[bonzi&goldie]

Hello

first of all, thank you for this website,

I was gifted a budgie a couple months ago and fell in love with it instantly, and after realizing how cheap they are, I couldn't wait to get more and more so that they could acompany one another and become a huge family, etc. I had no idea that I'm suppose to keep one and train/tame the little guy and allow for some time to pass before getting new ones. In fact, prior to getting #2 and #3, when it was just Mooshie and I, she wasn't so bad. She seemingly was less and less afraid of my hand, and would eat from my hand a couple times, and at night when I tell her to go to her cage and point to it, she would put her head down and walk on right into the cage like a good student! but once I got her brothers for her, everything changed. She's a bit larger than they are and I think older by a few months, (the two new ones were so small when I got them) and so she bosses them around on every single occasion. I mean I'm basicly fround upon by her and when I get close she tells them to close their eyes and pretend they're sleeping. they wont eat from my hand, they won't go to the cage when I tell them to. Sometimes one of the new guys would get a little close to me to sit on my hand or eat, but before he gets too close she would scream on him super loud and they back off and basicly this is getting worse it seems. I don't want to get rid of any of them, what can I do?

 

[Bird Junky]

H You have two problems. No 1, is
Adding new birds of either sex into a cage with a resident hen is
something not to be taken lightly.
Hens are often very territorial & have been known to injure or
eventually kill new birds of either sex introduced into their cage
space.
One suggested way round this problem is to place both cages of
old & new birds close together for a few days after the
quarantine period & let the birds get to know each other.
Fly around together several times under supervision, to see how
they get on.
If they seem to get on well you can try them in the one cage,
but prepare for the fact that some may never get on together in
the same cage & should be kept apart..


This should solve your problem. If you move Mooshie into another cage..
B.J's, Taming several nervous/biting birds.
Cover half the cage to make them feel safe & secure but take care
not to stand over them like a predator.
Always use a small piece of millet spray or their favourite food as a
treat during the taming sessions.

I normally tame/train eight birds in a cage at the same time so the
slowest bird learns from their more forward cage mates.
One, two or eight birds, the training method is the same.
Don't let them out of cage, till all are happy to perch on your hand to
eat,
Chasing & catching a bird can ruin any bond already built-up between
you & your birds. Keeping a birds caged for a week will not cause them
any harm, physically or mentally...
Neither would you be teaching the remaining birds anything, while your
playing with one out of the cage.

Start by offering the birds a few pecks of a treat food, through the bars.
If they show any fear or attempt to bite , remove your hand & the treat
for a count of 10. Re-offer the treat & do this as often as it takes.
If they're biters it will show them, it doesn't pay & if they are nervous
it will give them time to settle down & see there's nothing to fear...

Give them treats little & often, so your visits mean nice things to eat.
After a day or so of successful feeding, the birds will be ready for hand
feeding inside the cage.
Hold the treat food on your finger tips palm up, close to the perch so they
can eat. During the next few days, move the treat onto your palm, so they
have to step-up on your hand to reach the treat.

After a day or two of eating from your hand, you can have them step-up
& take them from the cage for a fly round,
Allow your birds to explore their environment, but don't try to push them
into interacting with you.
One lesson at a time, & this step-up, in & out of the cage is enough for
any little bird to learn before moving on to other tricks, games etc.
If your birds want to include you in the exploration then ok,, but
take care not to make any sudden moves that may upset them..

Professional trainers & performers always give a treats to ensure
friendly, happy compliance & as a distraction...
Even if it's only one peck at a millet spray.....B.J.