I have 2 bugies inside that I am currently trying to tame and having a little success, when out of there cage the boy will step up after realising that he can't get high without the help of my hand and the girl is making progress in that department, the question I want to ask is when they are out of there cage they are reasonably fine not that afraid of me, but when inside there cage if I put my hand in there they are afraid and try to get away whats with that?? the only thing I can think of is when I started the taming thing I was gettin them out of the cage with a face washer over my hand to avoid being bitten hard so I am asuming when I put my hand in there they are not noticing the difference BUT when out of the cage they aren't afraid of my hand like that.

and if I just open the door to let them come out on there own they sit on there perch and look at the door as if to say you have to be kidding!

does anyone have any idea's on how to make them less afraid of my hand in the cage... I would really really love the help please

treats will work wonders, if they like millett this is a great training tool

both of my birds are only allowed to have millet while on my finger

you can hold the millett in the cage and when they come to nibble let them nibble and then put your finger under their chest have them step up while they are eating. It works wonders and if you work with it every day they will eventally come to you with when you are holding the treat further and further when they have to fly to your finger first.

 

But first do the pressing up on the chest with the millett there because they won't hop on until they feel comfortable on your finger in the cage. I had the same problem Pretty runs around like crazy but Merlin doesn't so I worked with Merlin and entinced Pretty. If you can get 1 to act the way you want it too then the other will usually follow suit.

 

The birds watches each other for actions and alerts so when 1 feels comfortable the other one will too.

Hi lovey thanks for the reply, I have tried what you suggested with no success at the moment, the problem is they aren't that interested in the millet or vegies, they are more interested in there seed, which sucks coz I would rather they liked the vegies.

any other idea's?

use the seed as a treat then, I have a little bowl for my birds and when I refill their bowl I always put it by them belly high and take a few nibbles. You can do the same. To get them used to treats leave them in there cage. Millett sprays are big so cut them down so they don't look so scary. Add seed to their veggies they will start to pick out the seed but that is okay they are getting the taste of the veggies too.

I posted a reply in your other topic. Have a look it has some good ideas.

Things haven't been posted here for a while. How are things going with your birds?

 

I've been working on taming my two monsters the past couple of weeks too. THey were pretty skittish and I haven't even let them out of the cage yet because I want to be able to rescue them if need be - they've been rather afraid of us. It sounds like you have it good when they're out of their cage.

 

I've received TONS of great ideas for settling them down and stuff and in following the suggestions, I've been putting my hands in and out of the cage several times a day to move toys around, feed them veggies and do some foraging things too. I also take their food and water dishes out daily to clean and freshen and stuff. When I'm doing all this stuff, I talk to them but otherwise pretty much ignore them. So they've gotten used to my hand coming and going with nothing bad happening to them, and sometimes good things come to them. Tonight I've had a HUGE breakthrough and I really think that if they weren't used to my hand moving around and stuff in there, I don't think it would have happened.

 

Another idea that I have, which I don't know if its very valid or not cuz I'm a new bird person, is I wonder if they're being somewhat territorial? They're fine outside of their house, but don't like it or are afraid when its in their house. One thing that I've been suggested a few times for helping with a number of problems is to move their perches and toys around weekly. I'm not sure if this is good for them cuz its more stimulating to have their environment changed, or if it helps them be more friendly because they're feeling less 'in charge' of their home. Like I said, I'm new at all of this, so I don't know if it really would apply to your situation.

 

I give my birds their veggies in a bowl with a little bit of seed sprinkled on top. And I also don't let them have other seed available when the veggies are there. Then at a different time I have the seed out for them. And yeah, if they pick at the seeds that are on the veggies, they're getting a little bit of taste and hopefully the nutrition from the good stuff. It takes a lot of time for many people to get their budgies to eat veggies.

Hi and thanks armchairangel, these 2 budgies are runner's which means they can't fly due to having pulpitis when they were chicks they never grew in there flight feather's.

I think they are more affraid of my hand because they know they can't get away as easily as a bird that can fly.

that being said they are getting alot better, I no longer have to use the face washer to get them out of the cage providing the cage is on the floor (they are funny little things) if the cage is up where it usually is of the ground and I put my hand in they run like mad, but if I put there cage on the ground and put my hand in, with a little encouragement they will step onto my finger and let me put them on top of the cage but that is where they usually stay unless I go over and they will step up and spend a little time on my hand.

I have slowly started getting them used to my kids as they are pretty used to me so when they are out of there cage I get them to step up to me then get the kids to sit still and get them to step up onto the kids, they are pretty reluctant to do it but they do eventually.

they are very skittish birds but I think that comes from the fact that they can't fly, but I love them all the same

as for the vegies we are having great success with that, they have decided they like them and even fight over them occassionally not very often though as these 2 are the best of friends (probably why there not that interested in me hehe)

anyway I will finish this novel now, thanks for your interest and good luck with your 2 little birdies

It makes a lot of sense that they're scared of you. Kinda funny how they're more comfortable on the ground though. *L* Maybe they think they can run away easier?

 

Hooray for birdies liking their veggies! And good luck getting them to like your kids. It sounds like they're doing great though. Keep it up!

Thanks!! :sad:

What do they usually do when out of the cage? It may help to make sure they have lots of yummy food to forage. You may even find that they'll eventually try new foods better outside of the cage than inside. When mine were babies, I introduced them to new foods on our kitchen table. I covered it with newspaper (to prevent a big mess) and sprinkled pellets and other healthy new foods all over for them to try. They loved it!

 

It's important to make out of cage time worth while. If they know that good food and fun are to be found outside of the cage, they'll be more willing to come out.

 

Sounds like you're doing a great just. Try not to rush it though. Daily interaction is going to make a world over difference over time!

thanks terri, when they are out of the cage they usually just sit on top of it, unless they have jumped of my hand away from the cage then they will walk around the lounge room a little bit until they find the cage again and get on top of it or go back inside, I usually put something on the top for them to eat usually a treat of some kind.

Its hard because they are so skittish I don't want to make them more afraid of me. I would love it if they wanted to spend time with me and had fun out of the cage but like I said they are very skittish probably because they can't fly and they just seem more afraid than anything so if they go back I just leave them there.

is there anything I can do so they would be less afraid of me?

in saying that though they aren't terrified of me because they will step up with a little encouragement but if I put them down near me they just run back to the cage ??