Howdy, a quick question, I might be trying to gain the impossible.

 

I own three Budgies, in general i'll have two in a large flight in a main room, and one singled out for 'retraining' in my Study where I spend most my time.

 

I say 'retrain' because at one stage, each of these birds were as tame as they could be. Wouldn't move when hands come to them, first stages of talking, bonded with me. However when I got a second bird ( and tamed it mind you before introducing ) they still went untame, I assume because they go back to their natural instincts when with their own kind.

 

So what i've been trying to do is routinely move one bird into the Study for retraining for three months, get them back to the tame stage they should be, move them back into the main flight and take out a different bird to retrain. It just seems like a fortnight later, they're back to their old wild selves. It's upsetting.

 

Is it just a fact that you can't keep a flock tame? Or do some of you out there have every bird in your flock bonded to you?

 

Thanks,

Rob

I have 2 budgies at the moment. I've had Scooter for 8 months. He's very tame and very bonded to me. About 2 weeks ago, I bought a second budgie because I thought it was only right that I get him a friend. She is completely handtame, although she doesn't completely trust me yet, so she only comes to me when she wants to.

 

My biggest fear about getting a second budgie was that I would lose the bond I have with Scooter because he wouldn't need me as his flockmate anymore. So far, I've seen no change in the bond I have with Scooter. He loves Bella too, but he still loves to interact with me as well.

 

I know there are members here that have had success keeping more than one bird tame, while others have not. I honestly think it depends on the bird. I'm not sure if Bella will ever be tame like Scooter. She might never be, but I'm okay with it because she's tame enough where I can handle her and she provides companionship for Scooter when I'm not around. I have noticed that she does whatever Scooter does. If he comes to me, then she will follow.

 

I think constant interaction is essential. Work with all of them every day. Retraining one at a time and working with it individually is a good idea, but how much attention are you giving the other two? To keep a level of tameness, I think it's important to interact with a bird a couple hours every day. Budgies tend to follow each other. It's monkey see, monkey do. If you are successful at getting one somewhat tame, the others may slowly follow suit.

Edited April 11, 200718 yr by luvnscooter

I have eight budgies 5 adults and 3 baby's 5 and a half weekss old, I have got 2 adults hand tame one of 3 years and one of 2 months caring for them,I have managed to tame one of the babies too.

 

For me it came down to luck and dedication.

I have two budgies and two tiels, each is very bonded to me and also bonded to the flock. They'll all come to me for some cuddles at some stage in the day. I spend hours with them each day, perhaps that's why i've remained a member of the flock.

I have five budgies, all different ages from 6 months to 5 years old, and they're all very different in terms of how much they want to play or interact with me.

 

I've found that the more time I spend with all of them as a flock, the better they all are, but I tend to do the same as you and 'retrain' them individually from time to time. Its definitely worse after I've been away but they tend to get used to me within a week after I'm home again.

 

I've been lucky lately in that instead of my more tame budgies getting flighty and nervous when they're all back together, the older, more reluctant birds have taken their cue from the tame ones. I was so excited to have the oldest one finally sit on my hand for the first time last week. Its taken a while to move from hand feeding to that, but it was worth the wait (even though I had huge bite marks where she made sure it was a safe spot to sit!).

 

I think time and patience is the key. I'm sure if I could keep my babies in my office at work with me I'd have a much closer relationship with them all. There's just not enough hours in the day

 

Good luck with taming your flock

I found Bea's statement to be the best advice you can give "I spend hours with them each day, perhaps that's why i've remained a member of the flock"

 

They key is to remain the member of the flock and the only way is with a lot of time. Remember they are not considered domestic animals like cats and dogs they are still "wild" and to be part of this type of structure you need to be one of them.