Winkie will sit on my finger, but when I bring him out, he flies off. He's easy enough to catch, but won't stay on my finger out of the cage. I held some millet for him, but he wasn't really interested. How do I get him to hang out with me for a while?

If you're going to finger tame with wings unclipped or even if they are clipped, start off in the cage. Once you get him stepping up from the perch onto your finger and back again in the cage, then you can start attempting it outside the cage. It's safer for the bird to learn in the cage, plus easier for you if he flies away!

Yep, he does that in the cage. Out of the cage, most times he will step up, sit for about 3 seconds, and then flies off. He only bites if I hold him, rather than let him step up, so I'm not sure what to do next. I'm not having a problem ignoring his bites, they don't hurt! If I wasn't looking I wouldn't even know he's bitten, poor little mite (Laughing out loud)

Does he like millet? Could you bribe him to stay with some? Another good idea is to take him out in a room with no or few perching opportunities. Then you'll be the main landing platform!

Thanks Bea. Millet doesn't seem to be doing the trick, but maybe he has never had it before, and there are a lot of distractions in here. I think we'll go to the bathroom with a piece of millet tonight! (Laughing out loud)

I had the same problem Lin, in the cage they loved me but out the cage they b*g**rd off! I find that sitting on the floor helps, dont ask me why... but it seems to work! I sit on the floor with a stash of goodies in front of me (millet, broccoli, corn on the cob and a few berries) and curiosity FINALLY gets the better of them, each time I sit closer to the goodies and eventually, put them on my lap - you could try that?

At this stage I'm willing to try anything Sally, thanks! I've never trained a bird before! Or rather, been trained by a novice before!

I think definitely the bathroom for you two lin,and I would take the cage out of the room too.

Okay, we spent over half an hour in the bathroom, me with millet (which Winkie thought was great to stand on! but obviously not food), and this was the result

 

 

Hmm, obviously I am not fun to be with...

It's very creepy seeing a Blinkie look a like....

Especially as they seem to have the same personalities! This one tells me when it is time to come out of the cage. And just look at that attitude in that picture! Pure Blinkiness.

Maybe they are long lost brothers!

Maybe Blinkie really was cloned...

Maybe Blinkie really was cloned...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Haahahahahaha...hmmmm..maybe?

Hmmmm-he does have a sort of 'I'm the king of the castle' look about him!

O.K. plan B-take all the bottles out?

Julie

Julie, I'll try that. At one stage he sat in the shower recess looking regally at me, as if to say 'I'd rather sit on this floor than be anywhere near you! ' I suppose patience might win the day, but somehow I doubt it! He doesn't appear to have a favourite food, other than plain old seed!

as you'll see from my posts under new budgie what to do next I was having the same problem. The key is patience, patience and more patience. Budgies seem to have split personalities so u just have to wait for Mr Hyde to turn into Dr Jekyll again! I find they also pay more attention in the evening when they've spent alot of their energy. Also using a piece of dowling as a moveable perch might help than the 'oh so scary' finger then you can hold the millet down one end. Make sure there are as few things to land on as possible then you look like a more attractive option. Let him have a fly round and explore first before trying to handle him. My budgie steps on the millet too until he decides to concentrate! - u just have to wait - also there are always good days and bad days so don't give up. Keep bonding with him in the cage talking to him, whistling and slow blink at him. Its good they see that just because you've approached the cage doesn't slways mean yr going to always go for the kill!

best of luck

x

Thanks for that. I try to talk to him every time I walk past, in fact, he now seems to sit up a bit straighter when I walk near the cage. I like to think that's because he wants me to talk to him. It could be that he's scared senseless, but I prefer my explanation! I only put my hand in sometimes, and he generally steps up. Yesterday morning it might have been because I did it shortly after uncovering him, and didn't give him enough talks first!

Hmmm, what's the latest Lin?

Still no improvement. She (now I know!) is not scared of me, will fly laps around my head, and actually enjoys being chased to go back in the cage! But I am not an important part of her life. Sigh

(Laughing out loud), and I was hoping for improvement since our budgie love his cage too... Patience..

She's Pretty! Stubborn little beasts.. but keep trying.. it will get better.

Yes i am havin the same problem. My budgie isn't interested in millet unless i stick it in her face and then she just ignores me (Laughing out loud). Ill try some of the things people posted. The thing is that she is not scared of me she just doesn't like me yet (Laughing out loud)

 

Thanks a lot.