Hi. I adopted a little boy budgie that needed a new home a few weeks ago and I'm (slowly) trying to hand tame him. I'm not sure how old he is (the girl I got him from thought he was about 10 weeks, but he looks older than that to me - maybe 3 - 4 months, maybe more), and he hasn't been hand tamed at all.

 

He's at the point now that he'll happily eat grass seed while sitting on my finger and he'll usually step up even without offering him seed. He flies out of his cage and back to it as he pleases (but never comes near me or stays out for long). He seems happy and comfortable while he's in his cage and I'm in the room with him, but doesn't seem to have any interest in coming over to me.

 

I know he's still new and it's always harder to teach older birds who haven't been hand raised, but I'm wondering if persistence will pay off or whether he'll never be interested in being handled.

 

Has anyone had a similar experience or have any advice for helping him feel comfortable with me?

 

Thanks a lot

Emma

Persistence is the key.

 

Thanks Paulie. Fingers crossed!

Paulie is right, although my budgies are basically wild I had tame budgies as a child. My daughter has one of my birds babies and is making great progress with her. She brought her home when she was about three months old. You just have to be persistent and gentle.