First Budgie

5202 Views 44 Replies 9 Participants Last post by NinjaRat, Aug 24, 2017

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · Jul 8, 2017

I got my first bird a couple of days ago and have been trying to train it to step up. Currently he won't run from my hand or nip at it when it's near him. He will allow me to pet any part of his body except his head and and closes his eyes if I stroke his belly repeatedly. I can get him to step up onto a perch by barely tapping his belly. But if I try to do the same thing with my finger he nips when I try to make him step up and continues nipping until I pet him a few times. Any suggestions on how to train him to step up and how to keep him calm after?

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

FaeryBee

· #2 · Jul 8, 2017

Hi! :welcome: to Talk Budgies

Budgies are often submissive for the first few days simply because they are terrified.
At this point, you should not be trying to touch or handle your budgie at all. He needs a minimum of two weeks to settle into his new environment.

You can cover the top and three sides of the cage to help the budgie feel more secure. Playing music for him when you aren't around will be helpful as well. Budgies perceive no noise as meaning there may be danger.

Taming and Bonding is all about helping your budgie learn to trust you and it takes a great deal of time and patience on your part.
You should never grab your budgie or force him to be touched.
To bond with your budgie, you need to build his trust in you.
He will have to learn over time that you will not hurt him, grab him and try to force him to allow you to hold him.

To build your budgie's trust, sit by his cage and read, talk or sing quietly to him for a period of at least 10-15 minutes, 3 or 4 times day. After the 2nd or 3rd day, rest your hand on the outside of the cage when you talk to him so he'll learn that your hand is safe and will not hurt him .

After a week, rest your hand inside the cage when you talk.
Don't make sudden moves, don't try to touch him .
Let his get used to the idea that the hand is now in his safe place and not harming him .

After 2 weeks, begin moving your hand slowly toward your budgie. If he becomes agitated, stop moving your hand and just hold very still until he calms down. When he's comfortable with your hand near him , you can offer him a bit of millet or a few seeds. In a few more days, you can begin your taming and bonding sessions.

Always work at your budgie's pace.
Move slowly and talk reassuringly and calmly whenever you interact with him .

Most budgies once they pass the "baby" stage, do not like to be petted or touched.
If your budgie does like to be petted, you should only ever pet his head, neck or chest area.
Stroking a budgie's back and/or tail stimulates its breeding instinct. Bonding means allowing them to choose to be with you.

Please take the time to read through the Site Guidelines, all of the How To Guides, the FAQs, the Budgie Articles and the stickies located at the top of each section of the forum.

Truly, the very BEST advice anyone can offer you is to take the time to read ALL of the stickies throughout the various Talk Budgie forums as well as the Budgie Articles we have posted.

These are great resources for Talk Budgie members and have a wealth of reliable information which will assist you to learn the best practices in caring for your budgies for their optimal health and well-being.

Site Guidelines
http://talkbudgies.com/general-budgie-talk/333106-posting-forums.html
http://talkbudgies.com/general-budgie-talk/388145-lets-talk-budgies.html
How-To Guides
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
Budgie Articles
http://talkbudgies.com/general-budgie-talk/295001-list-stickies.html
http://talkbudgies.com/general-budgie-talk/295033-prepared-veterinary-care-expense.html
Avian First Aid
Why Quarantine?

http://talkbudgies.com/articles-general-budgie-info/227841-50-common-budgie-dangers-watch-out.html

http://talkbudgies.com/budgie-breeding/327881-heartfelt-plea-forum-members-new-old.html

http://talkbudgies.com/housing-budgies/24411-cage-sizes.html
http://talkbudgies.com/housing-budgies/31719-essentials-great-cage.html
http://talkbudgies.com/general-budgie-talk/339826-resource-directory.html

When you upload pictures as thumbnail attachments directly from your computer, tablet or phone, the forum automatically defaults to landscape.

To upload full-sized pictures with the proper orientation, please use a photo-sharing service such as PhotoBucket and follow the steps in these instructions:
http://talkbudgies.com/how-guides/175818-how-post-pictures-photobucket.html

For gender and/or mutation help - Lighting and Angle DOES matter

By the way, all photos entered in any of our forum contests must be a full-size photo and not a thumbnail attachment so it's good to know how to upload them!

If you have any questions after reading through everything, please be sure to ask!

Glad you decided to join us and looking forward to seeing you around the forums.

:wave:

See less See more

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 8, 2017

Thanks, I didn't realize I was scaring him so bad, One of my friends recently got a budgie and it was eating, drinking, and playing first day and by the second he was perfectly comfortable being handled. I thought it would be the same for mine.

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 8, 2017

Update

I have tried your advice and he seems a little less nervous if I put my hand on the cage he looks at it then goes back to what he is doing is this good?

FaeryBee

· #5 · Jul 8, 2017

NinjaRat said:

I have tried your advice and he seems a little less nervous if I put my hand on the cage he looks at it then goes back to what he is doing is this good?

Click to expand...

Yes, that is very good.
Be sure to talk, read or sing to him in a calm and reassuring voice when you are sitting with him.

StarlingWings

· #6 · Jul 8, 2017

Hi there and :welcome: to the forums!

You've been given great advice by FaeryBee. It's very important to take things slow with your little one to not scare him. All budgies are different, so while some budgies may settle in more easily than others, it's important to always start off very slowly to get to know your little one :thumbsup:

Talking to him and reading to him is a great start, and putting your hand on or near the cage is great, too

Keep up the good work! After a few weeks you can proceed with what FaeryBee has mentioned above.

He sounds like a cutie!

As you begin learning more about budgies, be sure to read through the forum's many Budgie Articles and "stickies" (threads "stuck" to the top of each subform for easy reference) to ensure you're up to date on all the best practices for budgie care!

If you have any questions after reading through everything, be sure to ask as we'd love to help :thumbsup:

Cheers! :wave:

See less See more

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 9, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

He is eating and preening himself which is something he's never done. I've put him next to my bed and whenever I wake up he's as close to me as possible I've also seen him move over to me as far as his cage will allow. He still isn't moving around and drinking as far as I am aware but I think he's making progress. I am expecting him to be ready to start training by Thursday.

Is hand feeding okay. If I have some millet in my palm he will eat it with a bit of fear. Do you think I should continue doing this, I feel it's helping him bond with me.

StarlingWings

· #8 · Jul 9, 2017

Actually, by hand feeding so early, you are not letting him settle in enough. As mentioned above, you need to let him settle in for two whole weeks to ensure that he's adjusted to his new environment before trying to tame him. You can feed him millet through the bars and continue to talk to him, etc. to improve your bond, but do not put your hand in the cage for a while longer.

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 9, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

Ok, Thanks

I have had my budgie for five days now and he will move to his food bowl to eat but he isn't drinking and i'm pretty sure he isn't sleeping either. He doesn't move around the cage at all otherwise. When he was at the pet store he wasn't moving but he was tweeting happily with the others, I'm wondering if he just likes to stay still or if there is something wrong.

I also forgot to mention the perches he is using are wood and the ones he isn't are plastic Does this have something to do with it.

StarlingWings

· #10 · Jul 11, 2017

Five days is still a very short time to have your little one, he is still afraid of his surroundings, which is perfectly normal.

Wood perches probably feel better on his feet-- they are much better for him so as soon as you can, you should replace his perches with all natural wood of varying lengths and diameters (not dowels). This will keep his feet healthy!

He is drinking and sleeping, but both of those things put make budgies vulnerable to predator attack in the wild, so they will only sleep or drink (and often eat) in front of you when they are perfectly comfortable with their environments. This may not happen for another week or two, which is normal

He may not move at all for a few more days, also normal. Give him time to settle in

FaeryBee

· #11 · Jul 11, 2017

Please take the time to read the information in the Budgie Articles and Stickies.

I'm sure you want to learn as much as possible to ensure you give your budgie the best care you can.

The link below gives examples of the types of perches that are best for your budgie:

http://talkbudgies.com/housing-budgies/31719-essentials-great-cage.html

What is your budgie's name?

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 11, 2017

He has just started a new habit he will start tweeting repeatedly until I come to his cage, if I turn to go he starts tweeting again, Do you think he is trying to get attention?

FaeryBee

· #13 · Jul 11, 2017

Yes. If you respond to him each time then you are "training" him to be vocal anytime he wants attention. This can work to your detriment over time.

Have you read all the Budgie Articles and Stickies yet?

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 12, 2017

Thank you for the help

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 13, 2017 (Edited by Moderator)

I am now sitting with my hand in the cage and he is fairly comfortable with this. I will probably start training by the weekend, but he is doing something strange I f I put my body close to the edge of the cage he will try to fly over to me but hits the bar than he fly's back, why is he flying over?

I am trying to post some pictures to figure out his gender and age (I think he is male) but I can't figure it out. Storm is very happy and likes attention he is turning out great!

FaeryBee

· #16 · Jul 13, 2017

I realize you are very young but I know you can figure out the answers to many of the questions you are asking if you simply try.

Why do you think he's flying over next to you?

Have you read and carefully followed the instructions on how to upload pictures?

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 13, 2017

Well he does it when he wants attention or if he is bored maybe he wants to come out of the cage the person at the petstore said he lived in a large room full time before he came there maybe he dislikes being cooped up.

FaeryBee

· #18 · Jul 13, 2017

He flies over to you when you are close to his cage because he wants to be close to you at that time.

NinjaRat

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 27, 2017

MY budgie is doing really well he never bites bu it is a hassle to get him out but if I get him away from his cage he becomes very friendly, he is nervous around others but gets used to them pretty fast. He actually has fallen asleep on my finger so I know he likes me.

FaeryBee

· #20 · Jul 27, 2017

Be sure you work slowly and calmly at his pace.

It's always better if you allow him to come out of his cage on his own rather than "forcing" him to come out.

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.