Considering the recent post on "Show Budgies Behaving Badly", I thought I would ask the question of all the seasoned (and not so seasoned) exhibitors on what they do to train their budgies to sit politely on the perch in their show cage and not grub on the floor, hump the drinker, chew the paper, dig in the seed on the bottom, plaster themselves all over the wire front or any other bad behaviour that budgies in show cages often entertain themselves with.

 

So please feel free to post up your training regime - it might well help (people like me especially, it seems ).

I put my birds in show cages and take them for a drive in the car. They WILL perch and stay there after going around a few corners. I also use ping pong balls in the bottom of training cages.

I start when thye are babies and I they are the best trained than if I start with older birds , this year I ahve been slack so the birds are very well trained so I guess I will get headache on the day of my first showw next month.

 

First I put them in the show cage at about five weeks for about 10 minutes every other day and while they are in the nappy cage I keep doing this but about 3 times a week.

When they go into the aviary I leave them alone until they have completley moulted before catching them up again which is what I am up to now.

My show team are in the baby aviary which is my show aviary this time of the year.

I put them in show cages every second day now unless it is too hot they have the day off.

I have the radio going for extra noise and sometimes I wear glass to spook them. I bring them out onto the veranda so they can see other people, I get everyone to take a close look at them getting them ready for judges and spectators.

I train them with my chop sticks so they go from perch to perch and turn etc.

 

The naughty ones get a cage full of ping pong balls to make them stay on the perch, I have use water in the bottom the show cage and that really did work a treat but wrecked my cage (but it was an old cage and I would do it again if I had too). I tip the cages upside down but I find that doesn't work very well with my birds as they prefer sit on the slant.

I have stuck shiny plastic on the roof so they really slip and they do not like that so they will perch.

 

I have a piece of wood I have forgotten the name of it but judges use it well I have a few of them and I put it in half way along the cage to stop those ones that run up and down the cage. I remember "Svennson Paddle"

 

I have a lovely white DF spangle that I have high hopes for well he is dumb as all he wants to do is fly out the cage and his parents have outstanding temperment for showing so I guess he will come good, he only started that behaviour last week. So I have given him a break to see what he does next time I put him in the show cage.

 

I know one breeder screws up wire and puts it on the bottom the show cage and he said that works a real trick they hate things under their feet BUT I haven't tried this yet.

 

I don't really think my training would be much help to any one but it does work for me (well most of the time)

 

I believe their show temperment is genitic so if the mother or father is a nutter I believe the offspring will inherit that behaviour.

Edited February 22, 201015 yr by splat

I start when thye are babies and I they are the best trained than if I start with older birds , this year I ahve been slack so the birds are very well trained so I guess I will get headache on the day of my first showw next month.

 

First I put them in the show cage at about five weeks for about 10 minutes every other day and while they are in the nappy cage I keep doing this but about 3 times a week.

When they go into the aviary I leave them alone until they have completley moulted before catching them up again which is what I am up to now.

My show team are in the baby aviary which is my show aviary this time of the year.

I put them in show cages every second day now unless it is too hot they have the day off.

I have the radio going for extra noise and sometimes I wear glass to spook them. I bring them out onto the veranda so they can see other people, I get everyone to take a close look at them getting them ready for judges and spectators.

I train them with my chop sticks so they go from perch to perch and turn etc.

 

The naughty ones get a cage full of ping pong balls to make them stay on the perch, I have use water in the bottom the show cage and that really did work a treat but wrecked my cage (but it was an old cage and I would do it again if I had too). I tip the cages upside down but I find that doesn't work very well with my birds as they prefer sit on the slant.

I have stuck shiny plastic on the roof so they really slip and they do not like that so they will perch.

 

I have a piece of wood I have forgotten the name of it but judges use it well I have a few of them and I put it in half way along the cage to stop those ones that run up and down the cage. I remember "Svennson Paddle"

 

I have a lovely white DF spangle that I have high hopes for well he is dumb as all he wants to do is fly out the cage and his parents have outstanding temperment for showing so I guess he will come good, he only started that behaviour last week. So I have given him a break to see what he does next time I put him in the show cage.

 

I know one breeder screws up wire and puts it on the bottom the show cage and he said that works a real trick they hate things under their feet BUT I haven't tried this yet.

 

I don't really think my training would be much help to any one but it does work for me (well most of the time)

 

I believe their show temperment is genitic so if the mother or father is a nutter I believe the offspring will inherit that behaviour.

 

 

I dont know how you get the time to do all this! LOL

An exhibitor,missed out on the

Deploma at our show on Saturday,

because,the bird would't sit on the

perch & when the show was over,

he was siting up on the perch like Jacky.

The exhibitor said he never had any problem

before & had won best unbroken cap at one of the shows.

Some get it into there heads,they are going to play up

& there not much you can do.

I'm with Heath, would never get time to do this (but I wish I did). My routine is exactly the opposite, I call it "the show routine for the time poor". Here is what I do.

 

About a fortnight before the show the birds (up to 8 birds) chosen to go are placed in my smallest holding cage (about 1.5m long X 0.7m wide by 0.9m high) and in it I have placed an old show cage. Each day I place on the floor of the show cage whatever treat they are getting for the day. This way they are encouraged to go in, explore the cage and hopefully feel comfortable in there. This is all I did for the show I took my birds to a fortnight ago. Prior to that some of them had never been in a show cage. I realise it's a far from ideal routine but aside from weekends I have no opportunity to devote the time to train them fully. Anyway, it seems to work as most were fairly settled at the show. I believe showmanship is bred into the birds and with the right breeding they will display (or not).

 

The alternative if you have the setup is of course to attach a show cage to the end of a training cage. My unconventional setup does not allow that at present.

 

About 2 months before the show I make a mental note of the birds I think I will be taking but I don't do all the stuff you read about with pulling flights and tails etc. Spraying starts when they are in the holding cage and spots are pulled over 2 days in the 3-4 days before the show. Birds are also washed about this time and tails and flights straightened. Maybe if I ever get something up around National standard one day this routine will have to change but for now, that's it.

 

P.S. The show cage is slowly getting destroyed each time a show team are place in the holding cage as the hens rip the front rail to pieces! Luckily I don't show very often.

Edited February 22, 201015 yr by Daryl

well i just started show training

the tip i got was

put the birds in holding cages in pairs of two to three

then before placeing them in the show cage spray them with water to soked

then place in show cage so the can dry off and preen themselfs

this way they releate the cage to quiet time for themselfs to preen themselfs clean with no hassles

then when compleatly dry place back in the holding cages

do this every day till the water rolls off the bird like a duck then its in its best feather and quiet in show cage

so far this is working for me

i place marbles in cage floor if the bird runs along bottom and i paint the cage wire with stop bite if their a bar chewer

they get sprayed twice a day and sit in the cages about 2 to 3 hours both times a day so 6 hours all up

I start when thye are babies and I they are the best trained than if I start with older birds , this year I ahve been slack so the birds are very well trained so I guess I will get headache on the day of my first showw next month.

 

First I put them in the show cage at about five weeks for about 10 minutes every other day and while they are in the nappy cage I keep doing this but about 3 times a week.

When they go into the aviary I leave them alone until they have completley moulted before catching them up again which is what I am up to now.

My show team are in the baby aviary which is my show aviary this time of the year.

I put them in show cages every second day now unless it is too hot they have the day off.

I have the radio going for extra noise and sometimes I wear glass to spook them. I bring them out onto the veranda so they can see other people, I get everyone to take a close look at them getting them ready for judges and spectators.

I train them with my chop sticks so they go from perch to perch and turn etc.

 

The naughty ones get a cage full of ping pong balls to make them stay on the perch, I have use water in the bottom the show cage and that really did work a treat but wrecked my cage (but it was an old cage and I would do it again if I had too). I tip the cages upside down but I find that doesn't work very well with my birds as they prefer sit on the slant.

I have stuck shiny plastic on the roof so they really slip and they do not like that so they will perch.

 

I have a piece of wood I have forgotten the name of it but judges use it well I have a few of them and I put it in half way along the cage to stop those ones that run up and down the cage. I remember "Svennson Paddle"

 

I have a lovely white DF spangle that I have high hopes for well he is dumb as all he wants to do is fly out the cage and his parents have outstanding temperment for showing so I guess he will come good, he only started that behaviour last week. So I have given him a break to see what he does next time I put him in the show cage.

 

I know one breeder screws up wire and puts it on the bottom the show cage and he said that works a real trick they hate things under their feet BUT I haven't tried this yet.

 

I don't really think my training would be much help to any one but it does work for me (well most of the time)

 

I believe their show temperment is genitic so if the mother or father is a nutter I believe the offspring will inherit that behaviour.

 

 

I dont know how you get the time to do all this! LOL

 

I try and make the time but it is hard when you work, where is I only have a couple days work a week as I am casual part time.

I've only really just started in the hobby too so I'm still fine tunning my show cage training... At the moment I handle them as young babies so they are use to having people near them and handling them, so they are not as jumpy when people walk pass... I often sit outside near the aviaries or even in them for more people contact... Plus I than get to watch them and see how everyone is doing... Looking for those unwell ones...

 

As they get older they go into a show cage, a training one not my good ones, have a spary and are allow to dry... While they are in there they often preen themselves after the shower... I place the cages where I often walk pass, more people contact... I also use some stick i've made up and use them to incourage them to sit on them perch and so they get use to having that near them aswell and don't flip out...

 

I plan on using the pin pon balls too when birds are just not getting the picture...

I also have a show cage in the aviary all the time for the birds to go in and out of plus I have one hanging on the end of the nappy cage too. :budgiedance:

Thanks guys I'll be taking some tips away from this thread.

 

I do the bucket wash and drip dry in show cages.

Ping pong balls in the bottom of cages.

Water in the bottom of cages (old cages).

Spraying birds in show cages and letting them dry in the cage.

 

Now I will also do the show cage in the nappy cage thing AND the show cage in the nappy flight.

 

Anything anyone else does differently?

we could always do what one person remarked to me at show when i passed comment on a fantastic yf hen and her fantastic all over features and posture stance behaving perfectly as a show bird is expected

the person when i asked their opinion as a intermediate breeder on this bird commented and i quote ,

that bird hum whats so good about that bird

(me speaking:>the whole overall bird and come on look at that stance and behavior .

person im quoting :> hum its called super glue ...said as they placed head in air and walked off

 

talk about bad showman ship some people i just don't understand very sad for someone like me to hear an aptitude like that spoken about someone elses bird even more so when it was clearly a great bird infact many other i spoke to said second best bird in show by their acount

this was judges and breeders alike

 

so maybe maybe we could glue the birds to the perch :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I try to breed from steady birds, as I don't have much time to train birds at the moment because of work commitments. But years ago I bred an outstanding opaline sky, but it was lazy, in the show cage he would drop his left wing. I spent six months putting that bird in a show cage and holding his wing up with my judging stick, that bird eventually was Grand Champion at our Victorian young bird sheild. So budgies can be trained, but it takes time and I would only persist for an outstanding bird.

I try to breed from steady birds, as I don't have much time to train birds at the moment because of work commitments. But years ago I bred an outstanding opaline sky, but it was lazy, in the show cage he would drop his left wing. I spent six months putting that bird in a show cage and holding his wing up with my judging stick, that bird eventually was Grand Champion at our Victorian young bird sheild. So budgies can be trained, but it takes time and I would only persist for an outstanding bird.

 

now thats dedication clearwing fantastic and all for a very well rewarded effort

Uggghhhh I have a naughty one right now, what a pain because I had high hopes for him. Nothing is working on this guy. I am going to try the water in the show cage tomorrow. If he is not hanging up side down on the wire or trying to fly out of the cage he is curled up in the corner. uggghhhh.

All the others are doing great (so Far).

Uggghhhh I have a naughty one right now, what a pain because I had high hopes for him. Nothing is working on this guy. I am going to try the water in the show cage tomorrow. If he is not hanging up side down on the wire or trying to fly out of the cage he is curled up in the corner. uggghhhh.

All the others are doing great (so Far).

 

 

Hi Splat, suggestion, absolutely drown him, wet to the bone then put him in the show cage, where hopefully he'll sit on the perch till he dries out.

Uggghhhh I have a naughty one right now, what a pain because I had high hopes for him. Nothing is working on this guy. I am going to try the water in the show cage tomorrow. If he is not hanging up side down on the wire or trying to fly out of the cage he is curled up in the corner. uggghhhh.

All the others are doing great (so Far).

Splat,if you are going to try the water in the bottem of the cage.

find a plastic container,about the same size as the bottem of the cage

& fill that with water.he will sit on the perch or hop in the water & have a bath.

Did that yesterday CW and he is naughtier than ever. But I will do that tomorrow and how about the extra caution of filling the show cage with water.

Uggghhhh I have a naughty one right now, what a pain because I had high hopes for him. Nothing is working on this guy. I am going to try the water in the show cage tomorrow. If he is not hanging up side down on the wire or trying to fly out of the cage he is curled up in the corner. uggghhhh.

All the others are doing great (so Far).

 

 

Hi Splat, suggestion, absolutely drown him, wet to the bone then put him in the show cage, where hopefully he'll sit on the perch till he dries out.

 

that is what i do clearwing it works for me so far

drowned as a rat

they sit still on perch sorry for themselves then preen themselves dry

i then leave them for a few hours before removing them back to holding cage

I do this too but find that for the super naughty ones that they revert to psychotic as soon as they dry. For these ones the best thing I have found is to bring them inside for a few days, either in the show cage itself (with water and food of course) or in a small pet budgie cage. They eventually settle well and calm down in the show cage. Also whilst they are inside whenever you walk past run your fingers over the front and pick the cage up and

move it randomly.

I have 6 training cages in teh bird room. When I go in at night to feed and water the birds, i'll place 6 of the show team in the training cages for a bout 1/2 hour. I try not to pay too much attention at first but every 5 mins or so just encourage them to perch.

 

This happens every night for two to three weeks leading up to the show. Each night it is a different group in the training cage.. As Heathrow said "I dont know how you get the time to do all this! LOL "

 

As then days go on I spend more attention to them.

 

Image me for the last few days sitting back with a cold beer and a judging stick just watching them and everytime they play up I get them back on the perch. Ah the things we have to do...

 

Most of the time at shows they do behave...