Hey Peeps,

I recently acquired another budgie (3-4 years old I suspect) from a friend's grandmother that couldn't look after him no more. Now here comes the cracker! He isn't hand trained...as far as I am aware he never even left his cage since the day he was bought.

I want to train him to leave his cage and become personable. He has a great personality and I do think he will be happier outside his cage.

SO how far have I gotten you ask? Well I have had him for about 3 months now and he doesn't mind me putting in my hand into the cage so I thought I can perch train him. So I started a few days ago. I have gotten to the point where I can bring the the stick up to and touching him....

NOW here is the downfall and I dont know how to approach the matter. When the stick touches him, he attacks it..its not a small nibble either is a full on bite (if not several). He attacks it and then gets onto it, then calms down or attacks it and jumps onto his other swing. I want him to just hop on without attacking it so I can start finger training.

Any advise?

Thank you in advance!
Gheto

hi...and welcome aboard...what you need to realize is several things...he is a older bird so its going to take longer as he believes the cage is his domain an thats the truth...you or your hand or perch are intruders and makes the bird quite uneasy so its attacking the perch...this entire process not only will take longer for you because it is a older bird and never trained but also because its with other keets making it braver to attack and more willing to protect its other friends and domain...

i would strongly suggest putting this bird in a separate cage and bring it to a different room for training and absolutely have no mirrors in the cage...it will get more anxious to bond with you and be more willing to so it will get your attention for company as they do love company and interaction...

very wise of you in this case to BEGIN with PERCH training...most would just not bother thinking of this and not want any part of a attacking bird to the hand or FORCE it which definetly isnt what you want to do...

try this also , just approach with the perch NOT touching the bird for several times...just let it be comfortable with the perch NEAR it and yes it will do a quick hop onto to it and off again...thats also natural...but better to let it WANT to hop on rather than being pushed with touching to doing that which again is forcing in a sense the bird to do your bidding...also try to tie and attach some green veggies to the perch so it wants to go for the food and willing hops on and when it does ...do not move the perch at alllll...nor do you try to take the bird out with it on the perch...or your hand when you finally do get it to get hand trained...

however, to make this process go more smoothly ...put the bird as mentioned into a separate cage and bring to a separate area AWAY out of sight of the others...this alone will make it more willing to bond with YOU...as it does want to come out to fly...once all that training is solidly down just let the bird come out on its own...again dont try to remove it from the cage...and this also will be slow going as it doesnt know that anywhere but the cage is safe for him...so be patient.

some would also suggest getting the birds wings PROFESSIONALLY trimed but this again is a type of force training becuz the bird knows its ability to now escape what it considers a threat normally is something its being forced to do and you dont want that either...its best when a bird does things willingly because it ENJOYS it not because it HAS TOO.

keep us posted this is going to take time and good luck

Quick question do you think he will ever leave the cage once he is hand trained?

again...patience is of the essence here you cant expect in a few months to have the same type of keet that someone will have from getting it while still very young...you need to remember that this bird has ONLY known the safe harbour of its cage and even should it escape it will be very very afraid..and if, that happens dont go rushing over to it at all...let it settle down...put its cage on the floor NEAR IT..as that means safety...going after it with the perch in this case wont be particularly comforting but seeing its cage it will relax SOME...again a separate cage is strongly advised for this purpose...

and yes, allll birds long to fly and feel that freedom so yes i do believe IN TIME...ON ITS OWN without you trying to make it come out...that it will...and when it does be sure there is toys on top of the cage as well as on a table or the floor for it to see there EVERY time you open that door ...and you just sit somewhere quiet across the room so it doesnt feel like your ready to pounce WHEN notice i said WHEN it does finally some day down the road take that leap of faith and come out...

also, on those first maiden flights there will be some crash and burns it happens to the best of them till they figure out how to go right where they want an landing is a bit of a trick along with twist and turns...that being said...should and when the time happens ..instead of rushing to the bird...you rush around the house instead making sure things are BIRD SAFE ...no stoves on or cooking ...ceiling fans OFF and stopped as quickly as possible...lock doors so someone doesnt open one and out it goes...toilet seats get into the habit of keeping them DOWN...no standing water in sinks etc...you should be busy doing these things as quickly as you can and when they are done...then bring the cage to the bird and concentrate on the bird AT THAT TIME.

For all your time and patience, and understanding all this from the birds mind of things, you will eventually be rewarded

illusive thank you SO much for the detailed explanations it really helps me get to understand this unique situation. I just have another small question

How often should I introduce him to the perch (2 -3 times a day say 30minish a go?) or just once a day for 10 mins?

Regards,
Gheto

hey, im glad i can help you to really get to get into the mind of these lil genius's as you will see they are in time...very crafty lil mischief makers lol...

ok for the perch...three times a day for approx ten minutes...more then ten minutes in a lesson is tiring for them...and like us they will have their moments or days when they just dont feel into it at all...so when you see them just have that sorta wierd look or start to get antsie and want to move ...thats your signal to either do one or two things...if just starting...remain calm and dont move...best to get comfortable so you yourself are not fidgety...if you see the bird looking like it wants to move DURING the lesson ...not when you just begin...then its time to stop...they usually can tolerate ten minutes fine tho.

also remember your a large predator to the bird with large TALONS (your hand and fingers) so it will at first be very reluctant as you can expect to trust...however, just normal changing of food and water and minimal cage cleaning right now...(when you put in a separate cage) is quite a lot for the bird to adjust too and will see in time that every time you enter ITS zone its not going to DIE lol...

toys are important being sure they are not chains to tiny with the links that a toe can get caught or the ROUND bells where beaks an toes cant get caught...remember no mirrors right now you want it to bond to you not a image in a mirror...as it settles to your normal chores around the cage...then take a bit of time to play with a toy...they need to be shown toys are even safe and what the heck to do with them...they like cat balls with a bell and foot toys and mostly toys that make some sort of noise...either from banging it or spining it...also you dont need to buy a lot of toys as you would be very surprised at what you have in the house they really like ...for example...the square plastic bread ties or pastry ties (not the wire ones) if you clip them onto the bars near the end of a perch they love to push them around and slid them up and down...thats one of Cappys favorite passtime toys.

ok, thats a lot for you and if you see the other threads by some new owners with the same issues as you being new you will also see some links i posted regarding safe woods, and plants and fruits and veggies and toxic ones to stay away from etc...save them to your favorites as you will refer to them quite a bit as even i still do...i believe its the thread...NO TRUST...is the one i posted them in...

and ill say the same to you as i do many here that are new to the forum or bird keeping...if you go to the forum list tab up top, then to the general keet chat as well as the health and medical section ...in those you will find a wealth of valuable info, especially on nutritional facts as well...here is a couple links on that info..

http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/414737/1

http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthread..._bir#Post419620

and when some folks in here say i said you dont need to buy a lot of toys im gonna get shot as cappy's domain is a virtual play house of all sorts of toys BUT, he has been well adjusted to everything a bit at a time...oh yah i forgot...perches of different diameter roundness is important for their feet as well...and different textures like the bendable rope perches that you can twist into hills or curves an are softer on their feet...placing perches on a angle or kitty corner for a different view for them or challenge is also good...and these perches are very important to them to keep their beaks well manicured and toenails see the fourth row down where it says 16" cement perch...also the swing above it thats the same is good but the perches are really important and they like those on a incline in their cage so they can lean into them to file their beaks...ill give you the link then ill post a pic to show you what i mean on the angle and cappy using it for his beak manicure...

http://www.petco.com/N_25_4294956710/Bird-Perches.aspx?CoreCat=LN_BirdSupplies_Perches




please keep us informed on how things are going... thanks

This forum has been brilliant, Ive got 2 Indian Rednecks that I have just got that are nearly 3 years old that im trying to tame and get them as comfortable as possible.

Thanks for all the good advice and tips!!

whoooops i hope i didnt mess up as i posted about these birds in a different thread lol maybe another you made as i talked to my in home health care worker about hers to find out more about them for you

Thought I will check in its been roughly a week. And very little progress...he still doesn't like the stick entering the cage it has even gone so far as I will hold it in front of him absolutely still and he will attack it...good thing is he doesn't run off like before but he still doesn't even attempt to get on it. Not gonna lie its is very frustrating XD to not see any real progress from him

he isnt running off...THATS progress...you have been told time and patience...and this is not a overnite thing with some birds...and with this bird in particular ...you dont have a bird that has the mind of a baby with what its been thru...and are you using a STICK or a perch...??? Also, im sure what your describing as a attack is birds test things first ...not by attacking per say but bluffing or tasting or whatever...before they will accept something.

have you done as suggested by holding some fresh veggies or tie some fresh veggies i should say to the perch when you introduce it or not?

please try to remember what your bird has gone thru how long it has been this way and take it all into consideration...this is why i also said get comfortable when you do this...be sure there is no distractions of any sort and move slowly and speak softly...even when your NOT doing this and around the bird...

how close are you with the perch???? when first introducing it do you immediately go right to him with it???? You said there is very little progress ANY progress is huge for it.