Oscar and Me

[oscar-jess]

Hi everyone.

My name is Jess and I'm the proud owner of a thirteen week old male budgie called Oscar. He's blue and white with dark grey patches on his back. We currently are having a few settling in moments which I would gladly accept any advice given. I have had my boy since he was five weeks and step by step we are getting there though a long way off.

He is my second of two beautiful boys. The first of which I sadly lost and now rests in peace. Oscar whom I like to think as my little treasure of the sky has some behavioural issues which I am struggling to cope with.

He is a perpetual chewer of anything he gets his beak on and he likes to have a good go at my fingers. I can handle the nibbling but when he tends to bite too hard it becomes a problem. He will strike out at me on my face, fingers or any way he can for no apparent reason and I'm afraid that one day he might bite to hard.

Anyone that could give me some advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Jess

[Amy]

Ive got the same problem my Billy, whenever I catch him to put him back in his cage he bites me, but it isn't that bad. I don't really know how to stop it either.

[Dave]

Hey Jess! Welcome to the site :) .

[Budgiekin]

Hi Jess. Welcome to the forum! I hope you love it here as much as I do! And don't forget to share pictures of your sweetie-pie budgie in the Budgie Gallery! I love seeing the pictures.

Does Oscar have lots to chew on in his cage? My budgies love munch balls (they're like little balls of wound up wood-like material). They also love cholla cactus pieces to chew and any of the Planet Pleasures toys!

Just remember:

http://i2.tinypic.com/othyzp.jpg

(I got that expression from one of my favourite online stores - busybeaks.com).

[miss_missy]

my birds are the same way im a new owner as well. i dont let them out often because when i catch them they have a chewing go feast on what ever is closest to their beaks. So i am just putting my hand in slowing everyday and talking. and i finally got one to stay on my hand. he doesnt want me to take him out of his cage.. we arnt that close but here rescently he is letting me pet him.... i am going very slowly so he knows i will not hurt him and gets used to me. My girl ios in oscars stage though she is not close to being tamed. so i just talk to her and try not to mess with her to much. I was told by Bea A person on this forum to go to www.budgietalk.com and they have helpful tips on taming your bird... i have not personaly tried it yet because im giving my girl bird space and what im doing right now with my boy is working. good luck and let me know what happens...:D

[oscar-jess]

Thanks so much.

I'm glad there are other people who understand what's going on. Oscar is my second baby. My first one I lost in the beginning of december and he was such a true little Australian. I managed to get him to talk, whistle and come on command. My most fondest memory of Ozzie was that he used to say "Ozzie loves mummy!" and as soon as he heard me come through either gate to my place he'd be all excited and when I finally opened the door I'd always say hello and got a "Hello" back.

Isn't it funny how we really get attached to our little feathered friends!!!

I think Oscar and I just need to connect a lot more and get used to each other so any advice is really appreciated. He wasn't really hand held for the first 5 weeks of when he was hatched. He was the tamest of his group though. I love him to bits i really do. What's funny is that he already has learn't my particular whistles for him and I'm pretty sure he's learn't to say a few words. He still won't speak if he's on my shoulder or out of the cage. Guess that's probably because he's out of his comfort zone.:budgie:

[miss_missy]

how did you get your birds to talk so eaily?:o

[oscar-jess]

I'm not sure!!! I just talked to them softly and repeated a particular word or whistle over and over. I got both my boys at a young age and handled them as much as possible right from the start. With Ozzie as soon as I heard him say a word I'd repeat it back to him. He learn't to whistle long before he talked so that may be a way to go by teaching them your whistles one at a time and take it from there. If you hear your bird seeming to mutter under his breath he's more likely practising to speak. Ozzie used to do that all the time. By the time Ozzie was about 11 months I had him saying so many different words and sentences. If I'm able to I'll post a video I have of Ozzie talking. Good luck with the teaching!! When you hear you bird say his first word let me know. I love things like that!:D :budgie:

[ETAHoffman]

Hi. Welcome aboard. You'll have lots of fun here, I know.

For the chewing, you might try the following..... Buy a mineral block for inside the cage. When he chews that, it will help him not only trim his beak but also provide nutrients. Cuttle bone is too soft. Use the harder calcium/mineral block.

I frequently clip a wooden clothes pin inside my bird cages for the "chewers." I find the birds love to chew on them and it is a toy of sorts for them. (My Quakers, especially, love to chew on them.) Birds have a tendency to chew when they are bored too.

Be happy you have a male when it comes to biting. The females, I find, have a tendency to bite much harder. One thing that helps is, if the bird is in your hand and biting, turn him over on his back. This disorients him and he may not bite so much or so hard.

Especially when I'm breeding my birds, I have trouble with the hens biting my cuticles and drawing blood, if I"m not careful. Occupational hazard!

[Amy]

I'm not sure!!! I just talked to them softly and repeated a particular word or whistle over and over. I got both my boys at a young age and handled them as much as possible right from the start. With Ozzie as soon as I heard him say a word I'd repeat it back to him. He learn't to whistle long before he talked so that may be a way to go by teaching them your whistles one at a time and take it from there. If you hear your bird seeming to mutter under his breath he's more likely practising to speak. Ozzie used to do that all the time. By the time Ozzie was about 11 months I had him saying so many different words and sentences. If I'm able to I'll post a video I have of Ozzie talking. Good luck with the teaching!! When you hear you bird say his first word let me know. I love things like that!:D :budgie:
I've made a thread with some tips on teaching your budgie to talk, If your interested!

[Amy]

Maybe he's LONELY. Maybe he's sad about his friend and he thinks you've taken him or something, so he's turning aggresive on you. Its just a thought.

[Mistyoriline]

Hi and welcome:)I am Misty!