a little perch to go across the door opening. I sliced it in half so that it sits flat on the framework bit is round on the top. I'll let you know how that works out.

[starrymist]

Oops, sorry! It kept coming up as not working, my signal is dodgy today so I tried again (& again!)

[samwiseg]

That's funny as when I first owned a budgie I wondered if she would sense about my illness and therefore avoid me (you know how sometimes animals know if you are sick)?

Turned out she was fine, in fact she would want to nest near my ear most of the time so she either didn't pick up on it or just blatantly ignored it

Am sure you will get on fine Oldpecker, they get used to you and love you just the same

[OP]

I'll try not to worry about that then, Tank you all.
It's just that I thought if someone put a stick out for me to stand on and it was shaking I would think twice about climbing on it.

[Hezz]

Yeah, but you're not a budgie!