Posted August 12, 200816 yr Hi all! Smokey's not the keenest budgie when it comes to handling, but tolerates being picked up enough for me to be satisfied that if I ever had to grab him to get him off to the vet, or tend to him in some way, he's not going to be too emotionally scarred by the experience. He does step up when neccesary, but quite frankly would prefer to have his cage to himself, thank you very much. What we have been working on though, because he doesn't like to be chased around, is getting him to come on command while he's out of his cage. This way I am hoping that if he ever gets himself out of his cage, or whatever, and we don't know where he's got to, we can call him and he'll at least poke his head out from wherever he's lurking. Well, here's a little video of his progress. He got a bit camera shy, and didn't want to jump up onto my hand with the camera pointed right at him from my other hand, but he did put on enough of a show to give you a bit of an idea of what he can do! http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e117/rbr...SmokeyCome2.flv Edited August 12, 200816 yr by CaspersRose
August 12, 200816 yr Author maybe that will work better?... not sure what the prob was... I'm not the most computer savvy chick on earth!
August 12, 200816 yr Oh that was SO clever and cute!!! I squealed in delight and to my amusement so did my parrot haha. I love the end of the clip when Smokey has to run away and get a run up. Thanks for sharing
August 12, 200816 yr OMG OMG OMG! This is what i want Bing to do, may i ask how you taught him how to do it? I can't get him anywhere near my hand i try but it doesn't work, i hold the millet and put it on the ground with him, and he never comes to me, he doesn't establish the voice with the command he just comes when he likes, please let me know your secret... and how long you have been teaching it to him thanks, Andrew Edited August 12, 200816 yr by Andrew
August 12, 200816 yr Author Well, as with all training things, there is a degree of bribery involved! We have been using food rewards more recently, but it was different initially. He wasn't (and really still isn't) all that keen on being out of his cage, and always wanted to go back in when he was out. He can't easily get back to his cage on his own as his wings are clipped so after he'd been out for finger taming, I'd put my hand out, right next to his cage and he'd step up, then I'd put my other hand over him and gently place him in his cage. Consequently he began to associate my open hand with being put back into his cage. After a while, I started saying "come" every time I put him back into his cage so he'd start to connect my open hand with "come". Gradually we started increasing the distance, and encourage him to "come", always at the end of his "outside" time. Now, as you can see, he comes from the other side of the room! He always comes if I'm stitting in front of his cage calling him, but we're still working on getting him to come to us in other places around the living room. That's the next big project!
August 12, 200816 yr lol thankyou for that, i think ill try using Bing's ball as bribery as he likes to follow that around...
August 12, 200816 yr Thanks for sharing. He is very sweet and oh so clever... also, thanks for sharing your secrets
August 13, 200816 yr Author No worries... anyone have any ideas on how to train a budgie to clean up his own poos? My husband gets really thing when Smokey is sitting on his shoulder and poos on his clothes! Hehe... what's he going to be like in a few years when we have kids who poo and puke???
August 13, 200816 yr You can potty train birds from what I understand just like what you do to train him with everything else, I haven't tried it though , or you can put a flight suit on them I am not sure if they make them small enough for budgies though.
August 13, 200816 yr I agree with Elly on both points. With the training, as most of you know, you can tell when they're about to 'drop a gift', so maybe have a tissue or something with you. When they're showing the signs, put it under their bottom, say 'go toilet' and once they're finished praise them with Millet??? As long as what ever you decide to use, use it always. I think as with most training, it would take a long time...but, if they learnt it, hopefully it would be like when you bring the dog inside, you tell them to go toilet, they do, and then they're allowed to come in... sounds good in theory hey?!?! P.S. Let me know if it works... if so I have a spare bed here and you're welcome to stay as long as nessasary to toilet train my two!!! lol