Hi all I'm quite new here and I have a big problem with my female budgie Paris. She is extremely shy. Usually Jewel (her boyfriend) would come out of the cage willingly and sit on my shoulder and stuff. He is tame.

 

But today as Jewel was standing on my shoulder Paris flew out of the cage (she never comes out otherwise) probably because she thought I was taking Jewel away (I was only walking to the other side of the room) and I left my cage door open. Now Paris sat on my arm because Jewel was sitting there but once I put Jewel back in the cage Paris won't let me take her back in!!

 

I tried to get her to climb on my hand so I could put her back in but she wouldn't cooperate!! She isn't very smart and couldn't find the opening and kept climbing around the top part of the cage near where Jewel was. I had no choice so mum grabbed her (gently) and put her back in.

 

What should I do?? I know it's bad to grab a budgie but I didn't know what else to do. She would never find the opening to the cage otherwise as she is fixated at Jewel who is standing near the top of the cage on the highest perch. I don't want to leave her in the cage forever!!! How can I tame her???

 

Sorry if it's a bit long but I really need help!! Thanks in advance!

It's great that you have one tame bird, if you can keep working iwth Jewel and is friendly nature to humans it can rub off to the other (like when she willinging sat on your arm) Just use some millet held in your hand in the cage to start with or another treat they LOVE. This will take a bit of time with two birds but it can happen. Don't panic if you need to hold her just make sure you are gentle about it. If she gets out again try to use Jewel as a helper on your hand to get her back on then both in the cage together.

Thanks for the advice. Thank you thank you thank you! I will try to use egg whites to train Paris (they both LOVE egg white). But once I put Jewel in the cage he won't come back out to help me get Paris back in since Paris is flapping around outside distracting him! Does grabbing a bird hurt it physically? I know it scares them but sometimes you have no choice.:ausb:

you can use the egg whites to entince him back in the cage. Usually once one of mine goes in the other one follows. I don't feed them seed out of the cage only their veggies so they go back in for that.

Thanks I will try that but Jewel is much smarter than Paris...he would most likely fight over the egg whites with her (and win). Paris is way too shy and would most likely eat a bit and run away. Tis such a hard job...your birds seem so tame lovey...lucky you!

If you hold a bird properly it doesn't hurt them. You really don't even need to hold them very tight if you use both hands and cup them around your bird. If you can get them used to it, they probably won't put up much of a fuss. I can pick 3 of mine up with no problems, they just look at me like "oh brother, this again???"

 

It sounds like you have both of your birds in the same cage. Have you had them very long? Using food as a motivator is a good idea, until your birds are familiar with step ups. I would practice them inside the cage at first, until they are both used to them. Always end your training sessions with compliance on the part of the bird, and keep sessions positive. At first if you only do a few step ups, give them a treat, and are done with it, that is okay. Just practice them several times per day. It may take some time, depending upon how old they are, but once they will both step up reliably in the cage, then you can practice them out of it. By that time I think you will find it much easier though. Just perservere, and use a treat that they only get during training sessions. If you use something that is a regular part of their diet (at least at first) it defeats the purpose.