I've had Scooter for a week and a half now. He's starting to act funny about getting on my finger. He was just getting on as soon as I asked him to, but now I have to be very persistant with him. He'll just keep climbing the cage walls and eventually give in and get on. Once he's out of the cage he's fine, but he wasn't doing that last week. Is it normal for him to be acting like this? Am I doing something wrong? I'm still working with him every day, but he just started doing this yesterday. What could be the problem?

Sometimes after a budgie settles in and gets braver, it starts avoiding you more. For some reason, Scooter's decided that either he's afraid of your hand or it just isn't worthwhile to get on it.

 

Make sure you're moving slowly but not in a nervous way, they pick up on our nervousness. If he's treat motivated (and you'll soon find out) offering some millet from your hand is a good way to go. Some budgies aren't into treats from the hand though.

 

Is he flighted or clipped?

He likes millet, but he won't eat it from my hand. I've bought some other treats though that I'm gonna try. He doesn't seem to be afraid of my hand. I think it's what you said. He doesn think it's worthwhile. Sometimes he'll get on, other times I really have to be persistant. I'll try moving more slowly with him. And he's flighted. I have no problems getting him to go back in his cage. If he's on his playground, he'll get on my finger to get back in. And I'll use his perch if he's up to high to reach.