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Post by Hezz on Sept 7, 2013 1:24:54 GMT
If you are interested, this is a stickie put up by one of our members with some fair experience in bird training. I found, without knowingly following this, that we had similar methods of training. But of course it is up to the owner to decide how to proceed with their own birds ..... they are all such little individuals, after all. budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/1668/budgie-taming-training-walkthrough
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Post by ffiscool on Sept 7, 2013 1:37:42 GMT
Brill link/reading.
Any ideas on how I get Bailey from the stick he now steps on to, to my finger?
Another thing he let me do today was out my little finger through the bars and ruffle his feathers by his beak. I know he isn't afraid of my hands but won't go on them
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Post by Hezz on Sept 7, 2013 1:55:47 GMT
Day by day shorten the perch with your hand - I mean hold the perch so your hand is getting closer and closer to the end he perches on, bit by bit, until there is basically nothing left of the perch. Lie your index finger along what is left of the perch as you move closer and closer to the end of the perch. You will need to monitor how he is accepting the shorter perch and whether you need to halt your progress up the perch or keep moving it along.
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Post by helenmat on Sept 7, 2013 6:31:51 GMT
Gosh reading these, I feel very lucky, I cant get Pickle off my finger! Cheeky bird makes it sooo difficult to type. Good luck to you all. Its very rewarding when it does happen. Millet was the way for me, and lots of patience.
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Post by nettles on Sept 7, 2013 8:20:43 GMT
She's fine with my hand in the cage though and will quite happily sit beside it, just not step up unless it suits her. Your approach is definitely more suited to Melman. He still panics a bit when I first put my hand in the cage but when I sit there with my hand still he eventually calms down. Usually after I've got pins and needles in my fingers! I use a folded up microfibre cloth, much softer on the arm You have gotten this exactly right, in my opinion, Nettles. I never, ever meant for you to torment the bird by chasing her around the cage with a big scary hand. God, no!!! What I was trying to say, obviously not very well, was .... as Marge is not afraid of your hand and will hop onto it, but straight off, you need to work the next step which is getting her to stay longer, so "step up" as you offer her your finger, and step down as you move her off. It makes her think it is your wish for her to step off, so with a little conditioning along these lines you can get to lengthening the time between step on and step off. I hope this makes more sense. As for Melman, he is still not comfortable with your hand in the cage, so the softly, softly approach is definitely needed there. There is no point trying this with him until he gets over his fear of your hand. He may be one who will only allow you to stick train. I hope not. Oh no Hezz, I knew what you meant!! I wasn't "chasing" her, more like "following" her.. if that makes sense? Once she goes to a different perch, I wait a few seconds then slowly try again. She's not scared in the slightest by this. If she was, I'd stop! I was just worried that she'd "eventually" get frightened. I'd never try this with Melman as I know he's still scared of my hand and if I was to follow him round the cage, he'd be absolutely terrified. With him, I'm still at the stage of holding my hand close to him. I know if i'm too close and he's uncomfortable coz he leans away and eyes up places round the cage that he can escape to. I then move a bit further away until he settles and looks more relaxed.
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Post by nettles on Sept 7, 2013 8:29:40 GMT
That's a fab link! Very interesting Thank u! I'm missing so many great threads as I am usually on here with my phone so can't use the "search" option. I really hope folk don't think I'm being lazy and not bothering to look for things myself..!
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Post by nettles on Sept 7, 2013 8:42:13 GMT
Gosh reading these, I feel very lucky, I cant get Pickle off my finger! Cheeky bird makes it sooo difficult to type. Good luck to you all. Its very rewarding when it does happen. Millet was the way for me, and lots of patience. I know what you mean! I felt very lucky when I was reading about birdies not eating their fruit/veg and the trouble people were having with it. My two loved it and I never had any problems I guess we all have it easy in some ways, and not so much in others! Awww what a clever little birdie pickle is
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Post by Hezz on Sept 7, 2013 10:50:59 GMT
Ah, good! Following is very different to chasing, and yes I do understand where you are coming from, regarding your phone, as sometimes I have to use the tablet which is so much more effort to go from page to page and takes so long to load. And yes, I couldn't agree more: we have it easy or not one way or the other ..... swings and roundabouts. But .... if you do get a chance to look through the forum on your computer, do so ..... especially through the stickies, as there is often good info there that we may forget to pass on simply because no-one has asked a particular question.
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Post by nettles on Sept 7, 2013 12:05:56 GMT
I'll definitely try to get my computer on soon. The normal search function is great on the pc and I can usually find the answers to most of my questions.
I don't know where I'd be without all the help and info from all the lovely people on this forum!
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Post by starrymist on Sept 7, 2013 12:40:15 GMT
Oops sorry I obviously misunderstood where you were at with Marge!
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Post by nettles on Sept 7, 2013 14:57:54 GMT
Oops sorry I obviously misunderstood where you were at with Marge! Awk no, don't be daft! I appreciate your ideas I need all the help I can get!!
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Post by starrymist on Sept 7, 2013 19:08:47 GMT
I thought Hezz was telling me off!
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Post by OP on Sept 7, 2013 19:52:13 GMT
Hezz is far too polite to tell anybody off.
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Post by Hezz on Sept 8, 2013 0:47:50 GMT
Thanks for the vote of confidence, OP. Starrymist, it is not my place to tell anyone off. Just trying to bring you up to date.
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Post by nettles on Sept 8, 2013 1:13:05 GMT
starrymist Aww i agree with OP! Poor Hezz just has to clarify all my gobbledygook posts I don't make myself very clear most of the time lol.
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