Your tips on taming and bonding

[Guest Cheese Specialist]

Hey everyone,

 

I got my first ever budgie a week ago and I am not sure on how to tame him. His wings have not been clipped (I am against that) and from what I have read this make it harder to tame them.

 

His cage is in the living room and so he is getting used to people. His cage is only closed at night so he is free to come out and about at any other time. He is very good at going back to his cage in the evening though and happily chippers to himself for a bit before bed-time.

 

Thing is, he doesn't come anywhere near me really, other than wheh he has landed on the screen of the laptop a couple of times (:(Laughing out loud). I have tried putting my hand in his cage and talking to him and trying to get him to sit on my finger but he just flaps about and flys away.

 

Any help would be great, especially because I want to get him a friend when he is more tame because I tink they are better in pairs/groups.

 

Thanks very much in advance.

 

[Rainbow 0]

I think they are easier to tame with clipped wings, but I know there are reasons why people don't want to. I have mine clipped when they are first brought home, and after they molt and regain flight I don't clip them anymore. But they are tame by then. If you are not going to clip her, she will require more "in cage time" than she has now. She has no incentive to become finger tame because she can come and go as she pleases now, right?

Food is always a great motivator, and just sitting near her cage while she's in it and talking/whistling to her will help get her used to you.

[Guest oscarchik101]

i totally agree, rainbow

[Guest Cheese Specialist]

Hmmm, so not good news then.

 

There's no way I would get his wings clipped and I also don't really agree with keeping him in the cage until he does as I want him to.

 

 

Thanks for replying though

[Guest BudgieBite]

Plus it dangerous to leave them out of the cage when you aren't around !

 

I never got my budgies clipped I kept them in the cage for a few weeks till they were used to it and hand trained them to step up and get used to me. Then let them out to fly whenever me or my boyfriend are there to supervise and they return to cages when they want ! So they get their exercise, are used to me handling them and i know they are safe and will not hurt themselves!

[Guest Cheese Specialist]

Plus it dangerous to leave them out of the cage when you aren't around !

I don't agree. My friend had a budgie that was out all the time and he was totally fine. I have made sure that the flat is okay and he has not had any problems in the weeks that he has been able to come out (and I have been supervising).

[~The Netsta!~ 0]

Hey, it isnt dangerous to let your birds out when your not arround, as long as there isnt any danger of them getting hurt.

[Rainbow 0]

I agree adam, up to a point. There are some things birds will get into that you never saw coming.

 

Cheese Specialist - You are lucky you have never had that sick feeling when you go into the room where your budgie last was and he is not in there and you can't find him anywhere....and you look all through the house and call for him and the goofy bird won't answer...then 30 minutes later he waddles out from under the china cabinet covered in dust bunnies.

There are so many places they can get lost, plus I had a sun conure once who got out of the cage while I wasn't home. I found him covered with black stuff on his face - he had chewed through an electrical cord and gotten quite a shock. I was lucky he wasn't electrocuted.

That's not to say I never leave mine out alone in a different room, because I do leave the room sometimes, but not for very long. I just hate that sick feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you can't find them, and I prefer not to put myself in that situation.

 

You don't have to keep him in the cage all the time. Here's and idea - if you prefer him have the run of the flat, take him to a smaller room like the bathroom, close the door, and work on taming him there. He will be easier to keep control of, and when your session is over, just open the door and let him out.

Edited September 15, 2004 by Rainbow

[Guest Cheese Specialist]

You don't have to keep him in the cage all the time.  Here's and idea -  if you prefer him have the run of the flat, take him to a smaller room like the bathroom, close the door, and work on taming him there. He will be easier to keep control of, and when your session is over, just open the door and let him out.

That's a good idea. So, should I do that before I let him out in the morning? I don't know how to get him out of the cage! I suppose I can try. He's been nearly landing on me a lot and I am sure he's going to soon. I thought that might be a good thing and show that he trusts me.

 

Thanks for your help. I will take on board what you said about safety.

[Guest oscarchik101]

yeah i always use the bathroom for taming - its just the right size.

[Rainbow 0]

Take the cage in there and set it on the floor. Then you can work on getting him to step up in order to take him out of the cage.

[Guest Poppet]

Good points about safety. I have had that fear of coming in the house and not being able to find our budgie. One of our birds used to hide on purpose and I swear he used to peek out of his hiding place and watch us all calling and searching for him. A favourite hiding place used to be behind a picture on the wall that used to stick out a little way. She found a little ledge that she could squeeze into and pop her little head out and let a little 'here I am' chirp when she wanted to be found! If this happens just watch where you put your feet, because some of them (not all) love to walk around on the floor!

 

My biggest fear with a new bird is windows, especially big ones such as patio doors. With a new bird i always insist on sticking some masking tape in a cross shape from corner to corner. May be stupid (and I think the neighbours must have thought we were either mad, or thought World War 3 was about to break out!) but it certainly helps to train the bird that it cannot fly through glass! Taking them up to the glass and gently tapping it with a fingernail (mimicks the sound of their beak if that was tapping on the glass) also helps.

 

Regarding boding and taming, you just have to persevere and gain their trust. When your bird gets a little more used to you go up close to him / her gently talking, and maybe even mimicking some of his noises. When he feels a little more comfortable close your eyes and just stay there. Open them up occasionally, but show him you trust him by shutting your eyes. Hopefully he will start to copy you. You will find after a few minutes of doing this your bird is a lot more relaxed and you can start to build a mutual trust between you. I found doing this on a regular basis, maybe when they are having a little quiet time, very beneficial in forming a relationship.

 

Sounds mad ehh! But I have found this has worked with all our birds. I try to speak in their language as well and have mastered most budgie noises. Whenever I am visiting my parents, elmo pops straight down for a chat and will often sit sit on my finger for up to an hour. We alternate between making silly noises, talking some human words, chirping and whistling tunes and bumping noses to beaks! But it really feels like a proper little conversation, like he is tellng me what he has been up to in my absence!

 

If you persevere you will be rewarded with a very special little friend. Just watch as his / her personality really blossoms.

 

Good Luck with your New Budgie and keep us all posted!

[Guest oscarchik101]

yes i practice making birdy noises, too! everyone thinks im nuts because i often signal that i'm home with a loud chirp. i guess if you could spell it, it would sound like BREEP! (roll the R...) its wonderful when they answer! often i get up to my room (where they are) and they raise their wings. or else they're on the side of the cage near the door!