Posted May 29, 200718 yr new to the budgie forum. I am a grandmother, living alone and needed a little pal, my kids gratefully gave me a much wanted budgie for mothers day. Huge cage which opens at the top and the front. Problem is.. Max is so frightened of my hand. He is young (we think he's a he) and is just adorable. I love him!! He is happy with me near his cage, doesnt mind my face close but is scared when my hand goes in the cage and he tries to get in the furthest corner of the cage. I have persevered for two weeks, spending lots of time with him and talking to him everytime i walk past. He seems friendly otherwise. Am I being too impatient expecting him to adjust to my hand after two weeks of my tender loving care? ANy hints on how i can get him used to the hand? he sees me put the seed etc in, but keeps an eagle eye on my hand while keeping his distance. I make sure i dont make any sudden movements and talk to him calmly, has no effect. any advice would be appreciated.
May 29, 200718 yr I just created an article for the forum and put it in our FAQ's called Taming Your Budgie go ahead and click on it. I have used my own personal experience with my 2 budgies and how I tamed them. 1 was from a pet store and another from a private home. . I know you will find the answers you need and if you are patient it will work. Also welcome to our forums and always free free to read through the FAQ's about budgie nutrition, behavior and more. If you don't find your answer please ask ask away Edited May 29, 200718 yr by **KAZ**
May 29, 200718 yr Hi Thk, welcome to the BBC forum. Every budgie is different when it comes to hand training and it depends on the age of the budgie and sex too. Some can take a good couple of months. Feathers.
May 29, 200718 yr Author Thank you for the advice. I have checked out the suggested site "Taming your Budgie", how interesting!! I will persevere and take note of the hints. I think there is hope for me as Max does seem interested in me when i put my face close to his cage, he doesnt balk then and even chirps at me sometimes. Just "hand shy". I hadnt thought of tempting him with food.. will try that. He has a millet "bar" hanging in his cage which is almost bare so i will take it out, leave it out for a day or so and then introduce a new one "manually", perhaps only letting him nibble at it while i hold it. Maybe that will encourage him to like (and trust) my hand a little more. Thanks again. I am learning a lot from your article on training. I just created an article for the forum and put it in our FAQ's called Taming Your Budgie go ahead and click on it. I have used my own personal experience with my 2 budgies and how I tamed them. 1 was from a pet store and another from a private home. . I know you will find the answers you need and if you are patient it will work. Also welcome to our forums and always free free to read through the FAQ's about budgie nutrition, behavior and more. If you don't find your answer please ask ask away :sad:
May 29, 200718 yr millet should only be a treat and never just left in a cage (that is old thinking) because it is very fattening and budgies tend to eat that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Doing that they will become nutrient deficient. Only give to them as a treat and from your hand is perfect. I only let Merlin have millet when he is sitting on my hand. For you it could be when he comes to the cage bars, if he does that readily you can start with your hand in the cage first and then slowly over the weeks work on stepping up in the cage .
May 29, 200718 yr Author http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tmkoroi/MaxAv.jpg http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tmkoroi/max2.jpg not sure if this will work. trying to attach photo of max (as per instructions re photobucket). we THINK he is a boy... if the photo comes out.. what do you think? Probably too early to tell? also what age would you gauge him at? he was from a petshop who werent exactly sure how old he was.... Edited May 29, 200718 yr by thk
May 29, 200718 yr :sad: Welcome to the forum, Max is a cutie pied for sure! He looks like a baby but I am hopeless at sexing them, pieds are also quite difficult to determine. Just don't get tense with your training, and slowly and positively go over the repetitive tasks and you shall be rewarded! And your pics are within limits so you can post them as pictures rather than links! Edited May 29, 200718 yr by Phoebe
May 30, 200718 yr Author thanks Phoebe. I'm glad the photo attachments worked, I wasnt sure how to work it. I have also attempted to produce my avatar.. hopefully that will be successful too. I look forward to learning more about my budgie and even if he doesnt "perform" i know he will be good company for me and fun to watch. He loves his ladder and does somersaults through the rungs, i love the way he plays with his toys, even after only two weeks. A great little friend!
May 30, 200718 yr Looks like a female recessive mauve pied I had a male recessive sky blue in my siggy which is Pretty he was a male. Male ceres are very smooth, very pink and usually have small nasal rings if none. Females are more pinkish white with nasal rings which looks like what Max is. She looks to be around 10 weeks but certainly under 3 months as she has not had her first molt because she still has the baby bar liness to the cere. They will start to disappear with her first molt at around 3-4 months. Example of Pretty's Cere Male Recessive Pied
May 30, 200718 yr Author i see, so i take it that the "recessive pied" male's cere does not turn out a deep blue such as other male budgies? I didnt realise they stay a kind of pinky/blue. So "max" may yet be "maxine"... no problem of course. but interesting.
May 30, 200718 yr Some males, such as albinos, lutinos, fallows, and some recessive pieds do not develop a blue cere, instead it remains the pinkish/purple colour they had as a juvenile bird BUT the females will remain like normal females whitish blue or whitish tan and then in breeding condition a dark tan.
May 30, 200718 yr Hi im also new to forums, love owning budgies, they have a great attitude about them and are so smart. Welcome again. Keep perservering with the hand taming. Sharyn
May 30, 200718 yr "Maxine" is a delightful little baby girl budgie, Recessive pied as others have told you too. She is a recessive pied mauve. Good thing she is a baby as your training will be easier for you. A lot of people are sold "babies" to find out later they are adults and the shop has deceived them somewhat. Enjoy your little girl and have a great time here.
May 31, 200718 yr Author Lucky i've been calling "her" Maxie so Maxine will still be recognisable to her!! She's a real little character (arent they all?), so entertaining to watch when she's playing with her toys. She loves somersaulting through the rungs of her ladder and running up and down them. i will persevere with the taming. Story is...I live in a flat and of course "no pets allowed", I pleaded with the owners to please just let me have a little feathered friend to love me when I come home, they said "why not"!! They agree she's beautiful I love her dearly. thank you all for your advice. I am pleased I found your site (googled) and will no doubt keep learning as I go!!
May 31, 200718 yr She is very gorgeous. Keep up with the training and she will be eating out of your hand in no time. Feathers.
