While I was cleaning Kenny's cage he escaped . He's not hand tamed yet so I can't get him to my finger hence I've just been chasing him round the room but he just flies from my high book shelves to the curtain rail . I can't see any option but to leave him out but am scared he might freak out in the night . Anything I can do?

Yes, catch him. Place some food down on the ground or something he likes, a toy he plays with.

 

When he comes down, throw a towel or something over him.

 

You need to look calm with what you are doing and then act quickly. Most people are scared to act quickly and decisively. Animals get injured when people hesitate.

 

No - you cannot leave a budgie out at night. It may have a massive night fright and fly into something, injuring or killing itself.

If you can wait till it gets dark, turn out the lights and try to just pick him up and pop him back in his cage.

If you can wait till it gets dark, turn out the lights and try to just pick him up and pop him back in his cage.

 

 

This is the best option, budgies go calm when it's dark, but also, make sure it's been dark for at least 15 minutes so it's calm first

I am not sure they go calm at night. They have poor night vision so they go quiet and do not move around much. They are very easily spooked and can have night frights at the smallest sound.

 

I still think catching him would have been the best option. Make a temporary net with a jacket or something.

I still think catching him would have been the best option. Make a temporary net with a jacket or something.

 

I agree with Dave. And for a long term solution, you should probably clip his wings, or else go to the store and buy a bird net.

 

But if you are trying to tame him, clipping is the better option, because the net will just teach him to avoid you, and he will get really good at flying right toward the net and then dodging away at the last second.

What happened?

They have nigh frights so I wouldn't want to leave him out.

 

So what did happen?

Well I just thought that if you turned off the lights, then when you retrieved the budgie, it would think that you were its hero <3

Well I just thought that if you turned off the lights, then when you retrieved the budgie, it would think that you were its hero <3

 

 

Flip, they're not that smart. They're not going to trust you after just one "rescue". And I doubt they would give you the credit for it, anyway. More likely view you as the scary monster that grabbed them in the dark.

true....

 

 

Sorry all for not replying . I didn't get any emails to notify me I had replies. . I was just coming on to post again . I had to leave him out for the night as he was much too quick for me to catch & I didn't think to turn the light out. I went to my friends the next day to get a net & when I came home he was in the cage. Three nights since then he has gone in willingly when I've held the cage to him & 3 times I've had to net him . He's still after 3 weeks very rarely interacts with me.He lets me touch his claws sometimes & will eat from a millet stick which I'm holding occasionally but he's silent when I sit beside his cage & chat to him . Have to admit it's very very frustrating .He sings some evenings for a while which is beautiful but some nights he just sits there not evening playing with his toys .

 

 

Glad to hear that he is okay