Hello everyone!

I'm a new member and the pround new owner of two adult male budgies named Bert & Ernie :bb:

The reason I'm writing is that I'm having trouble bonding with Bert. :oliveb: After much time and patience I've won the affection of Ernie but Bert will have nothing to do with me. Everytime I try to bond he freaks out, flapping about the cage chirrping loudly. I've tried speaking softly to him and slowly putting my hand in the cage but it makes no difference. The first few days I left them alone and just chatted to them. Then I started to slowly put my hand in the cage and kept it still. After doing this I left the cage open for them to explore the outside world (a room soley for their use). Ernie finally stepped onto my finger and last night sat with me for hours on my shoulder (I'm so happy!!! ) but Bert won't even let me near him. I don't want to stress him out and I'm confused about what to do. Could someone please help me as I'm worried. Thanks!

How long have you had them? I got my boy in December, and he's only just really starting to bond with me now. It takes a lot of time and patience. Millet works well

 

Welcome to the forums, and I hope we will see photos soon!

Some birds will accept humans more easily than others.Ernie sounds to be doing brilliantly especially if they are adult budgies-always more difficult to tame. Would it be possible to take Bert to a small safe room(the bathroom,windows/doors closed,toilet seat down)and work from scratch with him there?Maybe just even him in a small cage there while you just walk round making calming noises for a few days.You can put him back in his own place for the rest of the time though.If he likes millet, like Budgie Babe said, then that is a great help to get him to think of you as the provider of millet in your hand.But save it to use it like this-don't just leave it in the cage just yet.

Hope this helps and Welcome!

Julie

Hi Budgie Babe and Julie

Thank you for your responses. I've had the boys for two weeks now. I got them from a colleague who received them as a gift from her students. She was unable to care for them so I decided to take them. Her students got them from a pet store and I'm not sure about the treatment they received. I live in Muscat, Oman and the pet stores are horrible here (ie. filthy, crowded, noisy, etc.). I hope that they will both come to trust me. I'm so happy that Ernie has opened up to me and I hope Bert will do the same. I will try taking him into the bathroom tonight...and I'll get some millet.

It's very early days yet then and no-one really knows what experiences they've had with humans.Well Done for taking care of them,ask anything you want to and I'm sure we'll all do our bit to help.

Julie

Hi! Ive got 3 budgies, and one of them will never be a handtame bird, not ever. She is approachable, but does NOT want to be touched or held. At first, I used to dream that one day I could hold and caress her sweet little budgie body, but now, her aloofness is the most appealing thing about her. Just her presence is enough, and the slight distance she keeps from humans just adds to her beauty and wonder, that little bit of wildness that she has happily kept sets her apart from the tamer two in a very special way. She is my 'TRUE' bird, the one that has never in the slightest become humanised. She is a bird, through and through. I wouldnt change this about her for the world. Your bird may tame in the end, but if not, you will never be short of awe and pride and inspiration at his birdly beauty.

Anne

Good Luck - I have the same problem with my Bobby although I spend hours trying to become his friend he just dont want to know - well unless its cress feeding time and he loves me - I will keep on trying with him but will probably have to accept he will never me a cuddly birdie.

Hello everyone!

I tried again without much success. Bert started to freak a little so I left him alone. I really don't want to stress him out. I'll just keep chatting to him and try to get him used to me. If not, then I'll just have to appreciate him for the beautiful bird he is...though I really want to bond.

I was really eager in the beginning when I got my bird Newton. I got really disappointed when she didn't warm up to me very quickly. It's been 5 months now and she's starting to get better, she comes to me when I walk near the cage, and when I put my hand in she doesn't flap around and freak out, though she does nibble on my fingers quite a bit. It seems to be a habit of hers now. Just have patience. I know that it can be hard but it's definitely worth it

 

when i got my charlie it took alot of patience but finally hes got tame he will now sit on my shoulder preen my hair knows the step up word and very well trained but he hates being touched he freaks out but with tango he sat on my finger and shoulder right away and cuddled up in my neck he loves his head scratched and did from day one ...its just different birds personality but im sure he will come to trust you just give him lots of attention and dont go give it all to the tamer budgie....good luck

Try incorporating some hands-on techniques. Budgies are like people, some respond to appeasement, treats, good nature and goodwill, and others require equal and opposite delivery of force (GENTLY) to gain their respect. The school of thought that coaxing and begging is the only method to attain a tame and loving pet is ignoring the personality traits that will simply not respond because their will to do their own thing is stronger than the tantalization. We've already bred these wild animals captive and denied them their natural habitat, I think it's actually fairly noble to get the tough stuff out of the way quickly instead of begging with a piece of millet and whispering sweet nothings for months on end. In my observation it is just as stressing to a nervous budgie to have our faces by their cage day after day with the same old appeasements and offers for hours on end, as opposed to some physical coaxing. I think about how would I prefer it myself..... if I were being taunted by the jolly green giant and I knew I had a choice between a few days getting gently scooped up and then it would finally be over with, or would I rather be scared to death with him leering into my cage for months on end dangling things in front of me and droning over and over. I'd opt to get it out of the way. The budgie can't opt because he thinks you're going to kill him, but once you initiate contact, and he finds out you're NOT going to kill him, the results are quick to come and exponential. Just a thought, and has worked wonders in my limited budgie experience (though 11 years of living with my brother's Moluccan Cockatoo came prior to my budgies, which was basically like the worst-mannered budgie of all time, 24/7/365).

Edited June 11, 200520 yr by sonick