Hi guys, this is my first time posting here. Before getting a budgie I was avidly reading this forum for tips, much to the amusement of my BF.

 

Now I need some help with my first budgie (my BF's 7th!) who is especially unlike any budgie that has been described to me. I've read and googled articles on passive, extremely shy budgies but there aren't many because it seems to be an uncommon behavioural trait. In short, he is exhibiting "neophema behaviour" (more on that later.)

 

Anyway, on to the facts:

We got Django about 4 weeks ago when he was 10 weeks old, from a bird breeder here in Sydney. He likes to perch all day long on the same branch in his cage, preening frequently and chirping only to birds outside. The most animated I've seen him is when he calls to the other birds. He does not like his toys, neither is he active within the cage where there are about 5 different branches to jump to and from.

 

I don't think that he was hand-reared as the BF's mum (who bought him for us) said he had been in an aviary with 20 other budgies when she picked him, sitting quietly away from the ruckus. The breeder also breeds lots of other birds and parrots so I assumed he didn't have time to hand-rear?

 

His cage is in the living room where the BF and I work on our computers frequently and chat to each other. We stop by his cage several times a day to talk to him, and sometimes show and offer our hands very gently to him. He responds to "Up!" but will fly to the top of the bookcase as soon as the hand that he is on leaves the cage. We've built a little bird house with a perch balanced off our bookcase (not exactly on top) where he likes to sit all day long.

 

I would say that he is 'sort of' bonded, knows how to jump onto a hand, etc. However his trust in his human friends is extremely low. He isn't curious about us at all and is extremely introverted -- a friend who has Bourke's parrots remarked that he is more like a neophema than a budgie. He's not talkative and likes to stay within the cage. He also has reservations about hands and refuses to be hand-fed -- he hops to the top branch as soon as hands get too close.

 

On rare occasions he has allowed us to stroke the back of his neck -- he evidently enjoys it, but his fear overtakes all pleasure he derives from our company. On a good day, he'd perch on the BF's hand for more than five minutes, sit near but not too close to us on the bed and listen to our banter. The next day he'll go back to his old, fearful self.

 

Solutions:

- I've ordered a small bird's preening toy which will be less intimidating than the chew toy that is currently in his cage. Hopefully he will catch on to its function and fall in love with it.

- I know it's only been 4 weeks, and he was a bit older than we'd have liked when we first got him. Perhaps that is why the training process is painfully slow. We have been showing him our hands in the cage at least once a day.

- We have brought him out of his cage every day for at least an hour every day. There are improvements, but he still heads for the top of the bookcase as soon as he is brought out.

- Starting this week we're leaving a radio playing softly in the background while we are gone to uni in the day, hopefully he will feel less lonely.

- We are thinking about getting a companion but are afraid that a normal, playful budgie will bully him to bits. We have been advised to get a Bourke's parrot instead as they often serve as surrogate parents and are about the same size, not to mention they have exactly the same temperament as the one Django is exhibiting now. However, a playful budgie that is a little younger may encourage him and teach him how to be a real bird (I say this because I know real birds don't perch on the same spot all day long when they are this young!)

 

Sorry for the long post, I've tried to be as detailed as I can. I think it's a matter of time before he warms up, but I wouldn't want to be too sure. Thanks in advance!

 

Jaz

Hi Jaz :bow: I just want to say :doh: and we have people on here who would be able to help you with behavioural things. Hope you enjoy your time here :sad:

there is a thread on her about clicker training... maybe give that a go...

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....licker+Training

 

S for the birds behavior I'm not really sure what to put it down too... I suppose as long as the bird is healthy that's the main thing. Best of luck with the training. And Welcome to the forum!

 

P.S. Don't worry my wife thinks I'm nuts too.. :doh:

Sounds like things are going just fine. He is a cracker of a bird and you will see more and more personality as time goes on. Is the b.f. a guitarist? Sounds like it from the name. Try singing to him[the bird that is], they love it.

Thanks for the welcome

 

Jimmy: we're glad he's healthy and eating well (bit of seed, bit of carrots), and that's most important. I'd like to start clicker training soon, but Django's quite resistant to hand-feeding at the moment, I'll get some millet spray and see how he reacts

 

Richo: Yes, the BF is a guitarist and named him because his tail feather fell off as soon as he came to live with us -- kind of like Django Reinhardt whose hand was disfigured. Glad to hear you think things are going fine. Maybe we are a bit too paranoid.

 

One more question: should the companion budgie be of the same personality type as Django, or should we get a rowdier, more enthusiastic budgie to encourage him to open up?

My main worry is Django being bullied if the other bird gets too aggressive. We're probably going to wait a few more weeks to see what happens, and get another budgie. We're not too fussed about absolutely hand taming the two, would rather have two happy birds who love each other than just one lonely bird.

Anyway, on to the facts:

We got Django about 4 weeks ago when he was 10 weeks old, from a bird breeder here in Sydney. He likes to perch all day long on the same branch in his cage, preening frequently and chirping only to birds outside. The most animated I've seen him is when he calls to the other birds. He does not like his toys, neither is he active within the cage where there are about 5 different branches to jump to and from. I don't believe this is uncommon for a single bird. Pretty was very unanimated, he never played with toys, he sat in one spot a lot and he was very quiet. It doesn't that he doesn't like his toys he probably just doesn't know what to do with them. As you bond with him he will trust you more and you can play with the toys and peck at them with your fingers and he will start to mimic your actions.

 

I don't think that he was hand-reared as the BF's mum (who bought him for us) said he had been in an aviary with 20 other budgies when she picked him, sitting quietly away from the ruckus. The breeder also breeds lots of other birds and parrots so I assumed he didn't have time to hand-rear? To be honest with you most budgies are not reared by hand most are reared by parent which is better but most budgies are not handled by breeders either so you will find that you will not finded them tamed like the larger birds. If you find a breeder that breeds budgie sometimes you can request them to handle them and get them used to humans and there is usually an extra cost for that.

 

His cage is in the living room where the BF and I work on our computers frequently and chat to each other. We stop by his cage several times a day to talk to him, and sometimes show and offer our hands very gently to him. He responds to "Up!" but will fly to the top of the bookcase as soon as the hand that he is on leaves the cage. We've built a little bird house with a perch balanced off our bookcase (not exactly on top) where he likes to sit all day long. Hands are very scare for birds as they seem them as something that will grab them. In fact, that is what probably caught him at the breeders they don't forget. Have you thought about doing a 1 time wing clip to assist in taming? This is what I did with both my birds and it makes a difference. When they are not tamed and flighted it actually is more stressful for the owner and the bird because they keep flying around. I wrote up an article in the FAQ section here on the site how I tamed Pretty who was a pet store budgie.

 

I would say that he is 'sort of' bonded, knows how to jump onto a hand, etc. However his trust in his human friends is extremely low. He isn't curious about us at all and is extremely introverted -- a friend who has Bourke's parrots remarked that he is more like a neophema than a budgie. He's not talkative and likes to stay within the cage. He also has reservations about hands and refuses to be hand-fed -- he hops to the top branch as soon as hands get too close. 10 wks, which is what 3 months is not a long time in taming years in a budgie considering that they can live to be 12yrs and beyond. Have you offered a millet spray so when he sees your hand he sees it as something positive, other then putting your hand in the cage and talking to him through the cage bars what else have you done in terms of bonding?

 

On rare occasions he has allowed us to stroke the back of his neck -- he evidently enjoys it, but his fear overtakes all pleasure he derives from our company. On a good day, he'd perch on the BF's hand for more than five minutes, sit near but not too close to us on the bed and listen to our banter. The next day he'll go back to his old, fearful self. Honestly, if he is letting you stroke him he is scared stiff? Why did you think he likes it? Birds are not dogs they don't like to be stroked , when they trust you enough they may allow you to scratch under and around their neck but not stroking.

 

Solutions:

- I've ordered a small bird's preening toy which will be less intimidating than the chew toy that is currently in his cage. Hopefully he will catch on to its function and fall in love with it. I would take his toys out of his cage during outside time and play with them by pushing them around and such with your hand. Try the small plastic balls with bells in them I haven't found a bird not to like them within a week or 2, that was Pretty's favorite and only toy that he played with.

- I know it's only been 4 weeks, and he was a bit older than we'd have liked when we first got him. Perhaps that is why the training process is painfully slow. We have been showing him our hands in the cage at least once a day. Like I said above hands are scare for birds for them they only see grabbing, showing your hands will not help him realize that they are good. If he likes millet work with this and feed him through the cage birds, don't put your hands in the cage at all? Do you make him come out of the cage or does he come on out his own?

- We have brought him out of his cage every day for at least an hour every day. There are improvements, but he still heads for the top of the bookcase as soon as he is brought out. Do you force him out or does he come out on his own? I do suggest a 1 x wing clip you will see faster results in taming and you won't have him out of reach. Also how does he get back in his cage? Do you have to chase him or does he go back in himself?

- Starting this week we're leaving a radio playing softly in the background while we are gone to uni in the day, hopefully he will feel less lonely. Excellent, that is what I do with Merlin.

 

- We are thinking about getting a companion but are afraid that a normal, playful budgie will bully him to bits. Your budgie is normal he is not abnormal, I believe people have been giving you some advice that is not completely true. My Pretty was so quiet and he was very normal, every budgie has a different personality. If you get another budgie you will have 2 budgies that are untamed at this point.

 

We have been advised to get a Bourke's parrot instead as they often serve as surrogate parents and are about the same size, not to mention they have exactly the same temperament as the one Django is exhibiting now. However, a playful budgie that is a little younger may encourage him and teach him how to be a real bird (I say this because I know real birds don't perch on the same spot all day long when they are this young!) Budgie should only be housed with other budgies not different species.

 

Sorry for the long post, I've tried to be as detailed as I can. I think it's a matter of time before he warms up, but I wouldn't want to be too sure. Thanks in advance!

 

Jaz

I agree with everything Elly said.

Your budgie is completely normal.

One thing I would like to say is that you should get him used to your hand and tame enough to sit on it before you let him out of the cage. And you should only take him out of the cage on your hand rather than opening the door and letting him go out himself. That way they know that they have to use your hand/you to get out of the cage and play. Otherwise they are getting to have fun with out having to face your scary hand.

When I get a new budgie I don't let them out of the cage until they are completely used to my hand. This also makes it less scary for them when you have to put them back. So for me that can be up to 2 to 5 weeks before I let them out.

I think I had Arkady out of the cage after I had had him for 2 weeks.

My general rule is to leave them completely alone, only changing food and water for the first 3 days and then in the 4th day I will put my hand in the cage and try to feed them millet, then repeat on the 5th day. On the 6th day I try to get them to step up. I do this for 2 days. Then when I feel they are ready I will get them to step up onto my hand and move my hand around with them on it. Once I feel they can do this successfully I take them out of the cage perched on my finger.

I haven't had to do this for a while as I have handled all my other birds from hatching. Emmett I didn't really bother so much with as it doesn't bother me that he is a little flighty (because all my other birds are pretty much tame) but he still has to come out of the cage on my hand. If he flies out of the door without me letting him, he gets caught almost immediately and placed back in the cage for a 1 minute timeout before I let him come out again. This is because it is potentially dangerous for budgies to fly out of the cage door when you are not expecting it. Like when you are changing food or water and have a door open or a window open or you are caught by surprise by a flatmate etc.

Have you thought about doing a 1 time wing clip to assist in taming? This is what I did with both my birds and it makes a difference.

 

--His wings were clipped 4 weeks ago and it definitely makes a difference. They're growing out a bit now.

 

10 wks, which is what 3 months is not a long time in taming years in a budgie considering that they can live to be 12yrs and beyond. Have you offered a millet spray so when he sees your hand he sees it as something positive, other then putting your hand in the cage and talking to him through the cage bars what else have you done in terms of bonding?

 

--I'm not the main trainer, the BF is as he is much calmer than I am. He invites Django to sit on his hand outside the cage every day and talks softly to him for about 10 minutes. I will be getting millet spray this week in the hopes that he will see it as a positive sign, like you said.

 

Honestly, if he is letting you stroke him he is scared stiff? Why did you think he likes it? Birds are not dogs they don't like to be stroked :celebrate:, when they trust you enough they may allow you to scratch under and around their neck but not stroking.

 

--I meant 'scratch' but wrote 'stroke', we definitely don't stroke him from the back of the head down, just very gentle scratching at the base of his neck. I *think* he enjoys it because his eyes close and his body relaxes and hunches forward slightly.

 

I would take his toys out of his cage during outside time and play with them by pushing them around and such with your hand. Try the small plastic balls with bells in them I haven't found a bird not to like them within a week or 2, that was Pretty's favorite and only toy that he played with.

 

--We've perched him on top of the cage and pushed the balls around ... should do that more often then!

 

Do you force him out or does he come out on his own? I do suggest a 1 x wing clip you will see faster results in taming and you won't have him out of reach. Also how does he get back in his cage? Do you have to chase him or does he go back in himself?

 

--The BF offers his finger, Django hops on, then flies off. The cage door is closed for about 10 minutes while BF talks to him gently (after retrieving Django to pop him back on the finger). He is then guided to the small perch off the bookcase where he likes to observe us, stays there for about half an hour. The cage door has been reopened at this time so he flies back whenever he likes.

 

I believe people have been giving you some advice that is not completely true.

 

--Now I believe that, as well!

 

Thank you so much for the detailed advice, Elly. It really helps.

 

Sailorwolf, he is quite used to sitting on the BF's hand, and he never flies out of the cage on his own so that's no problem. The cage is shut whenever we're not home to prevent accidents, too. Thanks for reaffirming that Django is a-okay!

 

I'll probably post an update later on to give you guys an idea how things are.

Edited March 24, 200916 yr by sootie

Have you thought about doing a 1 time wing clip to assist in taming? This is what I did with both my birds and it makes a difference.

 

--His wings were clipped 4 weeks ago and it definitely makes a difference. They're growing out a bit now. If that is the case I would consider doing another wing clip until he is a bit tamer. Teaching them tricks helps get them to bond to you. Like step-up, using your fingers as ladders to help teach this etc....

 

10 wks, which is what 3 months is not a long time in taming years in a budgie considering that they can live to be 12yrs and beyond. Have you offered a millet spray so when he sees your hand he sees it as something positive, other then putting your hand in the cage and talking to him through the cage bars what else have you done in terms of bonding?

 

--I'm not the main trainer, the BF is as he is much calmer than I am. He invites Django to sit on his hand outside the cage every day and talks softly to him for about 10 minutes. I will be getting millet spray this week in the hopes that he will see it as a positive sign, like you said. First put the spray in the cage it may take him a few days to eat it if he hasn't seen it before. You can also sprinkle some of it on his food. Do you feed veggies? If not there is a great section in our FAQ on why and how to get started on doing that. If you do you can even finger feed him bits of spinach, kale, green leaf lettuce (no iceburg or celery), grated carrots etc... Just like dogs when you feed them and it helps the bonding it does the same with birds. If they trust you they bond with you.

 

Honestly, if he is letting you stroke him he is scared stiff? Why did you think he likes it? Birds are not dogs they don't like to be stroked , when they trust you enough they may allow you to scratch under and around their neck but not stroking.

 

--I meant 'scratch' but wrote 'stroke', we definitely don't stroke him from the back of the head down, just very gentle scratching at the base of his neck. I *think* he enjoys it because his eyes close and his body relaxes and hunches forward slightly. I agree then , enjoy it because some birds get older and refuse the scratching down the road.

 

I would take his toys out of his cage during outside time and play with them by pushing them around and such with your hand. Try the small plastic balls with bells in them I haven't found a bird not to like them within a week or 2, that was Pretty's favorite and only toy that he played with.

 

--We've perched him on top of the cage and pushed the balls around ... should do that more often then! Yep, you can peck at them too like another bird would too.

 

Do you force him out or does he come out on his own? I do suggest a 1 x wing clip you will see faster results in taming and you won't have him out of reach. Also how does he get back in his cage? Do you have to chase him or does he go back in himself?

 

--The BF offers his finger, Django hops on, then flies off. The cage door is closed for about 10 minutes while BF talks to him gently (after retrieving Django to pop him back on the finger). He is then guided to the small perch off the bookcase where he likes to observe us, stays there for about half an hour. The cage door has been reopened at this time so he flies back whenever he likes. Everytime BF or you offer your finger use food with it you will find he will start to jump on your finger because he will anticipate good things .

 

I believe people have been giving you some advice that is not completely true.

 

--Now I believe that, as well!

 

Thank you so much for the detailed advice, Elly. It really helps. Not a problem, please check out my detailed article in the FAQ on how I trained Pretty and Merlin. Pretty was a single bird for almost a year and sounds very much like your budgie but once you hit milestones you will see his personality flourish. Pretty was very quiet his first 6 months.

 

Sailorwolf, he is quite used to sitting on the BF's hand, and he never flies out of the cage on his own so that's no problem. The cage is shut whenever we're not home to prevent accidents, too. Thanks for reaffirming that Django is a-okay!

 

I'll probably post an update later on to give you guys an idea how things are. That would be wonderful.

I agree with everything Elly said.

Your budgie is completely normal.

One thing I would like to say is that you should get him used to your hand and tame enough to sit on it before you let him out of the cage. And you should only take him out of the cage on your hand rather than opening the door and letting him go out himself. That way they know that they have to use your hand/you to get out of the cage and play. Otherwise they are getting to have fun with out having to face your scary hand.

When I get a new budgie I don't let them out of the cage until they are completely used to my hand. This also makes it less scary for them when you have to put them back. So for me that can be up to 2 to 5 weeks before I let them out.

I think I had Arkady out of the cage after I had had him for 2 weeks.

My general rule is to leave them completely alone, only changing food and water for the first 3 days and then in the 4th day I will put my hand in the cage and try to feed them millet, then repeat on the 5th day. On the 6th day I try to get them to step up. I do this for 2 days. Then when I feel they are ready I will get them to step up onto my hand and move my hand around with them on it. Once I feel they can do this successfully I take them out of the cage perched on my finger.

I haven't had to do this for a while as I have handled all my other birds from hatching. Emmett I didn't really bother so much with as it doesn't bother me that he is a little flighty (because all my other birds are pretty much tame) but he still has to come out of the cage on my hand. If he flies out of the door without me letting him, he gets caught almost immediately and placed back in the cage for a 1 minute timeout before I let him come out again. This is because it is potentially dangerous for budgies to fly out of the cage door when you are not expecting it. Like when you are changing food or water and have a door open or a window open or you are caught by surprise by a flatmate etc.

 

 

You SWWolf, are a hard taskmaster.

Edited March 24, 200916 yr by Elly

Haha.

Hi everyone, just a short update and some pictures. (Is it okay to post pictures here or should I do it in in the Pictures forum? Just continuing the thread about Django...)

 

We have millet spray! The stubborn boy, however, only eats it when it's been put in the cage. He's still not big on finger feeding. After about 4 weeks of consistent carrots, cucumber and a wee bit of spinach placed in his cage daily, he's begun (I hope) to nibble at his greens a little. I caught him once with an orangey face from rummaging around with the chopped carrot.

 

He's learnt that flying to the top of the bookcase is unsafe -- we've put lots of unstable little cartons that don't hold his weight, so he flies straight to the play perch instead.

 

Hand taming... still a little sporadic. He doesn't eat millet from our hands even if it's obviously a yummy treat. We will just have to persevere! One good sign is that he's begun to trust the BF more -- he's very flighty when I take him out but trusts the BF by staying in one place longer.

 

Toys: I do daily 'lessons' where he gets put on top of the cage and I show him the lattice balls and the small preening toy by using one finger to peck at them and roll them about. On a good day he enthusiastically pecks once or twice at the toys when I offer them to him. I feel that he's still quite undecided about us, but he will just have to learn to warm up.

 

 

 

Is it okay to post pictures here or should I do it in in the Pictures forum? Just continuing the thread about Django...

 

Post as many pictures of your birds as you like

Hi Folks I have only now registered on the site and have had budgies on and off for a long time.

 

I have had a male budgie for about 12 months and being a little older and aviary bred I decided to get a hen to keep him company with a view to breeding a young un to train.

 

The hen was a pretty white and blue young bird and after a week she was looking healthy and I put her in the cage with the cock.

About 6 months ago.

 

He seemed very domineering and she seemed to become very submissive and sat with her head to one side.

 

She seemed to be getting weaker and I removed her from the large cage.

She was sitting on the cage floor all the time so I put a 2 inch round branch for her to perch on.

 

She is eating and drinking okay but sits with her head nearly upside down and can't fly very well when I get her out of the cage.

Her head will turn up the right way and she is constantly rubbing her head on the perch.

 

I initially thought she was just very submissive but then thought she may have had a stroke.

 

Any one have any ideas.

 

PHIL

Hi everyone, just a short update and some pictures. (Is it okay to post pictures here or should I do it in in the Pictures forum? Just continuing the thread about Django...)

 

We have millet spray! The stubborn boy, however, only eats it when it's been put in the cage. He's still not big on finger feeding. After about 4 weeks of consistent carrots, cucumber and a wee bit of spinach placed in his cage daily, he's begun (I hope) to nibble at his greens a little. I caught him once with an orangey face from rummaging around with the chopped carrot.

 

He's learnt that flying to the top of the bookcase is unsafe -- we've put lots of unstable little cartons that don't hold his weight, so he flies straight to the play perch instead.

 

Hand taming... still a little sporadic. He doesn't eat millet from our hands even if it's obviously a yummy treat. We will just have to persevere! One good sign is that he's begun to trust the BF more -- he's very flighty when I take him out but trusts the BF by staying in one place longer.

 

Toys: I do daily 'lessons' where he gets put on top of the cage and I show him the lattice balls and the small preening toy by using one finger to peck at them and roll them about. On a good day he enthusiastically pecks once or twice at the toys when I offer them to him. I feel that he's still quite undecided about us, but he will just have to learn to warm up.

 

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful bird! Sounds like he's coming along well. Shelfie was a bit like that when I got her. She never played. I gave her 3 months and made very little progress. I got her a friend and she was a new bird. It took her 3 months to eat from my hand. The new bird ate from my hand in 2 days. Anyway they are very happy. I continued to work with them both. They are as tame as the want to be. Sometimes they hop on me and nibble away. They all step up when pressed. But they have a merry old time by themselves.

What a beautiful bird! Sounds like he's coming along well. Shelfie was a bit like that when I got her. She never played. I gave her 3 months and made very little progress. I got her a friend and she was a new bird. It took her 3 months to eat from my hand. The new bird ate from my hand in 2 days. Anyway they are very happy. I continued to work with them both. They are as tame as the want to be. Sometimes they hop on me and nibble away. They all step up when pressed. But they have a merry old time by themselves.

 

Thanks summer :rofl: We're thinking of getting Django a friend sometime in August/September, we want to wait it out and see how he goes with the bonding. I must say that I'm looking forward to see what happens between two budgie friends!

 

5 month update:

 

We have a greedy Django on our hands now: he hops on a finger and is offered millet spray, which he takes a moment to consider, then hooks his beak in with yummy crunchy sounds. He can't be stopped unless the millet is taken away. He's still a little wary of us, usually flying around the room in a loop immediately after being withdrawn from the cage.

 

Some days he gets extremely flighty and just wants to be left alone. He's easily freaked, and one night he was feeling particularly spooked and flew and flew, until he skidded to a halt on the floor and scraped the tip of his beak, which seems to be okay now.

 

One night last week he began chattering in budgie tongues along to the sounds of heavy gunfire on the BF's computer game. ( :mallet: boys and their WWII-based strategy games) I love the sound of budgie chatter! He seems to adore the low rhythmic tones.

 

Unfortunately we live in an apartment close to heavy train traffic (freight and passenger) -- we were initially worried that he'd get scared of the LOUD rumbling 24/7 but he seems to have taken everything in his stride and even chirps hello when a train zooms past outside.